Fishing Deep Holes for Winter Trout January typically ushers in true winter weather along the Texas coast. When the 'blue northerns' begin to push across the coastal curves, the relatively shallow inshore bays can become downright chilly. During these cool periods, trout and redfish will leave the shallows and bury themselves in the deepest water they can locate. Depending on the bay, this deep water may be found in shipping channels or boating lanes, natural 'holes' in the bay, port areas, holes blown during oil and gas exploration, or rivers feeding into the bay. Regardless of what feature is responsible for the deep water, if it is accessible, the fish will find it. This transition from shallow to deep to deeper is a mixed blessing for fishermen. Just about every coastal fisherman loves catching fish on the shallow flats. And, during mild winter weather, fish are reliably found in the transition zones between shallow and moderate depth areas, where they are still easily targeted with standard bay fishing techniques. But, as the weather turns bitter, the fish head to some of deepest water they can find. Reaching fishing in this extremely deep water requires a little different tactics. However, they are much more concentrated when found at depth. So, although probing the depths in search of fish may be slow-paced, once fish are found, the action can be as hot as August. Anglers are usually able catch plenty of them once they located their hiding spot and determine the right depth, presentation and bait. TOP BAITS A variety of baits and lures will work well for fish hunkered down in deep holes. In addition to natural baits such as live shrimp and cut mullet, a number of artificial lures will draw plenty of strikes. One primary difference when choosing lures for fishing deep holes is the size of lure selected. Unlike fish in shallow to mid-depth ranges during winter and early spring who want the biggest bait they can fit in their mouths, fish sulking in deep holes tend to more readily strike smaller lures. Among the better baits to have on hand when fishing deep holes in winter are TTF Killer Flats Minnows, DOA 4-inch Jerkshad, Crème Spoiler Shad, DOA Shrimp, Crème Lil' Fishy, TTF Lil' Speck Killers, DOA paddletail grubs, Cordell CC Spoon, and RattleTraps. Anglers can also score good catches on freshwater crankbaits fitted with stainless hooks. Models such as the Bomber Deep Flat A and Fat Free Shad work well for this duty. HOW TO FISH Vertical jigging - Vertical jigging is a pretty straightforward technique. In its simplest form, vertical jigging involves letting a lure fall straight down over the side of the boat to a pre-determined depth. Then, the rod is lifted and dropped or 'jigged' up and down to impart action to the lure or bait. The depth of the 'retrieve' is controlled by how much line is let out. Most of the time, it is easiest to drop the bait all the way to the bottom, then crank up a couple turns before beginning the jigging motion. Repeat this process, starting the 'retrieve' a foot or two higher in the water column each time until it is determined at what depth the fish are holding. Virtually any lure or bait can be used for vertical jigging. However, jigging spoons like the CC Spoon and lipless crankbaits like RattleTraps are among the best. Slow rolling - Another retrieve borrowed from bass fishermen, slow-rolling essentially involves allow the lure to drop near the bottom before beginning a slow, steady retrieve. The idea is to keep the bait just above the bay floor. No jigging or jerking is required - just a steady retrieve. Paddletail soft-plastics like the Texas Tackle Factory Killer Flats Minnow work best for this technique. Depending on the water depth and current, anywhere from a 1/4 to a 3/4 ounce head should be used - the deeper the water or stronger the current, the heavier the head necessary to keep the bait near the bottom. Paddletail swimbaits such as the Crème Spoiler Shad are also productive in this situation. One thing to keep in mind when using the slow-rolling technique in deep water - be sure to cast well beyond the target area. Since the natural tendency of a lure descending through the water column is to pendulum back toward the rod, the extra distance will ensure the bait is still beyond the strike zone once it descends to the bottom. Drop Shot Rig - A drop-shot rig consists of a hook tied about 16 to 18 inches above a sinker in a fashion that allows the hook to sit at a 90-degree angle from the standing line, point up. An artificial bait such as a 4-inch DOA Jerkshad is then attached to the hook. The rig is then fished vertically - that is, straight below the rod tip. The most common technique is jigging with a vertical lifting and lowering of the rod. However, if a strong current is moving through the area, a `do-nothing' retrieve is often the most effective, as the tide will give the attached lure just enough action to tempt lethargic fish into biting. Deep Crankin' - Another technique that requires the angler to cast well beyond the target area is deep cranking. This technique can be accomplished with either lipped or lipless crankbaits. If lipless crankbaits like RattleTraps are employed, the bait should be cast beyond the target zone then allowed to drop to the desired depth before the retrieve is begun. If using lipped cranks such as the Fat Free Shad or Flat A, be sure and choose a model designed to dive to the appropriate depth range. Then, cast beyond the target zone and begin a steady crank to retrieve the bait and get it to dive to the proper depth. The faster the retrieve, the deeper the bait will dive. Floating/diving models are preferable for most saltwater applications. When using this style of bait, lures can be cranked down to the desired depth, then the retrieve can be paused briefly to allow the bait to float up a few inches before the retrieve is started again. Using this method, anglers can also cause lipped cranks to dig into the bottom or crash into oyster beds. The lip will block the hooks from fouling on initial contact. The pause will then allow the bait to float above the obstruction. Fish will often attack the bait during the pause. Freelining - The epitome of a 'do-nothing' retrieve, free-lining involves using either a live bait or an artificial such as a DOA Shrimp and allowing the bait to fall naturally throw the water column while keeping the line just taut enough to detect a strike. The premise behind free-lining is to allow the bait to fall as slowly as possible to give suspended fish a good look. Anglers should always begin free-lining with as little weight as possible. With live shrimp, sometimes no weight or just a small split shot is needed. If the current is preventing the bait from falling deep enough, add a little more weight to get it down. With DOA Shrimp, the weight of the lure itself is usually enough. If a bit more weight is needed, add a split shot or an inline weight such as a Chatterweight to get it deeper in the water column. SENSITIVE FISHERMEN FINISH FIRST The take of winter fish, in their lethargic state, is typically tough to detect. Often times all an angler will feel is a light tap or perhaps just a little 'extra weight' or resistance on the line. Sometimes, the fisherman may feel nothing at all, but simply see the line move off to the side. One of the keys to being consistently successful when fish are exhibiting subtle strikes is to use sensitive rods and light lines. Another key is to pay constant attention so as to detect any slight bump or be able to see if the line moves away or becomes slack. Most importantly, set the hook on any suspected strike. PLENTY OF COMPANY One thing to keep in mind is deep holes act like a magnet for both fish and fishermen during winter's coldest days. Although speckled trout and redfish are typically the primary target species, other species like black drum, mangrove, sheepshead, and flounder will also be present and can add a little diversity to the day's catch. Most fishermen would consider the presence of additional fish species a good thing. These same fishermen, however, might not be quite as happy about the presence of other fishermen. But, with most bays having relatively few deep holes fishermen can expect plenty of company when a hot hole is found.  However, so long as everyone is courteous to one another, there are usually plenty of fish to go around.