Cold Water Trout with some new techniques

To the North Little River
1

The wind finally lay down a bit and the sun was out this afternoon with a warming trend so I decided to give the trout another try.
Weather: Sunny & Clear 45-55f
Moon: Full
Wind: 5NE
Water: Stained & 48-50f
Tide: Last 2 hrs. falling & first 2 rising.

Went looking for deeper holes up protected creeks. Started fishing last 2 hrs of falling tide. Water was stained and very low. For first two hours I threw Trout Tricks and old reliable Electric Chicken Paddletails. No bites, nada, began thinking it a waste of time.
I’ve rarely fished sinking/suspending plugs but thought it couldn’t hurt to try.

Switched to a Mirrodine 18(heavy) in creek mouths just as the tide turned and began to clear a little. I would cast upstream and let it swing across the creek mouths with the current VERY slow. I would let it sink until I felt bottom then jerk it twice and let it rest and the bite suddenly turned on! They ranged from a slight tick to a solid thump but once I got the feel of it, catching fish seemed easy. Caught 4-5 fish in one spot ranging from 13-18", went to the next creek mouth and did it again. All in all, caught about a dozen trout and even a small flounder on the MR18.
Important thing was to just go SLOW, let it set and trust that there was a fish there looking at it.
Kept 2 trout: 16 & 18" males for dinner.

I think the change in the tide and clearing water probably made the biggest difference, but the experience gave me some confidence in fishing these baits and gives me another tool in the arsenal.

16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120

2

You are the man. I have yet to figure out Little River.

Is there still a lot of fresh water up there?

18’ Hewes Bayfisher

3

Thanks Goob, but you know what they say about “blind squirrels.” I certainly haven’t figured it out either. Seems very few resources available for this stretch of water. But I moved to the area last year and decided that if these are going to be my “home waters,” I’m gonna do my best to learn them. Love finding fish in places I haven’t found them before and with techniques I haven’t tried. Doesn’t work every time but I try to learn something every trip.
Not as much salt up the ICW as I remember from years past, but I tasted it at the Crossroads & at Dunn Sound today at dead low and tasted plenty salty.

16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120

4

good read jl