Charlie Thomason will be fishing double rigs for trout. It has not been uncommon to catch 50 to 60 speckled trout per inshore charter trip. Number one thing to focus on is paying attention when you get bites to tell you how to work the lure. Speckled Trout are one of our favorite saltwater species to target. NOAA’s Nearshore Wave Prediction System (NWPS), In his latest Higher Calling Gulf Coast podcast, C, One of largest environmental efforts in the countr, 3431 Rayford Rd. Shallow bays, coves, wrecks, rockpiles and grass beds are great places to hunt. Sometimes the bite is very pronounced and sometimes it’s very subtle and it’s up to you to be ready to set the hook. These will give you a good firm hook set without damaging the trout. I have been using the plain lead colored heads for half a lifetime with very favorable results. They sit beneath sea grass, in potholes, or on the edge of oyster bars waiting to ambush baitfish. Being able to properly set the hook and fight the fish is equally as important. His use of innuendo on the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report is second to none. I really like the inshore favor and I add a small smear on the lure body about every couple hours. I like to create a cadence of twitching the lure side to side all the way back to the boat. I like the non-slip loop knot developed by the late Lefty Kreh. The lure tends to be very “light” on the tip and can be very hard to detect a bite, because the lure is coming at me at all times. No trout lure is a sure-fire, one-size-fits-all option though. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Your pick may differ a bit, but certain factors are common among most anglers. Tips to Catch More Speckled Trout Fishing … Chuggers simulate wounded baitfish and are best rigged with a loop knot or swivel/split ring for unhindered action. The best bait for night fishing is one that is 3 to 5 inches. Here, I hook the croaker just in front of the dorsal fin and toss it towards the structure. This adds a little more length so that the hook hangs down and more freedom in the lure for when you hook a fish. Surface plugs that pop, spit and splash draw trout, particularly during low light in calm to light chop. The trick to being a good jig fisherman is to be ready on the fall of the lure by keeping your line tight and to stay in constant contact with the bottom. If the wind is light or I’m fishing in shallow water, my first and often only choice for chasing a trophy would be the Heddon ® Super Spook Jr. ® in bone with silver sides. Best Speckled Trout Lures for Seasons Ahead, Fly Fishing for Beginners- Trout Fishing 101. My favorite three colors at the moment are Cool Beans, Limon, and Pink Passion. I feel like I almost scare some of my clients when I set the hook. Sometimes this will trigger a bite because the fish thinks it has wounded the lure and come back in for the kill. Ste 200-408 I Spring, TX 77386, TPWD Seeks Input On Saltwater Regulations. Anglers who work soft plastics like the Slick Lure properly will almost always have good success with fall specks. Sea Trout (Trout) can be caught on North Carolina's coast from early March, or earlier, to November, and later. When it comes to working a jig I like to “think like a shrimp”. Watching shrimp in the bait tanks or in the water around the boat, I noticed they are very quick when trying to evade predators followed by a slow falling or swimming pattern. Bomber Lures Mullet Slow-Sinking Twitch / Walking Saltwater Fishing Lure - Excellent for Speckled Trout, Redfish, Stripers and More, 3 1/2 Inch, 5/8 Ounce. The rig you see in the pic above has 15-pound Power Pro. It’s also a good idea to change up your cadence from time to time to see if the fish want something different. I have become very partial to a newer lure that Pure Flats LLC has been making called the Lil Slick. Thank you for the great feedback Pam! It's hard to believe a couple of weeks ago much of, Texas experienced a rapid drop in temperatures whi, Check out the latest Higher Calling Gulf Coast for, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) reminds t, Listen to this interview with Dr. Aaron Adams as h, Cory Carlson, from Ruston, Louisiana, has been exh. They are also pretty easy to remove. There’s nothing quite like the sound and sight of a big speck blowing up on a topwater lure. How to Rig for Speckled Trout Fishing. They make several different styles  to choose from. https://greatdaysoutdoors.com/selecting-the-best-speckled-trout-rig As a fisher, mostly a newbie, you may find it hard to choose the best reel from the market. It glides towards the rod tip at all times unless you let it hit the bottom. I had to really concentrate and make myself slow down my retrieval to start having success. First is learning to “Walk The Dog”. Topwater! This video talks about some of the most effective fishing rigs and lures to catch Speckled Sea Trout! When setting up your speckled trout rig for fall fishing, the first consideration in rigging the bait on the hook is to remember that it is very important for the lure action to be perfect in the water. When all is said and done, however, a white or pearl four-inch soft plastic paddle-tail will prove shockingly effective in the widest range of conditions and depths. Ste 200-408 I Spring, TX 77386 (281) 869-5511. The author made a short example with throwing lures of when you and a buddy go fishing in a day and you both make 500 casts in a day. You can invest in “Trout Tackle” and it will be of course designed with saltwater in mind. I like to use a