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John N. Felsher's Speck Fishing Adventures
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Sometimes, chasing big speckled
trout and other fish is for he birds
trout and other fish is for he birds
TOP: Daniel Felsher casts for
speckled trout attacking a
school of baitfish under
swarming flocks of birds.
Birds can often indicate
schools of feeding trout,
redfish, jacks, Spanish
mackerel, king mackerel and
many other species.
BOTTOM: Capt. Guy Stansel
of Hackberry Rod and Gun
guide service unhooks a
large speckled trout he
caught while fishing in
Calcasieu Lake south of Lake
Charles, La.
speckled trout attacking a
school of baitfish under
swarming flocks of birds.
Birds can often indicate
schools of feeding trout,
redfish, jacks, Spanish
mackerel, king mackerel and
many other species.
BOTTOM: Capt. Guy Stansel
of Hackberry Rod and Gun
guide service unhooks a
large speckled trout he
caught while fishing in
Calcasieu Lake south of Lake
Charles, La.
“I see birds, lots of them,” the captain said scanning the horizon with his
binoculars. “Looks like a lot of activity. Let’s go.”
Without hesitation, he maneuvered upwind and then rushed toward the
boisterous flock of fowl with great anticipation. About 200 yards from the
flock he slipped into stealth mode, trying to eliminate any unnecessary
noise that might spook fish as we cautiously approached the flock.
Almost like hunting, anglers “stalking” birds frequently find fish. As
schools of speckled trout and redfish attack shrimp or baitfish such as
mullets or menhaden, they herd them to the surface to reduce escape
options. From the air, birds can quickly spot moving prey and pounce on
them. Diving birds could instantly turn a humdrum day into a spectacular
frenzy if anglers learn to “read” their feathered friends.
“I watch what the birds are doing,” said Guy Stansel of Hackberry Rod
and Gun guide service near Lake Charles, La. “I can tell by their actions if
they are feeding or not. Birds dive into the water all the time, but that
doesn’t necessarily mean they’re feeding. People can waste a lot of time
chasing after every bird that splashes the water. The way they act can
indicate fish. If they hover over one spot and get in a frenzy or all dive at
once, they are over fish.”
Also look for bait jumping or fish striking on the surface. Look for birds
hovering only a few feet off the water without landing. Look to see if the
birds catch anything. Look for birds screeching and chasing other birds in
the air. Birds often try to steal catches from the beaks of other birds. After
determining that diving birds do indicate feeding fish, study the winds and
currents. Notice which direction the flock moves and get ahead of them if
possible.
“Watch the direction of the birds closely,” Stansel said. “They’ll move
with the fish, disappear, pop up and disappear again. Watch the tides. I try
to determine which direction the fish are moving and get ahead of them so
the fish come to me.”
Nothing spooks a school of feeding fish like a propeller driven by a
powerful outboard. Stop about 200 yards upwind, perhaps more in
extremely clear water, and use a trolling motor to get closer, but only
sparingly. In addition, limit noise and motion inside the boat because any
vibration can easily transmit through the hull into the water. For the final 50
yards, shut off the trolling motor and drift with the wind or prevailing
currents whenever possible. Make long casts toward the birds and stay on
the outer edge of the school.
“For larger trout, don’t fish right were the birds are working,” said Jerry
Norris of the Original Sabine Lake Guide Service in Sabine Pass, Texas.
“Often, smaller fish will be on the surface and larger fish will be behind them
by 15 to 20 yards. Most of the time, a plastic bait on a jighead will never fall
far enough to reach big trout. I like to throw a large sinking lure for big
trout. Sometimes, bigger trout come up and bust a topwater bait when
smaller ones won’t touch it. We drift through the smaller fish and keep
fishing. We drift a good ways before cranking up the motor.”
Many anglers make the mistake of chasing after new flocks too quickly.
They make a few casts, catch one or two fish and then see birds diving 200
yards away. They crank their big motors, spooking everything around
them, and rush toward the diving birds. Birds can move much faster than
fish so birds moving away don’t necessarily mean that fish left the area.
Some birds make better scouts than others. In general, watch
seagulls. Some people call terns “liar birds” because they sometimes dive
for no apparent reason. Pelicans can also fool people. They frequently
plunge from the skies into water, but don’t always indicate feeding fish.
