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John N. Felsher's Redfishing Adventures
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Chasing after
those "dammed"
winter redfish
those "dammed"
winter redfish
Eric Muhoberac shows off a redfish he caught near an old concrete dam in
the marshes near Port Sulphur, La. Hard structures radiate heat into
the water column, frequently attracting large schools of fish.
the marshes near Port Sulphur, La. Hard structures radiate heat into
the water column, frequently attracting large schools of fish.
Oil companies built thousands of canals across the Gulf Coast to lay
pipelines, explore for oil and natural gas or service wells, but these canals
may also lead to excellent fishing.
In marshes where ponds might only hold a foot of water, canals offer
the only relatively deep, stable water. In late winter, many ponds nearly
drain completely as slashing north winds push water toward the Gulf of
Mexico. Since some ponds might drain completely, redfish and speckled
trout often drop into deeper canals or natural bayous to survive.
People dammed many canals to regulate water flow. Hard surfaces
on rock, concrete, shell or wooden structures absorb sunlight and radiate
heat throughout the water column. Water adjacent to a dam could stay a
few degrees warmer than the rest of the canal. Cold-blooded, therefore
highly sensitive to subtle temperature changes, redfish may rub against
these structures or each other to keep warm.
In cold weather, fish often congregate at the deepest portion of a
canal adjacent to a dam. Tides flowing under a structure may wash away
mud, creating a pocket beneath a dam. Bubbles or moving water may
indicate a scour hole. Redfish frequently drop into these scour holes.
Dams also congregate baitfish. Backed against the structures,
baitfish cannot flee pursuing redfish. In addition, baitfish might feed on
algae growing on dams. Crabs and shrimp also feed and hide among the
crannies of shell or rock structures. Reds lurking in scour holes may
ambush crabs, minnows or shrimp flowing under the weirs to them.
However, chilly temperatures make fish lethargic, so redfish typically
won’t chase baits very far or long. Cast against the structure or upstream
and allow baits to flow with the currents or drop into holes. Cast parallel to
structures and run lures as close to them as possible to keep baits in the
strike zone longer. To accomplish this, many anglers climb atop larger
dams and fish along both sides of them.
“In cold water, redfish don’t hit like they do during warm weather,” said
Eric Muhoberac, who fishes near Port Sulphur, La. “A lot of people miss
fish because they don’t set the hook before the fish spits the bait. They
might think they only felt an oyster on the bottom, but really, a 10-pound
redfish has the bait in its mouth.”
Besides dams, similar hard structures attract reds and other fish in
late winter. Active pipelines still run at the bottom of many canals. Oil or
natural gas flowing through pipelines heats surrounding water. Canals may
also lead to active or abandoned wellheads. Called “Christmas trees”
because of all the valves and pipes stemming from them, these steel
structures absorb solar energy and radiate warmth through surrounding
water like a rock dam. Moreover, wellheads create cover where fish can
hide, almost like a steel tree growing in the water. Fish congregate to feed
around many of these structures.
“It’s hard to tell which dam, canal or structure might hold fish,”
Muhoberac said. “I suggest try them all to determine patterns. Not all hold
fish. It might have something to do with the structure or the age of the
canal. I like to fish old structures, the older the better. An old structure had
time to build a reef that attracts crabs, shrimp, minnows and baitfish. That
attracts bigger fish. When I fish these structures in winter, I tight-line
plastics very slowly right on the bottom. I just kind of drag it slowly along
the bottom, almost like fishing a plastic worm for a bass.”
Many canals also dead-end into wide, deep openings where service
boats could turn around. Frequently, shell or riprap around these basins
might hold bait. In the past, some of these open basins contained
wellheads. While companies might remove the wellheads, they cannot
remove all the debris associated with them. If a wellhead stayed in place
for a few years, no telling what one might find on the bottom.
When redfish simply won’t hit lures, hook a live cocahoe, or mud
minnow, to a simple 1/4-ounce lead jighead. Fish very slowly. Toss the
baited jighead to the shoreline and let it sit for a few seconds. Then, drag it
slowly along the bottom about a foot at a time. If nothing bites, pull it over
the drop-off.