braided main line of about 20-30 pound test line attached to a 3-5 foot section of 20 lb fluorocarbon leader with an improved albright knot. Fishing for speckled trout, strategies for success! Captain Richard Rutland grew up in Mobile, Alabama and has been fishing the local waters of Mobile Bay for over 15 years. I then push the point of the hook through and catch it with my finger. This rig is a weightless one and I use a Number 8 treble. Here are some basic tips for speckled trout fishing that will help to increase your odds anytime you go fishing for this species. I recommend using a double "jig rig". If I throw it just 10 feet further than my buddy all day long that equals about 5000 feet of more water covered than your buddy. Pink and bone colors are my favorites but I think the big profile and action is what really draws in the big bites. What is the best time to catch speckled trout? Texas Fish & Game Publishing 3431 Rayford Rd. On a traditional style jighead they usually have a point that sticks out on the hook to hold up the plastic and after catching a few fish the plastic will want to slide down and fall off the hook. Cost is around $125. Most importantly, however, the reel needs to be sized to balance on the rod you’ve chosen. Perhaps the most effective speckled trout rig ever devised is the popping cork rig. The packs come with an unweighted 4/0 hook and is good for me in only super shallow situations of one and a half feet of water or less. Just because I get a blowup and do not hook the fish doesn’t mean it will not come back and strike again. I also apply a small amount of Pro-Cure. That said, the gear we’re about to talk about would at least, by most serious anglers, be considered top-tier. Most all topwater lures are rigged with treble hooks which like to pull out of the fish’s mouth during the fight. My second  favorite topwater is the newer Rapala Skitter V.  It’s a bit smaller than the original Skitter Walk and has a sharp V shape on the bottom which gives it some killer side to side action when walking the dog. ... As for what to use, it’s very hard to beat shrimp for any inshore fishing. Some really big trout are caught each fall by anglers who spend the time to find them. Shallow to me is two to seven feet or so, but can vary depending on where you are targeting these fish. Spinning, bait casting, or fly fishing are all suitable choices. Topwater is a great search bait because I can really cover a huge area of water very quickly but also some days they will only hit a topwater and nothing else. While this article will mainly […] Lastly, is working the speckled trout rig to catch a fish. Now when I do get a blowup on the lure, most folks want to set the hook because it is very visually stimulating and that is the wrong thing to do. Use split-tail grubs, soft plastic minnows, or a combination of both. I build all my own custom Cold Stick rods and look for blanks that are medium power and fast to extra fast actions in lengths in 7’ – 7’6”.When I load up the rod I like the top 1/3 of the rod to bend. It is recommended that you use a rattling bait to attract more attention. The trout and redfish are usually right behind them following this bio-mass of shrimp. If I start to get a lot of bites doing this technique I can start to work in more pauses and I will be surprised how effective it can be. The lure, when in the water, is always moving; it doesn’t exactly stop and suspend. I catch a ton of fish on jigs in the fall, I think mainly due to all the shrimp in our system at this time of year. That said, the gear we’re about to talk about would at least, by most serious anglers, be considered top-tier. Like all of the rigs discussed above, the angler must impart the action of the lure with twitches and pulls of the rod tip. May speckled trout techniques: The Carolina rig Chris Ginn Inshore Fishing , News Breaker Effectively keep live bait in the strike zone, even in deeper water with current I am also very adamant about using a loop knot to attach the jig to my 20lbs fluorocarbon and my speckled trout rigs for fall. One of the techniques you can employ is to use topwater speckled trout bait. Another trick I use is to work in several pauses in during my cast. The important thing is to make sure the hook has plenty of freedom through the lure. If you’re going to use this rig in moving waters look for deeper slower moving pools just after fast shallow water. I leave the line slack so the bait can swim down on its own and that is the key. Super Spook Jr. Fishing for Speckled Trout in the Surf can be done with your typical bass fishing rods and reels. 49. One of the most versatile lures in your arsenal for speckled trout (and just about any other species of fish out there) is a plastic grub on a jig head (this also is one of the best redfish lures – lures for red drum & puppy drum). When I get a blowup and I do not hook the fish I will kill the movement of the lure for about 3 to 5 seconds. #2 Best Speckled Trout Lure – Grub On A Jig Head. I do not think the color of the jig head matters. So take the following with a grain of salt. I fish the lure with the hook exposed out of the topside but you can also tuck the point into the plastic to make it weedless for fishing around grass, rocks or oyster shells. Chuggers for Speckled Trout. When fishing big fish or choppy conditions my go-to is the tried and true Zara Super Spook. Drift Fishing. Okay: time to get out there, and catch some speckled trout! I like to feel like I am really driving the point of the hook into the fish’s jaw or cheek and then