| Speckled Trout Articles |
John N. Felsher's Speck Fishing Adventures
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Want to catch big speckled trout?
Fish just for big speckled trout!
Fish just for big speckled trout!
Janet Lebson and Capt. Jimmy Deason of Hackberry Rod and Gun
show off a large speckled trout they caught and released.
show off a large speckled trout they caught and released.
Everyone hears stories of novice anglers throwing something ridiculous
and landing a trophy speckled trout. Sure, that happens occasionally, but
so does winning $100 million in a lottery.
People who consistently land large specks know how to fish specifically
for them. Fishing for big trout requires patience, determination and a plan,
about 90 percent of which occurs before the boat leaves the dock. Once
anglers decide to tangle with lunkers instead of filling an ice chest with small
fish, they must stick to the plan, despite watching nearby boats land many
smaller trout.
“Sometimes, fishing for big trout is about as exciting as watching ice
melt,” said Capt. Kirk Stansel of Hackberry Rod and Gun guide service who
fishes the legendary trophy trout waters of Calcasieu Lake near Lake
Charles, La. “It can be pretty slow, when looking for that one big strike.
When conditions aren’t just right, we have to work hard to get that one big
strike.”
To catch trophy trout, anglers must first find them. Ranking near the
top of the food chain, huge solitary trout roam their hunting grounds without
fear. Small trout must congregate in schools for safety because so many
predators eat them. Get away from the crowds. Go to isolated reefs with
access to deep, salty water and abundant forage. If possible, fish non-
holidays during the week to avoid the crowds. Even on a weekend or
holiday, anglers fishing odd hours typically find less competition.
“In the past, I’ve caught many big trout between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.,”
said Scott Turner, a Lake Charles angler with many 9- and 10-pounders to
his credit. “The key to catching big trout is following the mullets on a calm
day. I look for an area thick with a school of mullets. I look for big fish in
clear water with sandy bottoms and a few clusters of shells.”
Big trout hit small baits, but lunkers normally want a big meal. Until a
trout reaches about two pounds, 80 percent of its diet consists of shrimp
and the rest baitfish. Once it breaks two pounds, 80 percent of its diet
comes from forage fish. A 5-pound trout can easily swallow a 12-inch
mullet. Imagine what a 10-pound trout might gulp? Using a big bait might
decrease the likelihood of getting a strike, but each strike could mean
another lunker.
Big trout and redfish often eat the same forage, mainly mullets or
menhaden, also called pogies. They might not necessarily team up, but
they could attack the same prey at the same time. If anglers start hooking
big redfish, they might also hook a large speck. Not necessarily hunting in
schools, several large trout might follow mullets, picking off any cripples
they can catch. To conserve energy, they grab the biggest meal they can
swallow as easily as they can. That might satisfy them for a day or two.
“Bait is the key to big fish,” Stansel said. “Look for a reef with good tidal
movement and a good supply of bait. When pogies come in, that’s a key
time for big trout. Trout won’t necessarily be in with the redfish, but they will
be near them. On clear days, I’ve often seen big trout following big schools
of drum.”
Live bait also attracts trophy trout. Stay away from shrimp and popping
corks. Fish with live mullets, croakers or shad on the bottom near deep
holes where trout find easy access to both deep and shallow water. Hook a
live shad or a finger mullet to a Carolina rig. Use a slip sinker so that the
bait remains near bottom, but the trout doesn’t feel the weight.
Below the slip sinker, tie a swivel. To the swivel, tie an 18- to 36-inch length
of heavy monofilament or braided leader. Attach a circle hook to this
leader and bait it with a 4- to 6-inch live mullet, croaker or shad. Anglers
might only receive one bite in a day, but it could produce a trout of a
lifetime.
Turner also uses mullets, but with a twist. Instead of hooking them on a
Carolina rig, he hooks a six-inch mullet on a 1/2-ounce jighead and works it
like a lure, slowly bouncing bottom. He hooks the jighead into the fish in the
same manner that someone might hook on another plastic minnow.
Slow baits down also. Big trout don’t like to expend too much energy to
chase down fish in open water. Offer them something big, slow and
tempting. Offer them something they can easily catch without burning too
many calories. Stay in one place known to produce lunkers and remain
quiet. Don’t jump around on the boat, play music, drop things against the
bottom or make other unnecessary noises. Sound and vibrations can
telegraph through the water easily, spooking fish. If one must move, use a
trolling motor only sparing. Whenever possible, use wind power to drift
across honey holes.
Above all, remain patient. Big trout didn’t become trophies by doing
stupid things. If they remain in bays and lakes for 10 years or more, they
pick up a few tips on how to survive. It’s tough to outwit trophy specks in
their own homes, but well worth the challenge!
