Finesse Tactics for Speckled Trout texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout Officially, December 22 is the first day of winter. However, plummeting water temperatures often precede this day, putting trout in a `winter' pattern weeks before winter truly begins. But, regardless of when trout make that transition, the winter pattern typically means one thing - the fish will be finicky. Most often anglers are tipped off to the change in fish behavior when their catch rate begins falling faster than the mercury in the thermometer. For once these trout become more selective in their feeding habits, many of the old `tried and true' methods and lures no longer tempt them. That doesn't mean a respectable string of speckled trout is beyond the reach of the average angler this time of year. It simply means fishermen looking to score good catches of winter specks need to undergo a transition of their own and try a few `finesse' tactics to tickle trout into biting. EQUIPMENT MAKEOVER One of the first steps in making a transition to finesse tactics is assessing equipment. The primary use rod and reel outfit for the vast majority of Texas coastal anglers, with the exception of a relatively small group of sight-casting enthusiasts, is a tad heavy for most finesse techniques. However, there is more to consider when choosing a finesse outfit than simply grabbing a more limber rod and a reel loaded with lighter line. In general, finesse fishing does involve fishing lightweight lures. So, castability is an important consideration. By and large, spinning outfits will provide greater casting distance with flyweight plugs. Spinning reels are also more adept at handling small diameter line, which is also essential when finesse fishing. Lighter, smaller diameter line allows for greater casting distance, but also causes less resistance as a plug descends and it allows the bait to move in a more natural motion. Typically, something in the 8- to 10-pound range is appropriate. However, choose light line with caution. Although a small diameter is important, it is equally important for the line to have a minimal amount of stretch. Less stretch allows for greater sensitivity to aid in detecting subtle bites and also allows for more power while setting the hook. Because of this, a copolymer line such as Cajun Red Advantage or Silver Thread is usually better suited for finesse fishing, as copolymers typically have less stretch and less memory that standard monofilament lines. Braided lines also work well in these situations. Picking a rod is perhaps the most important decision facing anglers putting together an outfit for finesse fishing. Whereas the rod needs to be soft enough to protect the light line it is casting, it also needs enough muscle in the spine to set the hook with authority. Additionally, the rod needs to be sensitive enough to detect the faintest of taps - which is often all you get with lethargic winter fish. The ideal stick is a 7-foot medium-light, moderate-fast action spinning rod. A model matching this description will typically be rather firm throughout the first few feet of graphite, with a softer tip section beginning at about the third guide from the top. This configuration offers plenty of forgiveness to protect light lines, yet provides ample authority for setting hooks and fighting fish. LURES AND RIGS Some lures which are used while employing finesse fishing tactics are familiar to most anglers, but are used a little differently in order to entice finicky trout. Other baits may not be regular residents in Texas tackle boxes, but should be added to the lineup for the cold weather months. With the exception of a couple of `power baits' which are used with specific finesse fishing techniques, finesse baits are subtle, with understated actions. Floater/Divers: Once considered among the top trophy trout baits on the Texas coast, floater/divers such as the Cordell Redfin have lost some of their popularity in recent years. However, they have lost none of their effectiveness - especially in cold weather. The CJ9 Redfin is still considered the standard, although when fish are particularly tight-lipped the downsized CJ8 is a better choice. Another excellent choice for finicky fish is the relatively new Rebel Holographic Minnow, which sports an amazingly lifelike finish. Suspending and Slow-sinking Plugs: Corkys and 51 Series Mirrolures are the traditional favorites in this category. However, in recent years, a pair of Mirrolures - the Catch 5 and Catch 2000 - have muscled their way to the forefront. Another relative newcomer to the Texas coast is the Rattle Tube, produced by Texas Rattlin' Rig. The Rattle Tube is a 4-inch bass tube fitted over a suspending rattle chamber. The subtle sway of the tube's