Page 83 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2024

This speckled trout hit a rattling lipless crankbait. A lipless crankbait like this one sinks fast and makes a good choice when fishing deep waters for speckled trout.
During the winter, many anglers wait for warmer days coming in the spring. However, when the weather turns brutal, anglers who know how to fish in such conditions might land big speckled trout.
First, anglers need to find the fish. During cold weather, trout often leave
the shallow bays and estuaries to seek the deepest water they can find. Deep water remains relatively stable all year long. For the Mississippi Coast, deeper water means Mississippi Sound. Dredged waters, such as harbors and channels, like the Gulfport Navigation Channel, also hold deeper water.
In addition, coastal rivers, such as the Pearl and Pascagoula, typically flow with less fresh water during the winter so more salinity creeps up the delta channels. Higher salinity levels mean better trout fishing at any time. Once anglers can find where trout want to stay, they might keep catching them until spring.
The state established numerous artificial reefs all along the coast. Try to find reefs sitting in at least 15 feet of water when looking for trout during the winter. People can find reef locations and information at dmr.ms.gov/artificial-reef.
When temperatures turn chilly, cold- blooded fish like trout become more lethargic. They won’t chase fast baits and won’t go far from their comfort zones. Fish any bait exceedingly slowly, on or right above the bottom.
By winter, most shrimp already left the bays and estuaries, so trout mainly feed upon fish. Therefore, use baits that mimic mullets, menhaden or minnows in color and shape. Most people use leadhead jigs tipped with soft-plastic trailers that sink quickly to the bottom. Barely bounce baits off the bottom or drag them along the bottom. If possible, tip a small piece of fresh shrimp on the hook for added flavor and scent.
Slowly sinking or suspending lures that resemble baitfish also make excellent winter temptations. These baits require considerable patience to fish. Just let them
slowly sink, perhaps adding a little twitch occasionally. Fish these baits in water 10 feet deep or less. Watch for subtle line movements that could indicate a strike.
Anglers can try dead shrimp on the bottom or live bait if they can find it. A live menhaden, small mullet or minnow could entice big trout, either fished on the bottom or under a slip-cork rig.
With a slip cork, a weight pulls line down through a float until it reaches a pre-determined depth designated by a “bobber stopper.” A bobber stopper looks similar to a pencil eraser. Anglers can pull the stopper up or down the line to set the depth. Ideally, set the depth so the bait suspends a few feet off the bottom or over the reef tops. Use a sinker heavy enough to pull line down to the right depth, but not too large to sink the cork. Anglers can buy bobber stoppers or simply place a split-shot sinker on the line.
With a slip-cork rig, anglers can present a bait vertically or nearly vertical from
a distance without running over the fish with the boat. A slip-cork rig can work around bridges, platforms, jetties, reefs or any other deep structure. The stopper keeps the bait suspended in the strike zone longer.
On the coldest days, anglers might land the biggest trout of the year. That should warm any fisherman, despite the weather!
Ronnie Daniels.
A lady angler shows off a speckled trout caught from her kayak.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
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