Many a New Years Day has passed and been
forgotten but there is one etched into my
memory forever. It happened January 1,
1985. Instead of greeting the New Year on
her eve, I opted to go to bed early to
awake at 4:00AM so I could start the New
Year right. So, I went fishing.
Being a newbie at wintertime trout
fishing, I had heard these spectacular
fish often winter-up in the deep water of
rivers and jetties. Therefore, I
strategized two areas to conquer with the
first choice, the Brazos River, and the
second the Quintana Jetty.
After wasting half the day at the river
without success we packed up and went to
the jetty. The wind was brisk out of the
Northeast upon arrival and the walk down
the granite structure was long.
Therefore, we stopped short and huddled
on the leeward side of the rocks to
escape the damp and chilly breath of the
coastal winter. So, we opted to set up
and fish there. It wasn’t long
before an angler passed us with f the
biggest limit of trout I had ever seen in
my life. I bet every one of those trout
were more than 5 lbs. with the biggest
going at least 8 or 9. Ten
minutes later, two more anglers walked by
carrying similar catches of monster
specks, and I stood and stared in awe
over the size of those fish. Suddenly, I
wasn’t cold anymore. Regretfully
though, we had missed the bite and that
day became one of those ‘we should
have” outings. But, just seeing
trout of that caliber made my day or
maybe even my year, plus, I learned I
didn’t have to sit at home and whine
about the weather being too cold to fish.
As a result of that day, I have had some
productive winter jetty trout trips.
I learned the cooler months of the year
provide great potential for catching
trout from jetties since the deep holes,
which are washed out along the base of
the rocks, provide warmth during extreme
cold periods. Trout will “hole
up” in these areas and hug the
bottom where the water is slightly
warmer. Also, as a clear day progresses,
the granite will absorb heat from the
bright sun and provide a comfort zone.
Experts claim 1° of warmer water makes a
difference.
If you decide to feed the urge this
winter and fish for this speckled quarry,
a few essentials for success are
necessary.
Although trout can be caught from dirty
water and nasty weather, nicer conditions
seem to improve the catch and the comfort
of being there. Keep an eye on the surf
cams of the internet and the weather
forecast, and remember air temperature is
not as critical as wind conditions. The
wind should be blowing from a direction
that provides a protected side of the
jetty. For example, if the jetty extends
into the sea from North to South, a wind
with any east in it at all will provide
protection on the west side of the
structure. Also, the shore, which this
jetty extends from, provides protection
from a Northerly blow. However, when the
winds are light and variable, protection
is not needed and both sides of the rocks
can be productive.
The best water conditions seem to be
green with a slight sandy tint in it, but
too clear or not clear enough can hamper
fishing. However, sandy or crystal clear
water will not scare me away.
The tackle used for tricking winter jetty
trout depends on the methods implemented.
A tried and true approach is by
free-lining a live shrimp. A long slow
action rod mounted with a spinning reel
is best for lobbing delicate unweighted
bait away from the rocks. Small split
shots will take the bait down deep into
the holes or a colored bead can be added
for an attractor.
Fishing a live bait suspended under a
popping cork is also effective. A float
fixed 4 – 6 feet above the bait
works fine, but when you want to suspend
it much deeper, the slip float method is
best. Actually, I am seeing a trend
toward this way of presenting a live bait
at the jetties. With this method, the
line is pushed through the hole of the
stick located in the center of a popping
cork with a stop tied to the line at the
desired fishing depth. Stops are known as
“Bobber Stoppers” and can be
purchased at tackle stores and bait
camps. They allow for less hang from your
rod tip for an easier cast. After the
bait rig enters the water, the line
slides through the stick until the float
reaches the stop.
As for tackle, I prefer using a fast
action 8 to 9-foot rod for fishing with a
popping cork. The length helps me control
fish around the rocks during a fight and
the fast tip provides more control over
the float. Both spinning and baitcasting
reels mounted to a rod like this can be
used with equal success.
Also, a hook I found useful for fishing
live bait in the rocks are the small wire
type circle hooks that have recently
invaded the shelves of tackle shops. One
advantage of these hooks is some contain
a red coating, which many anglers believe
is an attracter. Also, a hook set is not
essential since the circle of the hook
sets itself in the fishes jaw. But, the
most important feature of these awesome
little things for jetty fishing
applications is they seldom hang in the
rocks. You
can actually put your offering where the
trout often are without worrying about
losing much tackle and wasting valuable
fishing time retying. When using these
little hooks, be sure you match the size
of your hook to the bait so not to impair
its action. A hook too large can make a
bait appear dead or it may actually kill
it.
Although live bait seems to be more
effective at the jetties I frequent
during the winter months, lures catch
their share of trout too. I prefer a 7 or
7 ½-foot rod capable of casting a lure
weight of ¼ to ¾ ounce. This type of
fishing requires patience since the
cooler water slows the metabolism of bait
and fish alike, thus a slow retrieve is
usually necessary. Slow sinking plugs are
effective, but I prefer soft plastics
since losing them to the rocks are not as
expensive. Plus, they are more versatile
and can be fished at all depths. The
weight of the lead head dictates the
speed of its sinking rate and retrieve.
For those times you want to fish very
sloooooowwwww, a plain hook without a
lead head can be used. With this method,
hide the hook in the plastic so you can
crawl it in the rocks with fewer snags.
Whichever method of fishing you choose
for tricking winter trout at the jetties,
a heavier line may be preferred over that
used in light tackle bay and surf fishing
applications. A mono of about 14 lb. test
with a lengthy 6 to 10-foot shock leader
of 30 lb. test may make the difference of
bringing your trout of a life time to the
net. Rocks can wreak havoc on lines.
Other essentials for winter trout fishing
at the jetties are a dolly or cart for
the ease of the long walk you will
partake in. Also, a long handled net
often insures the landing of a fish and
your safety on the rocks. Forget about
hand-grabbing your catch since the
water’s edge along the rocks is a
danger zone where “slippery as
ice” algae grows. Just
as importantly, over dress with layers of
clothes since you can always shed if it
gets too warm. You may become miserably
cold if you under dress.
To leave you with a bit of advice, winter
jetty trout fishing is hit and miss and
quality catching prevails over quantity.
Each jetty system has her own
personality, and time spent with your
favorite one will teach you her moods,
thereby, providing you with more hits
than misses. In other words, keep her
warm in the winter and you may be
rewarded with a big memory you will never
forget.
By: Andrew Jones aka
“Surfrunner”
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