skirt and the understated ticking of the rattle have proven extremely effective on wary fish. One often overlooked bait is Smithwick's Suspending Rattling Rogue, which is a suspending lipped diver that has proven deadly, particularly on or around structure. Another bait that fits this category but is rarely thought of in this vain is the DOA Shrimp. Due to its internal weighting system, the DOA Shrimp has an extremely slow and natural-looking descent. Soft-plastics: With the exception of a few specific instances, straight-tail soft-plastics will outperform paddletail baits when fish are finicky. Good examples of plastics to toss this time of year are the YUM Houdini Shad and DOA jerkbaits. “Old fashioned” tout and shrimp tails are also effective this time of year. Although these old standard bearers are not as common as they once were, they are still extremely effective during the throes of winter. Tandem Rigs: When fish are lethargic, a tandem rig may take fish when a single bait passes without a strike. Most often with slow-reacting fish, this is a function of the lead bait drawing the fish's attention and the trailing bait drawing the strike. The Texas Twister Tandem, which is a weedless rig fitted with DOA jerkbaits, is perhaps the best tandem rig on the market for fooling wary specks. TECHNIQUES Dead-sticking: Perhaps the simplest form of lure fishing, dead-sticking is also one of the hardest retrieves for most anglers to master. Why? Because it involves doing so little anglers are often unable to convince themselves fish can be caught in such a manner. In fact, dead-sticking involves doing nothing more than keeping the line taut enough to detect a strike. However, this `zero retrieve retrieve' is often the most productive when fish are hunkered down following a cool front. DOA Shrimp, which have a natural-looking descent, are one of the lures best suited for dead-sticking. However, virtually any soft-plastic can be retrieved in this manner. Although slow-sinking and suspending baits are most commonly used, over clean bottom anglers can use standard weighted jigs and allow the bait to drag across the bottom as the boat drifts. Twitch-and-pause: Yes, this is the same retrieve typically used with floater/divers and soft-plastics. However, the cadence is much slower in winter. While fishing floater/divers, the pause should be extended beyond what it would normally be during summer and fall. The colder the water, the longer the pause should be. During periods of extreme cold, it is almost difficult to pause too long. However, for most winter conditions, a pause of 3-5 seconds between twitches should suffice. The pause should also be longer when using soft-plastics. Of course, the longer the pause, the farther a lure will fall. To prevent the bait from falling out of the strike zone during an extending pause, it is helpful to use a lighter jig head. Additionally, instead of using the short, sharp twitch typically employed during warm weather, try an elongated lifting sweep of the rod. This will cause the bait to rise high enough in the water column to offset the longer period of descent. Slow-sinking and suspending plugs should also be worked with this slow, twitch-and-pause retrieve. However, `walking-the-dog' also works with these slow sinkers for anglers patient enough to employ a pedestrian cadence while working the bait back to the rod tip. Slow Rolling: A term and technique most often associated with bass fishermen working spinnerbaits, slow rolling can also be applied to a number of saltwater baits. Typically, slow rolling involves presenting a traditional `power' bait in a finesse fashion - hence the use of a spinnerbait in freshwater. In the brine, spinnerbaits will work, but soft-plastics like the TTF Big Mino and DOA CAL Shadtail are good choices, as are a number of hard-body jerkbaits. In the traditional sense, slow-rolling involves reeling just fast enough to cause the bait to `wake' below the water's surface. With floater/divers such as Cordell Redfins or 4in1 Lure, this is easily accomplished at a very slow speed. When attempting to use soft-plastics to wake near the surface, it is best to use swimming-type tails like the Wedgetail Minnow, which actually rise in the water when retrieved. Slow-rolling can also be used to keep heavily weighted soft-plastics on or near the bottom. Again, if the bottom is clean and free of debris, dragging a bait slowly across the bay floor can trigger strikes from finicky fish. Although these finesse fishing techniques lack the pizzazz of standard power techniques, they are effective. And, for anglers willing to spend the time - and have the patience - to master this simply, understated techniques, the reward can be some truly staggering catches of winter specks.