They might dive to scoop up a single mullet or nothing at all.
Sitting birds may also indicate fish. Sometimes, birds land on the water
to rest after filling their bellies with shrimp or menhaden. The trout school
might still feed just beneath them. Frequently, a feeding trout school
disperses prey. Predators wait for the shrimp or baitfish to reform into huge
masses before they attack again. Sitting birds may wait for the action to
begin again.
For booking trips, call Norris at (877) 258-5288 or Hackberry Rod and
Gun at (337) 762-3391.
binoculars. “Looks like a lot of activity. Let’s go.”
Without hesitation, he maneuvered upwind and then rushed toward the
boisterous flock of fowl with great anticipation. About 200 yards from the
flock he slipped into stealth mode, trying to eliminate any unnecessary
noise that might spook fish as we cautiously approached the flock.
Almost like hunting, anglers “stalking” birds frequently find fish. As
schools of speckled trout and redfish attack shrimp or baitfish such as
mullets or menhaden, they herd them to the surface to reduce escape
options. From the air, birds can quickly spot moving prey and pounce on
them. Diving birds could instantly turn a humdrum day into a spectacular
frenzy if anglers learn to “read” their feathered friends.
“I watch what the birds are doing,” said Guy Stansel of Hackberry Rod
and Gun guide service near Lake Charles, La. “I can tell by their actions if
they are feeding or not. Birds dive into the water all the time, but that
doesn’t necessarily mean they’re feeding. People can waste a lot of time
chasing after every bird that splashes the water. The way they act can
indicate fish. If they hover over one spot and get in a frenzy or all dive at
once, they are over fish.”
Also look for bait jumping or fish striking on the surface. Look for birds
hovering only a few feet off the water without landing. Look to see if the
birds catch anything. Look for birds screeching and chasing other birds in
the air. Birds often try to steal catches from the beaks of other birds. After
determining that diving birds do indicate feeding fish, study the winds and
currents. Notice which direction the flock moves and get ahead of them if
possible.
“Watch the direction of the birds closely,” Stansel said. “They’ll move
with the fish, disappear, pop up and disappear again. Watch the tides. I try
to determine which direction the fish are moving and get ahead of them so
the fish come to me.”
Nothing spooks a school of feeding fish like a propeller driven by a
powerful outboard. Stop about 200 yards upwind, perhaps more in
extremely clear water, and use a trolling motor to get closer, but only
sparingly. In addition, limit noise and motion inside the boat because any
vibration can easily transmit through the hull into the water. For the final 50
yards, shut off the trolling motor and drift with the wind or prevailing
currents whenever possible. Make long casts toward the birds and stay on
the outer edge of the school.
“For larger trout, don’t fish right were the birds are working,” said Jerry
Norris of the Original Sabine Lake Guide Service in Sabine Pass, Texas.
“Often, smaller fish will be on the surface and larger fish will be behind them
by 15 to 20 yards. Most of the time, a plastic bait on a jighead will never fall
far enough to reach big trout. I like to throw a large sinking lure for big
trout. Sometimes, bigger trout come up and bust a topwater bait when
smaller ones won’t touch it. We drift through the smaller fish and keep
fishing. We drift a good ways before cranking up the motor.”
Many anglers make the mistake of chasing after new flocks too quickly.
They make a few casts, catch one or two fish and then see birds diving 200
yards away. They crank their big motors, spooking everything around
them, and rush toward the diving birds. Birds can move much faster than
fish so birds moving away don’t necessarily mean that fish left the area.
Some birds make better scouts than others. In general, watch
seagulls. Some people call terns “liar birds” because they sometimes dive
for no apparent reason. Pelicans can also fool people. They frequently
plunge from the skies into water, but don’t always indicate feeding fish.
They might dive to scoop up a single mullet or nothing at all.
Sitting birds may also indicate fish. Sometimes, birds land on the water
to rest after filling their bellies with shrimp or menhaden. The trout school
might still feed just beneath them. Frequently, a feeding trout school
disperses prey. Predators wait for the shrimp or baitfish to reform into huge
masses before they attack again. Sitting birds may wait for the action to
begin again.
For booking trips, call Norris at (877) 258-5288 or Hackberry Rod and
Gun at (337) 762-3391.
