Wintertime Wading...
From the publisher: A brief seven months ago this site had empty pages. Now we have content coming in from the professionals working so hard to educate, entertain, and catch fish for their clients. It's not only about the fish to any of them; the joy of the process, the connection to their clients, and the ability to share their incredible knowledge with people dying to learn more makes them all very special in a very special way. This article by one of those captains -- a guy named Captain Eddie Caldwell (with Don Caldwell) is indicative of that quality. It's stuff like Eddie shares with us about winter wading that makes us know that we're doing the right thing, and for the right people and with the right people. The good guys and girls that make our country so great, our sport so great, and being alive so great.
Thanks, Captain. You being here makes being here better. We've come a long way to find writers like you willing to spend even five minutes sharing.
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Tampa Bay has some of the best wading flats in Florida….and now that the weather is getting cooler, it’s time to break out the waders; when temperatures drop and the days and nights become cooler, the flats fishing turns on. Gin clear water and winter "negative" low tides equals tailing Redfish. |
Starting in November through February, we will have over 40 negative low tides. Usually these tides coincide with a new moon or full moon phase. November kicks off the season with an abundance of Flounder holed up in the sandy bottoms of “Pot Holes.” Early morning tailing Reds that are hunting on the crown of a flat will definitely get your heart pumping no matter how cold it is!
The Gear...
Comfortable waders and boots are a must. Four hours of standing in knee-deep to waist-deep water, will take its toll. Correctly outfitting yourself will be worthwhile. Since we are in Florida and the water never gets below 50 degrees (except last year), you don’t need really thick neoprene waders like the ones that they use up North. You can pick up a pair of waders at your local tackle shop or Tampa Fishing Outfitters. Two basic types are ones with built-in rubber boots or neoprene sock type. The sock-type wader requires a flats boot. Make sure you get a bigger size to accommodate the extra thickness of the sock. Other items to consider are gravel guards and a belt that cinches the waist. I prefer the neoprene sock and a good pair of “Bite” boots or Orvis flats wading boots. My waders have built-in gravel guards over the sock. It keeps shells and dirt from getting into your boots. A wade pack is essential in being properly outfitted. When you look back over your shoulder and see that the boat is a good mile away, having leader, scissors, pliers, jig heads, and maybe a beer and sandwich in your pack will make a lot of sense.
The Equipment
Sight casting on Redfish in big sand holes takes some special equipment. First, get a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Costa Del Mars are what I prefer. Having the ability to see through the water is a must. A ball cap will help shield the sun's reflection. A jacket with a hood or a scarf will keep those winter winds from chilling the back of your neck. The rod should be light weight and something that will give you the ability to make a long cast. A Shimano Stradic 2500 reel will be light weight enough and still handle a big Red. I use Suffix Braid 10# test line with about 12” of fluorocarbon leader and a 1/8 oz Mission Fishin gold jig head. Soft jerk baits like D.O.A. C.A.L., Arkansas Glow 4” is always in my wade pack. Other great plastic jerk baits are Gulp and Strike King. You will be making a thousand casts a day so keep it light. The rod shouldn’t be the same rod you use for Snook. Get a 6’ 6” rod with a short butt, medium light with fast action. You need to have a combination that will let you feel the subtle hit of a Flounder or the “thunk” of a Red.
The Game
It is all about stealth. From the time you move your boat onto the flat to your approach of tailing Reds, think stealth. Drop anchor away from your fishing grounds and wade the rest of the way. I have a saying, “If you are in waist deep water…you’re too deep.” Knee deep to butt deep is the highway. Make long casts hitting the back of the “Pot Hole” and drag the jerk bait into the zone. The slower retrieve hitting the bottom of the sand hole will attract a strike from any number of species. It is something about the dust that gets stirred up and the scent of your bait. Gulp's are really good for this, but sometimes the pin fish will bite off the tails. The color of the bait needs to be learned. I stood next to Captain Jay Plastic throwing a Pearl White, and I was throwing an Arkansas Glow. He was catching three to my one. It didn’t take me long to figure that out! This week my friend Erick was throwing “Opening Day” while I was using Root Beer Flake. He caught Reds while I caught Flounder. When the wind is howling from the north, we like to set up north of the fishing grounds and work our way south. The advantage is that you can make longer casts and the chop on the water masks your approach. Sometimes you will get to the edge of a big sand hole and you can see the Reds mulling around looking for food. Stand in the weeds and fire those baits in a pattern, trying not to land the bait on top of them. You could hookup on three or four fish, before they spook and move on.
The Obvious
Sometimes the flat can get pretty crowded; everyone looking for that prized Redfish. Pulling onto a Gin clear, calm flat needs to be well thought out. Motors, anchors, loud talking, music, and clunking around on the deck like a bunch of Wildebeest, are all ways to spook feeding Reds…and might even upset the other fishermen, too. Make sure you put out your anchor. Don’t rely on the power pole to keep your boat there while the tide is coming in. Watch out for stingrays. The sharks are usually only Bonnet Heads and aren’t as scary as the stingrays. When you see that the tide starts flooding the flat, move closer to the shoreline. Fish it for awhile to see if it produces, but like I always say “When it’s done, it’s done!” Go home and hang the Christmas Lights.
You can get ahold of Captain Caldwell by calling him at 813-966-5406 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . As a contributing member of our site, you can also contact him by contacting any of us and we'll be sure to tell him about your call.
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