let the hook do the rest. 2. With any fish on the line I like to focus on the bend in the rod and keep the same amount of bend throughout the blank the entire fight. As for the jig head I exclusively use a 1/8, 1/4, or 3/8  ounce 4/0 hook size Hogie lead jig head. The first two twitches make the bait dance side to side like a wounded mullet and slow movement of the tip towards me keeps the line tight to feel a bite. In closing, with all of these techniques and speckled trout rigs for fall fishing, I want to add this “Every Cast, Every Time”. Since I read this article, I have been throwing my lure as far as my body and tackle limits me to the point of getting tendonitis in my elbow. I almost exclusively use a bait casting rod with this lure with 30 lb braided Spiderwire Stealth Smooth with a 4-to-6 foot section of 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. Catching speckled trout with double rigs Mississippi Sportsman Newsletters , Speckled Trout , Sportsman TV On this segment of Sportsman TV, Capt. There are a good number of brands that produce reels for redfish and speckled trout. In my case, since I fish on many different boats and my own has a large T-top, I use a 6’6″ fast-action rod. The reasoning behind using a loop knot is that the lure is much more free while in the water and presents a much more natural appearance during retrieval. There is a slot on the bottom and it needs to be facing the weight on the hook. It was a short editorial article and the author went on about how fishing is really about how much water can you cover in a day whether it was in the boat or casting your lure. All Rights Reserved. A Fishbites Fight Club scented shrimp lure fooled this trout. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Speed it up, slow it down, pause it, aggressive twitching and subtle twitching will sometimes tell you everything you need to know about how to work the lure. Most times I twitch twice in a very pronounced upward motion off the bottom and hold my rod tip high waiting on a bite. My favorite color is actually the speckled trout … How to Surf Fish for Speckled Trout. Slicks require proper rigging with hooks and knots for maximum effectiveness. Topwater lures are great low light condition lures which means for me,  early mornings, late afternoons and all day on cloudy conditions. That’s almost one mile more water that I covered than my buddy. I like to pinch a small hole with my fingernail to give the hook plenty of room to more in and out of the lure. Use a … The secret to this lure is to learn to swim it slowly and enticingly over seagrass tops and potholes. I also like to remove the center hook from the lure because of its nature to hang up on the rear hook and I like to add another split ring to the front and rear hook. Next I will twitch the lure 1 to 2 times and kill the lure again. As for working a topwater lure it is somewhat of a learning curve because there are a million things you can do to trigger a bite. Yes, and 2 a.m. Most anglers prefer to use circle hooks or kahle hooks for fishing speckled trout. Top 3 Fishing Lures For Big Fall Trout [VIDEO] Sign up for FREE to receive the latest ... but does dart very well through the water and elicits strikes from big trout. louisianasportsman Newsletters, Speckled Trout, Sportsman TV, Sportsman TV Episodes On this segment of Sportsman TV, Capt. Bottom Fishing When selecting the best speckled trout rig for fall fishing, I like to use three types of artificial lures. - YouTube. The rig is very simple, using only a cork with a weighted bottom and a rattle, a leader, and a hook or jig head. I like to start with my rod tip low and make two very pronounced twitches in an upward motion then slowly keep the tip of the rod coming at you. 4.5 out of 5 stars 159. Trout often like to wait in these pools for food to come to them without spending too much energy. This lure is almost impossible to work in a large amount of chop so it is goes on my calm water speckled trout rigs for fall. Speckled Trout Fishing Techniques. I like these setups because you need a tip that is soft enough to twitch the  lure properly yet with enough backbone in the blank to be able to drive the hook into the fishes mouth. My favorite colors are hot pink and hot olive. The bite almost always comes after the two twitches as I am slowly picking up the tip. Speckled Trout Rigs. Choice of action may vary a bit depending on whether you like to toss topwater (many people prefer moderate) or jigs (most folks go for a fast action, in that case). I think this is for sure one thing that I do that gives me more success on the water than others most days. Again, I use an improved albright knot to attach my braid to fluorocarbon leader and a non-slip loop knot to attach to the hook. My pick is a 3000 to 3500 size spinning reel in the $200 to $250 range. The Slick Lure took me a little while to become accustomed to fishing and having a lot of success only because it was unlike anything I had fished in the past. Anglers fishing for speckled trout mostly target them on the fertile, shallow flats. Now for the hookset and fighting the fish. by Richard Rutland | Sep 3, 2019 | Fishing. Length is totally a matter of preference; longer 7’6″ and 8’0″ rods will send your lure sailing farther, but can also be a bit unwieldy, especially if you cast from a small boat with a T-top. These fish are a blast to catch on light- to medium-weight tackle. These time proven big trout lures consistently produce fish over five pounds and have landed me a number of top tournament finishes.. By