In late winter, many anglers sit by their fireplaces reading about
fishing adventures in their favorite magazines as they wait for warmer
weather. However, they might miss some of the hottest action all year,
figuratively speaking!
pipelines, explore for oil and natural gas or service wells, but these canals
may also lead to excellent fishing.
In marshes where ponds might only hold a foot of water, canals offer
the only relatively deep, stable water. In late winter, many ponds nearly
drain completely as slashing north winds push water toward the Gulf of
Mexico. Since some ponds might drain completely, redfish and speckled
trout often drop into deeper canals or natural bayous to survive.
People dammed many canals to regulate water flow. Hard surfaces
on rock, concrete, shell or wooden structures absorb sunlight and radiate
heat throughout the water column. Water adjacent to a dam could stay a
few degrees warmer than the rest of the canal. Cold-blooded, therefore
highly sensitive to subtle temperature changes, redfish may rub against
these structures or each other to keep warm.
In cold weather, fish often congregate at the deepest portion of a
canal adjacent to a dam. Tides flowing under a structure may wash away
mud, creating a pocket beneath a dam. Bubbles or moving water may
indicate a scour hole. Redfish frequently drop into these scour holes.
Dams also congregate baitfish. Backed against the structures,
baitfish cannot flee pursuing redfish. In addition, baitfish might feed on
algae growing on dams. Crabs and shrimp also feed and hide among the
crannies of shell or rock structures. Reds lurking in scour holes may
ambush crabs, minnows or shrimp flowing under the weirs to them.
However, chilly temperatures make fish lethargic, so redfish typically
won’t chase baits very far or long. Cast against the structure or upstream
and allow baits to flow with the currents or drop into holes. Cast parallel to
structures and run lures as close to them as possible to keep baits in the
strike zone longer. To accomplish this, many anglers climb atop larger
dams and fish along both sides of them.
“In cold water, redfish don’t hit like they do during warm weather,” said
Eric Muhoberac, who fishes near Port Sulphur, La. “A lot of people miss
fish because they don’t set the hook before the fish spits the bait. They
might think they only felt an oyster on the bottom, but really, a 10-pound
redfish has the bait in its mouth.”
Besides dams, similar hard structures attract reds and other fish in
late winter. Active pipelines still run at the bottom of many canals. Oil or
natural gas flowing through pipelines heats surrounding water. Canals may
also lead to active or abandoned wellheads. Called “Christmas trees”
because of all the valves and pipes stemming from them, these steel
structures absorb solar energy and radiate warmth through surrounding
water like a rock dam. Moreover, wellheads create cover where fish can
hide, almost like a steel tree growing in the water. Fish congregate to feed
around many of these structures.
“It’s hard to tell which dam, canal or structure might hold fish,”
Muhoberac said. “I suggest try them all to determine patterns. Not all hold
fish. It might have something to do with the structure or the age of the
canal. I like to fish old structures, the older the better. An old structure had
time to build a reef that attracts crabs, shrimp, minnows and baitfish. That
attracts bigger fish. When I fish these structures in winter, I tight-line
plastics very slowly right on the bottom. I just kind of drag it slowly along
the bottom, almost like fishing a plastic worm for a bass.”
Many canals also dead-end into wide, deep openings where service
boats could turn around. Frequently, shell or riprap around these basins
might hold bait. In the past, some of these open basins contained
wellheads. While companies might remove the wellheads, they cannot
remove all the debris associated with them. If a wellhead stayed in place
for a few years, no telling what one might find on the bottom.
When redfish simply won’t hit lures, hook a live cocahoe, or mud
minnow, to a simple 1/4-ounce lead jighead. Fish very slowly. Toss the
baited jighead to the shoreline and let it sit for a few seconds. Then, drag it
slowly along the bottom about a foot at a time. If nothing bites, pull it over
the drop-off.
In late winter, many anglers sit by their fireplaces reading about
fishing adventures in their favorite magazines as they wait for warmer
weather. However, they might miss some of the hottest action all year,
figuratively speaking!
Eric Muhoberac shows off a
redfish he caught near an old
concrete dam in the marshes
near Port Sulphur, La. Dams
across canals can hold many
redfish on cold winter days.
redfish he caught near an old
concrete dam in the marshes
near Port Sulphur, La. Dams
across canals can hold many
redfish on cold winter days.
