Waist-deep Wadefishing texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout In many people's mind, July is the quintessential summer month. Temperatures are rising, school kids are out for the year, winds are becalmed, and, of course, Fourth of July celebrations abound. For fish and fishermen, however, July means something a little different. July is traditionally the beginning of the true `summer pattern,' as warming water temperatures begin to push speckled trout off the shin-deep flats. In bays up and down the Texas coast, specks of all sizes will be relocating to deeper structure. Whether it's grass, shell, rock or humps, any structure that's located in 3 feet of water or more is likely to attract speckled trout during the dog days of summer. A good deal of inshore anglers spend July and August drifting over or anchoring near these deep water hot spots. However, still other anglers contend it is still best to approach trout on foot - regardless of how deep they're holding. For these fishermen, July means the start of wading out until water covers their belt and chasing trout while by waist deep wading. FOLLOWING THE FISH Although hardcore wade fishermen my find themselves chest deep during the heat of the afternoon, they don't start off that way. In fact, one of the main advantages to summer wading is being able to follow the fish - at their pace - as they transition from shallow to deep water throughout the day. This is something boating anglers are unable to do without repositioning themselves for multiple drifts. And, of course, each time the engine cranks to move the boat back to the top of the drift, there is a chance the fish will spook. Wade fishermen, on the other hand, can literally stand among the fish as long as the fish remain stationary. They can then quietly follow the fish as the move out into deeper water, pausing each time the school does. During summer, fish may start out being as shallow as shin deep, so waders shouldn't be too hasty in walking out to deeper water. This is particularly true following calm, clear nights, which allow the water to relieve itself of the heat it absorbed during the day. Rather than marching out spraying casts left and right, most experienced anglers have found it much more productive to settle into a certain depth and fan cast an area thoroughly before moving ahead. When fan casting, don't be rushed into `quartering the clock.' In other words, rather than just cast right, left and dead ahead, make multiple casts at small increments to make sure every inch of water has had a lure run through it. And, don't be afraid to make multiple casts to one spot if it looks `fishy.' Being able to completely dissect an area with repeated casts is another advantage wade fishermen enjoy over anglers drifting in a boat. Even a slow drift will usually push a fishermen through a stretch of water before very many casts can be made. So, if you've already committed to getting in the water anyway, don't be in a rush to cover a lot of real estate. Rather, be thorough and make sure each parcel has been saturated with casts before moving on. When it is time to move ahead, move in measured increments. If fish aren't biting shin deep, move to knee deep and give it a shot. Then, thigh deep, waist deep, etc. But, make sure each move is warranted by a lack of action at the previous stop. Once fish are found, stay with them. If a hot bite suddenly turns cold, odds are the fish haven't moved far. Ease out a short distance and begin fan casting again. Repeat this process until you relocate the school. LOOK FOR SIGNS Of course, successful wade fishing involves much more than stopping the boat and hopping out. And, one of the downsides to wade fishing is it takes much longer to reposition yourself if you start fishing dead water. Therefore, you want to make extra certain there's reason to believe fish are in the area before bailing out of the boat. To that end, wade fishermen must be much more diligent in spotting fish `signs.' Baitfish are the most obvious sign. However, although it may be worth shutting down the boat for a few casts if one or two mullet are spotted, it hardly warrants going overboard. Rather, it is best to wait until a consistent flow of baitfish is noted before setting out on foot. Slicks, muds, birds and, on clearer flats, the fish themselves are other signs that would point to a flat being productive. However, if you aren't seeing some signs, don't stop - stay in the boat until you find a compelling reason to get out. SUBTLE STRUCTURE Once in the water, it is important to shuffle your feet for two reasons - one, to avoid being hit by a stingray; two, to determine the subtle changes on the bay floor. By keeping your feet in contact with the bottom throughout your wade, you'll be able to feel changes in bottom composition, such as sand, shell, mud, etc. You will also be able to feel slight humps, holes, depressions and other geographic anomalies. These subtle changes can often be enough to cause fish to key in on a certain area. Anytime you note a change in the bay bottom, cover the area extra thoroughly before moving on. It is also important to note the bottom characteristics when you begin catching fish. Odds are, if fish are keyed in on one type of bottom, they will be consistently found over that type of bottom - so stay on it. For example, if you are finding fish on hard packed sand, make sure your wading path continues on hard packed sand. If you wander into muddy bottom, track back to the sand. PACKIN' LIGHT The first thing every gear hog anglers needs to learn about wade fishing is you can't take everything in the boat with you when you go. Long-time bay shufflers have learned to take the essentials and only the essentials. A good wading belt not only provides much-appreciated back support, most offer a variety of pockets, compartments and/or d-rings for attaching or storing other necessities. Among those necessities are tools for cutting line and removing hooks. Although some anglers still use needlenose pliers, long-handled hemostats (forceps) are much lighter and, once you get used to the `self-locking' mechanism, much easier to use. Many versions also feature a cutting edge, eliminating the need for separate snips. If you do carry separate snips, you might want to consider wearing them on a lanyard or pinning them to your wading belt with a retractable `zinger.' An extra rod, though far from a necessity, can come in handy - particularly if you plan to wade a good distance from the boat. If you are carrying a spare rod, be sure to get a wading belt fitted with a rod holder. Then, position the rod holder at the back of the belt so that your spare rod is out of the way while you are fishing. When it comes to lure selection, it's still a good idea to take everything you feel you may need on the boat with you. However, when it comes time to jump in, assess the situation based on wind, water and fish behavior and choose you lures accordingly. Casting shirt pockets can usually hold enough soft-plastic tails and jig heads to get through a session. Multi-hook baits, on the other hand, can be a bit more challenging. Though surf waders like to use pith helmets with a cadre of plugs pinned to it, most bay fishermen usually don more casual headgear - like ball caps. There are a few waders who'll readily stick plugs into their caps. But, most have learned the hard (and painful) way that there is a downside to this organizational method. This simplest and safest way to carry topwaters and slow-sinking plugs is in a small utility box. Today, several manufacturers offer models with o-ring gaskets to ensure the plugs inside the box stay dry. Beware, though, these boxes are extremely buoyant and will float away if not tethered to your wading belt or clothing. KEEPIN' COOL The final benefit to wading during the dog days of summer is the ability to keep cool. Though the bay water temperature is typically `bath water warm' during summer, it's still a far cry cooler than the air that rides above it. And, when it comes to fishing the mid-day hours during July, keeping cool can be almost as enjoyable as catching fish. texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout