
February is the last full month of winter. While daylight grows longer by a few minutes each day, there is still the potential for winter blasts and miserable kayak fishing conditions. However, during calm stretches, there are still fish to be caught. Patience is the name of the game and mixed bags are the prize.
Kayak anglers may want to consider chasing some white trout this time of year. There are no size or creel limits on these feisty cousins to speckled trout, and they offer great sport and dinner. If you decide to direct your efforts to catching them, February may prove to be just the ticket. With colder water temps, the whites generally school up and hug the bottom in deeper waters. One telltale sign that the fish are sitting on the bottom is small red sores that appear along their belly. Whites are not picky eaters and will hit just about anything put in front of them. We once experimented with pieces of a white T-shirt and kept the fish busy landing many dozens.
White trout often get a bad rap as being good eating, but a bit mushy in texture. This can be exacerbated by kayak fishing where cold storage is limited. In summer months, it is good practice to keep white trout iced in a cold ice/water slush to keep the meat firmer. While still a good practice, it is less crucial in the colder months and an iced cooler of whites provides great table fare.
Drop-shot rig
One of the best techniques for catching white trout is a drop-shot rig. This simple set up consists of tying on a hook, inline with your leader, lying horizontal with the hook point facing up. While any J or kale hook can be used, specialty drop-shot hooks are designed to keep the hook in perfect position. A lead weight is tied 6-12 inches below. When you drop to the bottom, lift slightly so that the weight remains on the bottom and the bait is held up by the taught line. You can wiggle and jiggle the bait a bit to give it some action, but oftentimes just holding it still is the ticket. The key to success is being able to cast and keep your bait in the same location. If the fish are holding deep enough, straight down drops are highly effective as the lower line angle makes for easier hook sets.
If fishing an area with rock, shells or other snags, loosely tie on your weight with a simple, single overhand knot. If your weight gets snagged, the line pulls free of the weight without breaking. Then, all you have to do is tie on another weight rather than a totally new rig.
Also, if fishing with one or more anglers, keeping the action going is a big key to success. Try to limit down time and have at least one line in the water at all times. This keeps the feeding frenzy going and you might be amazed at how many fish can be caught from one location.
Other species

Of course many other species can be caught using the same lures and technique. On a recent trip to the Shell Beach area with Al Siener, six different species made up the day’s bag, all caught on pieces of dead shrimp or a plastic tail on a drop-shot rig. White and speckled trout, sheepshead, redfish, blue catfish and a lone flounder all found their way to the cooler. Plastic tails and Gulp! also work well on the drop-shot, but it is hard to beat a simple piece of dead shrimp to keep them turned on and biting.
Not all February days will be super cold. At times when a warm spell brings milder temps, look for fish moving up to shallower areas. The key is to always fish areas where the fish have easy access to varying water depths. As the water temps rise and fall, so do the fish. The lower the temps, the deeper the fish and vice versa. While fast and furious summer techniques may not yet apply, try popping corks with less enthusiastic pops, as well as slow-walking a topwater lure. You may be surprised at the action you can find.
No need to travel far
In general, the fish remain more concentrated this time of year. Moving just a few yards or so could be the difference between feast and famine. Take your time to thoroughly fish an area before moving on. Focus in on high probability locations like cuts and drains, outer (deeper) turns in bayous and areas with bottom structure such as jetties or oyster beds. If you have a fish finder, look for ledges and drop-offs for transition spots between water depths.
Stay close. You should not have to travel far from the launch this time of year. Almost all the popular launches across the coast have nearby access to prime winter fishing. Let the boats run far and wide and you may have the area all to yourself. Many successful winter trips can be had within sight of many launches. Look for areas off of main boat traffic lanes that have varied water depths. Often overlooked, but dead-end canals can hold plenty of schooled fish. Start at the mouth of the canal and work your way towards the back making sure to completely cover from side to side. Find the depth they are holding and repeat as the action slows and you move a bit farther.