We are still in the same winter pattern. The water is cold, and the fish are holding in areas with deeper drops, especially near creeks and freshwater entry points. A pattern shift is coming and it is already in progress. We have a warming trend on the way and we are all ready for it. For now, last week’s report is still accurate. One thing that may start to change is trout venturing farther out on sunny days as the water warms.

Basically, it is the same setup as last week. Water temperature can turn areas that normally do not hold fish all day into true hotspots. Look for dark, shallow bottoms near channels and drop-offs. We have seen huge temperature changes like when going from Deep Water Point headed up Grand Lagoon. The temperature dropped 8 degrees, with 4 of those degrees lost about halfway up near Captain Anderson’s. That bottom is dark and it holds heat well. We have even had customers on foot wear out the trout there on a big sunny day. There are areas like this all over the bays. The best places usually include one or more of these features: freshwater entry, deep water close by, a nearby drop-off, and shallow mud or dark bottom.

Sheepshead are in and around bridges, pilings, and similar structure. Go light, and here is a very effective tip. Get a 5-gallon bucket and a tightly meshed, long-handled bait net. We have those. Grab a flat-bladed shovel or floor scraper and scrape barnacles into the net, then dump them into the bucket for chum. Head to a likely area and start a chum slick for a bit before dropping a line with fiddlers, shrimp, oysters, or similar baits. Once they show up, work the area with light line and the hook of your choice. Try a Mustad offset point hook, size 1, not number 1, down to size 4. The offset point helps catch between the teeth or around the lip instead of sliding out. Circle hooks work well too, usually hooking them in or around the lip.

Please note that speckled trout season is closed throughout the month of February, beginning at midnight Saturday into Sunday.