florida Loc: Southwest Florida/ Virginia

Hi new to forum. What is best bait for Spotted Trout this time of year? Also fish high tide or low tide? Flats or passes?

87cad

I have had my best spotted trout fishing using an imitation bait fish fly on the incoming tide casting close to shore on the flats to feeding fish I have spotted. Steve

capt pete

As a previous guide from Naples-Marco Island area, my absolutely best lure was an unpainted round leadhead jig sleeved with a 3 inch Power Bait "twister tail". The color was clear with gold flake. My worst fishing clients were experts when using this combo for over 25 years in the Ten Thousand Island backwaters and near-shore. The back half of the incoming tide was best. Prime water depth was 6-7 feet. Hope this helps...Pete

florida Loc: Southwest Florida/ Virginia

Thanks for the info. will try it out and let you know the results.

capt pete

I forgot an important tip...Just a slow continuous retrieve produced more trout and snook vs a jigging retrieve in that 6-7 ft deep previously mentioned. I specialize in metal jigs like Crippled Herring, Kandlefish and Sonic BaitFish because of their deadly downward flutter and flash. However, if you are fishing in deeper holes for snook or any other species, I guarantee you that these three jigs will out-fish the leadhead with the curl tail. Here's a recent example. Last week, my Florida Fish Commission buddy (Bill) and I were casting leadhead jigs for trout in a Florida Panhandle river. It was terribly slow for us and every other boat we talked with. I told Bill to turn his fish locator on in hope of locating a deep hole that held some fish. We went thru about ten 20-36 ft deep holes until we finally found a hole about 23 ft deep. Because the water was stained and gold is best in tannin-stained waters, I attached a 1/3 oz gold Kandlefish jig (Wahoo Fishing Products) to my line and begin bottom bouncing that lure. Bill was still casting a variety of jig heads with plastic tails. It did not take long to dramatically turn the fish on. Even Bill, a die hard "jig head" man, switched to a Kandlefish with silver on one side and gold on the opposite side. His was a 1/2 oz'er. At the end of 1 1/2 hours, our total was 31 trout, 9 redfish, 1 mangrove snapper and other trout that looked like sugar trout. All fish were released. Tip...it does not matter what lure you use if you cannot locate to fish. We were fishing blindly at the start of the day and were forced to fish more scientifically later that day. I violated a cardinal rule of not locating the fish first before fishing. That fish locator saved our day. Happy day...Pete

florida Loc: Southwest Florida/ Virginia

WOW you had a great day. I will let you know how I do.

fishinfred

I use DOA shrimp. I have caugh
the fish on all tides, mostly fish flats.
Fishinfred

florida Loc: Southwest Florida/ Virginia

Thanks for info.