Deep Water Specks texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout As January dawns, the weather is cooling and fish in our bays are heading for their deepwater winter homes. This transition sends most saltwater anglers across the Texas coast are rummaging for heavier heads and thinner soft-plastic tails - something that will get down deep a little faster. From now through early spring, many hours will be spent bouncing touts and tails across the bottom in areas of deeper water. Of course, this tried and true method does produce fish during the colder winter months, but so will a number of other deep water tactics. Unfortunately, most saltwater anglers get locked into a routine and have a tough time adjusting or trying new techniques. However, more intrepid inshore anglers often look to their freshwater brethren for tips on tackling trout in deep water. Although the majority of bass fishermen haven't so much as cast a line in saltwater, they have to deal with fish suspended in deep water much more often than saltwater anglers. As a result, they have developed a wider variety of techniques - many of which are just as effective in saltwater. HEAVY BUCKTAILS Bucktail jigs were among the first artificial lures ever created and have a variety of uses in both fresh and saltwater. However, they are rarely employed along the Texas coast. Essentially, bucktail jigs are jig heads with a clump of deer hair lashed to the collar. They are fished in much the same manner as soft-plastic jigs. However, the bucktail slows the descent rate of the jig more effectively than plastic. The biggest difference, though, is that hair has a natural “breathing” action that is impossible to mimic with plastics. Often times this subtle motion will entice strikes when fish become finicky. Of course, plastic bodies and bucktail jigs can be used in tandem. If a “bulkier” offering is necessary, threading a swirl-tail or tout tail soft-plastic onto a bucktail jig will do the job. JIGGING SPOONS It is hard to imagine a simpler form of fishing than vertical jigging with a jigging spoon. Unlike casting spoons, which have a concave body which produces a side-to-side wiggle during the retrieve, jigging spoons are typically flat or slightly curved. These spoons are not designed to produce action, they are designed to slice through the water column and get down to the desired depth. Once they have descended to the proper depth, anglers simply put their reel in gear and use a lifting motion with the rod to “jig” the spoon up and down. When it comes to employing vertical jigging, boat position and water depth are the most important elements. Since the spoon will not be cast to or retrieved past fish holding structure, the boat must be positioned so that the lure is place properly. With the right wind and current, anglers can easily drift over reefs and shell pads or along the edge of a deep channel. If the wind is not cooperating, it may be necessary to anchor. Obviously, this is not an ideal way to “cover water.” However, during winter - particularly in the really cold stretches - trout are often stacked in deep water haunts. Where you find one, you are likely to find several. So, working a small area isn't necessarily limiting the number of fish you catch. Like boat position, water depth must be carefully considered before employing a vertical jigging technique. As was described above, when utilizing a jigging spoon, the boat will be either drifting or anchored directly above the fish. Therefore, the water must be deep enough to make “straight down” fishing practical. Usually, this means a minimum water depth of 8 feet, although 10 to 15 feet is ideal. If the water is murky, fish are typically less spooky and you are more likely to be successful with this technique in water on the shallow end of the range. However, if the water is clear - as it often is in winter - don't even try vertical fishing in less than 10 or 12 feet of water. DROP-SHOTTING In recent years, drop-shotting has become somewhat of a craze among bass anglers across the nation. It is commonly accepted that this technique developed on the deep, clear lakes in the western United States. However, bass anglers soon found it applicable on lakes throughout the country. Additionally, bass fishermen found that often times finicky fish would strike a drop-shot rig when they wouldn't hit other lures. Saltwater anglers who are willing to give it a try likely will find the same thing. Essentially, a drop-shot rig consists of an unweighted soft-plastic lure tied a couple feet above a bell sinker or other weight. The distance between the lure and the weight is determined by how far off the bottom the fish are suspended. Therefore, the lure can be adjusted to fall at virtually any depth. And, it is possible to utilize more than one lure on the rig, particularly if it is being fished vertically. However, unlike tandem rigs or traditional “bottom rigs,” there are no stagings on a drop-shot rig, so it can be cast without fear of tangling on itself. So, anglers can either fish vertically or cast and retrieve, much like they would a standard lure. Either way, it is essential to fish this rig slowly. The most effective drop-shot fishermen spend most of their time “wiggling” the rig, rather than reeling it. The good news for saltwater anglers looking to try drop-shotting is, outside of some bell weights, they probably already have what they need. Virtually any soft-plastic tail will work. The only other pieces of tackle needed is a hook and weight. CRANKBAITS Since crankbaits are designed to imitate baitfish, it is a mystery why they haven't gained acceptance among saltwater anglers sooner. Fishermen in brackish estuaries - where it is possible to catch both freshwater species such as bass and saltwater species like specks and reds - have been using them for years. However, fishermen on most Texas bays have only recently begun to experiment with them. Recently, several national redfish tournaments have been won by anglers using crankbaits. This has certainly hastened the use of these diving baits on our bays. But, although more and more anglers are using shallow running crankbaits for redfish, very few have used mid-depth or deep running cranks for trout. Again, crankbaits, by design, imitate baitfish. Most crankbaits are designed to float. However, they are fitted with a “lip” which catches water and causes the bait to dive when it is retrieved. The size of this lip dictates how deep the bait is capable of diving. Likewise, the faster a bait is retrieved, the deeper it will dive. And, particularly with floater/diver models, when the bait is paused, it will begin to rise in the water column. Since crankbaits are specifically designed to run at certain depths, they are perhaps the simplest bait to use when fish are suspended. Virtually anyone can make a crankbait dive to its proper depth. So, it is simply a matter of choosing a model designed to dive to the depth at which the fish are holding. Like all baits, proper color selection is also important. However, crankbaits come in a wide array of colors - everything from natural imitations to chartreuse and “glow” colors. To build confidence, anglers new to crankbait fishing should choose a bait with a color pattern similar to that of their favorite soft-plastic. The other bonus of crankbaits is the aforementioned “rise” in the water column when the retrieve is paused. Often times when fish become extremely uninterested in feeding, this “reel and pause” retrieve will incite fish to strike. Most often, this strike will come as the bait is stopped and begins to float upwards. The one downside to crankbaits - if there is one - is that most are designed for freshwater use. Therefore, the hardware they are equipped with is usually not suitable for saltwater use. However, this is a simple matter of changing out the hooks and split rings. Although the use of any of these baits and techniques may raise eyebrows along the dock, the results they produce most surely will get attention as well. So, rather than stick to the same old thing this winter, why not try something new? You may not get the same results you do with your favorite old tout tail. You'll probably get better ones.