Carla Victory with a solid summertime trout. CPR!
J AY WAT K I N S
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DETECTING SUBTLE PATTERNS THAT MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE Summer heat has arrived and Rockport water temperatures already above 85° are living proof. Afternoon surface temps are bumping 89° in the shallows. Water temperatures this high will most often push bait and game fish alike to the nearest drop-off. Understand that the word drop-off does not always mean deep as many of our drop-offs along the edges of large grass flats are only a foot or so deeper than the flat itself. Finding large numbers of redfish and black drum becomes more predictable when water temperatures are aiding in concentrating them. Add a mid-afternoon falling tide and locating good numbers of reds and drum can nearly become a gimme. The heat can be even tougher on anglers so be sure to stay hydrated and wear protective clothing to protect your head, neck, arms and hands. I talk a good game but the sun is brutal and has definitely taken its toll on my skin. I am excited to talk to you today about some of the trout we are catching and explain how and where we are doing so. First, I want to say that my trout fishing is much tougher than 2020. I have 1 or 2 days a week when I struggle if conditions force me to abandon areas where I have quality trout located. Our trout are still moving more than normal and I feel this also increases the percentage of misses. I saw similar inconsistencies in ‘83 32 | August 2021
and ‘89 but they were even greater then. A quick side note: I had a guy ask me if I had actually documented those events when I was that young. I did not hesitate in saying that I absolutely did and that is the only way I have to measure what I am seeing now. I have always been that angler who wanted to know WHY I caught what I caught. WHERE I caught them. WHEN I caught them. And, of course, HOW I caught them. I honestly wish I were one of those lucky fishermen who just seem to fall into them but I have never really considered myself lucky in that way. I have always had to work to catch them and maybe that was actually an advantage. I believe we learn more and we learn faster when we have to work at something. On the days when we struggle it seems you can feel it coming from the start. Bait presence is diminished and signs of activity are fewer. There are plenty of signs to get me to punch the Power Poles but nothing in particular just jumps out at you. With the super-heated water and summer crowds it is important to sit down right on top of them whenever you can. Many days that first hour in the morning produces half or more of the day’s catch. Lloyd Lassiter, one of Rockport’s best guides, used to tell his clients that it was a fish a minute during summer’s hottest times. I tend to agree with the captain on this