Capt. In the next section, a list of the five best reels for redfish and speckled trout is given. This can take practice to become efficient at mastering the technique. When I think about where Spotted Sea Trout live, … So take the following with a grain of salt. Each year in the late summer to early fall all the white shrimp in Mobile Bay migrate into the Upper Mobile Bay, Mobile-Tensaw Delta and tidal rivers. Another component I look for when speck fishing is current. I like to use very quick twitches with my rod tip and allow a nice slow fall following the twitches of the rod. My favorite colors are hot pink and gold mullet. Another line of lures that I have been using a lot on speckled trout rig for fall fishing is the new line of Fish Bites soft plastics called Fight Club. FFP Co-Founder, Ty Nelson, on His Favorite Speckled Sea Trout Rigs & Lures: Speckled Sea Trout are ambush predators. There must be dozens of offerings out there that fit the bill for rods, reels, lines, and jigs. One caveat: there are times when specks want something that’s pink, period, above all else. I like to break these lures out when I have calm to moderate chop on the water or if the fish are being a little weary to committing to the lure. If you don't want to rig your own, you can buy pre-rigged popping cork setups that use titanium wire and beads, but they essentially all do the same thing. Fishing Line – Again, the choice here depends a bit on whether you like topwater (where mono can be advantageous) or subsurface lures (in which case braid is usually the favorite). If you see a trout following, but not striking, give the shrimp a harder pull to indicate escape to create a reaction strike. November is perhaps the best speckled trout month inshore. On all my topwater lures I really like to change the “stock” hooks out with Owner replacement hooks in the #4 or #6 sizes. This rig is usually fished with a spinning rod when targeting trout. Sometimes the fish want a very subtle twitch while other times I really have to twitch the lure more aggressively to make the lure throw some water each twitch to get a bite. Slightly shorter 6’6″ to 7’0″ rods are a lot easier to handle and a lot easier to store or transport, though casting distance will suffer a bit. Stay up to date with the latest hunting, fishing, and outdoor news from the Lone Star State and beyond! Get outdoor trends, data, new products, and tips delivered to your inbox. Clients are catching their fishing limit with no problem, which is six trout … No, we’re not going to talk specific brands. This is simple twitching of the rod tip while constantly slowly reeling all in one motion. The Speckled Trout bite has been on fire these past few weeks inshore fishing Amelia Island backwaters. Here are some speckled trout fishing techniques that have proven to work well: 1. That said, 15-pound test is just about ideal for speckled trout. Live cocahoe minnows tend to work better for flounder, and live croakers are excellent for targeting big speckled trout. For speckled trout use either a size #2, #1, or 1/0 hook. However you would possibly encounter the greatest effects between 10 p.m., either in the morning or late at night. Live bait rig for speckled trout with bobber. The screw lock holds it in place very securely. Speckled trout are without a doubt one of the most popular inshore saltwater game fish. Basic Tips for Speckled Trout Fishing. We will start from the bottom of the water column and work our way to the top. Best fishing reels for redfish and speckled trout. This is more of a big fish shallow water bait, but I also use it in deep water lure when fish are suspended way above the bottom. The Beast hook has a screw lock in on the eye of the hook which I poke in the nose of the Slick Lure and twist the bait all the way tight to the eye of the hook. I like to make as long of a cast as I can, let the slack settle in the water and then reel up tight. Comments Off. After 4 years in the US Navy, Captain Richard returned to Mobile to pursue his dream of becoming a charter captain. The mirrodines are awesome for trout. I use this when fishing structure with no current. This is why I like a medium light blank to catch and fight the fish so the hook doesn’t pull out as frequently. Speckled Trout are ravenous for a good shrimp and will take them live or dead though live does seem to do a bit better. Both Maryland and Virginia have perfect speckled trout habitat. As a young boy, I read an article in Florida Sportsman magazine that really struck me and changed my casting ability. © 2021 Texas Fish & Game Publishing. The speckled sea trout … Texas Fish & Game is the largest and most popular outdoor publication in the Lone Star State. Of course, you can always use artificial baits like Berkley Gulp shrimp, or swap out the khale hook for an offset wide gap hook and rig a fluke, or rig a 1/16oz jighead with Matrix Shad instead. For rigging topwater lures on my speckled trout rigs for fall fishing, I like to use a medium-light power blank with a fast tip. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Catch speckled trout with a carolina rig speckled trout fishing with lures 6 great speckled trout fishing and tactics for speckled trout basic speckled trout lures fishHow To Catch More Speckled Trout In Winter S Cold WeatherCatching Speckled Trout And Tricks ReelHow To Catch Speckled Trout With Lures And BaitLook For Clean Water To Catch … But when you go shopping for a new set of gear for speckled trout fishing, consider: Fishing Rods – A high-modulus, high-sensitivity rod is a must.