Pay attention to the water movement, particularly on a falling tide, and you’ll catch more speckled trout this winter.
Most inshore saltwater anglers pay particular attention to the tide ranges before they hook up to their boats. The greater the range, the more tidal flow it will generate. While that may make or break trips for the majority of the year, Capt. Chris Pike says it’s not nearly as important during the winter.
“Anything above three-tenths of a foot, you’re in good shape,” he said. “Rather than tide range, though, I keep an eye on the weather.
“What I’m looking for during December is a day that will warm up the water. To me, rising water temperatures are more important than tide range.”
Pike has found that the trout he targets out of Delacroix don’t want to have to move around a lot during the winter unless it warms up. That means they’re not going to go out there and fight the tidal current and to eat if they’re feeling a little lethargic.
“Put some sun on the water and watch them,” Pike said. “When you can get that water temperature creeping up later in the morning and into the afternoon, they don’t care if the tide is barely falling or if it’s barreling out. All they’re thinking about is seeing the water come alive around them, and they take advantage of that situation.”
Warming temperatures control trout activity for most of the winter, and Pike says he pays more attention to sunny days than tidal range at least through the end of March.