To book a trip with Hackberry Rod and Gun, call (888) 762-3391 or
(337) 762-3391. On the Internet, see www.hackberryrodandgun.com.
and landing a trophy speckled trout. Sure, that happens occasionally, but
so does winning $100 million in a lottery.
People who consistently land large specks know how to fish specifically
for them. Fishing for big trout requires patience, determination and a plan,
about 90 percent of which occurs before the boat leaves the dock. Once
anglers decide to tangle with lunkers instead of filling an ice chest with small
fish, they must stick to the plan, despite watching nearby boats land many
smaller trout.
“Sometimes, fishing for big trout is about as exciting as watching ice
melt,” said Capt. Kirk Stansel of Hackberry Rod and Gun guide service who
fishes the legendary trophy trout waters of Calcasieu Lake near Lake
Charles, La. “It can be pretty slow, when looking for that one big strike.
When conditions aren’t just right, we have to work hard to get that one big
strike.”
To catch trophy trout, anglers must first find them. Ranking near the
top of the food chain, huge solitary trout roam their hunting grounds without
fear. Small trout must congregate in schools for safety because so many
predators eat them. Get away from the crowds. Go to isolated reefs with
access to deep, salty water and abundant forage. If possible, fish non-
holidays during the week to avoid the crowds. Even on a weekend or
holiday, anglers fishing odd hours typically find less competition.
“In the past, I’ve caught many big trout between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.,”
said Scott Turner, a Lake Charles angler with many 9- and 10-pounders to
his credit. “The key to catching big trout is following the mullets on a calm
day. I look for an area thick with a school of mullets. I look for big fish in
clear water with sandy bottoms and a few clusters of shells.”
Big trout hit small baits, but lunkers normally want a big meal. Until a
trout reaches about two pounds, 80 percent of its diet consists of shrimp
and the rest baitfish. Once it breaks two pounds, 80 percent of its diet
comes from forage fish. A 5-pound trout can easily swallow a 12-inch
mullet. Imagine what a 10-pound trout might gulp? Using a big bait might
decrease the likelihood of getting a strike, but each strike could mean
another lunker.
Big trout and redfish often eat the same forage, mainly mullets or
menhaden, also called pogies. They might not necessarily team up, but
they could attack the same prey at the same time. If anglers start hooking
big redfish, they might also hook a large speck. Not necessarily hunting in
schools, several large trout might follow mullets, picking off any cripples
they can catch. To conserve energy, they grab the biggest meal they can
swallow as easily as they can. That might satisfy them for a day or two.
“Bait is the key to big fish,” Stansel said. “Look for a reef with good tidal
movement and a good supply of bait. When pogies come in, that’s a key
time for big trout. Trout won’t necessarily be in with the redfish, but they will
be near them. On clear days, I’ve often seen big trout following big schools
of drum.”
Live bait also attracts trophy trout. Stay away from shrimp and popping
corks. Fish with live mullets, croakers or shad on the bottom near deep
holes where trout find easy access to both deep and shallow water. Hook a
live shad or a finger mullet to a Carolina rig. Use a slip sinker so that the
bait remains near bottom, but the trout doesn’t feel the weight.
Below the slip sinker, tie a swivel. To the swivel, tie an 18- to 36-inch length
of heavy monofilament or braided leader. Attach a circle hook to this
leader and bait it with a 4- to 6-inch live mullet, croaker or shad. Anglers
might only receive one bite in a day, but it could produce a trout of a
lifetime.
Turner also uses mullets, but with a twist. Instead of hooking them on a
Carolina rig, he hooks a six-inch mullet on a 1/2-ounce jighead and works it
like a lure, slowly bouncing bottom. He hooks the jighead into the fish in the
same manner that someone might hook on another plastic minnow.
Slow baits down also. Big trout don’t like to expend too much energy to
chase down fish in open water. Offer them something big, slow and
tempting. Offer them something they can easily catch without burning too
many calories. Stay in one place known to produce lunkers and remain
quiet. Don’t jump around on the boat, play music, drop things against the
bottom or make other unnecessary noises. Sound and vibrations can
telegraph through the water easily, spooking fish. If one must move, use a
trolling motor only sparing. Whenever possible, use wind power to drift
across honey holes.
Above all, remain patient. Big trout didn’t become trophies by doing
stupid things. If they remain in bays and lakes for 10 years or more, they
pick up a few tips on how to survive. It’s tough to outwit trophy specks in
their own homes, but well worth the challenge!
To book a trip with Hackberry Rod and Gun, call (888) 762-3391 or
(337) 762-3391. On the Internet, see www.hackberryrodandgun.com.
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