Return to site

Cold Weather Fishing for Texans

· Fishing,Texas,Weather,Outdoors,Outdoor Sports

What do you think of when you think of fishing? Proper fishing gear, maybe a boat on the water, sunny weather, and warm water? Think again. Some of the biggest, best bass a fisherman will catch will be in the winter– chilly weather, winter jackets, a wool hat, and large smile on the fisherman’s face.

The winter season is surprisingly a great time of year to throw a line in the water. It’s especially a great time of year to go fishing along the Gulf of Texas and catch yourself a nice, big trout. Winter fishing isn’t for everyone, but if you want to catch a huge fish, you’re going to want to grab your pole this season.

Muddy Bottoms

Along the coast you’ll find that some areas are covered with muddy bottoms. Mud is a great sign for fishermen on the Gulf. Fish are cold-blooded, which means that they are naturally guided towards warmer water. Wherever you find baitfish, you’ll find gamefish shortly following behind.

The reason you’ll find more fish near a muddy bottom is because the mud tends to warm up faster than other bottoms. One of the easiest ways a fisherman can find a muddy bottom is by wearing waders so they can actually feel the bottom. Although mud can also mean murky water, this gives bait fish a nice place to hide, rather than clear water which gives no cover so the fish will steer away.

Tidal Movement

Before any fisher heads out for the day, they should always check the tide charts before fishing on the Texas Gulf. This allows fishermen to know when the greatest tidal movements are happening. A falling tide could help you find the fish in shallow areas where the water may have gotten warmer.

Mullet and Lure

The best sign of feeder fish around are mullet, as its the prime food source during the winter on the Gulf. Even a few signs of mullet in the water is great for fishing, without needing to find a large school.

If you plan on using lures, darker colors are best for the water this time of year. Corkies are great to have on your line, especially slow sinking so you can drag it along the bottom of the water column.

Monitor Movement

After a big winter front that brings in cooler temperatures and also lowers the water temperature, fish will seek out deeper areas. As the temperatures begin warm up again, the fish then head back towards shallow water. If you can monitor these transitions, you’ll always know where to find the fish.

Stephen Geri originally published this blog on his website at StephenGeri.net