I don’t have a boat but I found a little creek bank that I have been fishing after work. The water is filthy but I have seen trout jumping completely out of the water but I am struggling to catch them. So far I have landed two on DOA shrimp and popping cork but I think I might be spooking them with the cork because after I throw it a while the activity stops and then starts again once I quit throwing the cork. I have thrown everything I own at them, Zman minnows, slim swims, shrimps, gulp, trout tricks, DOA, etc. The water is FILTHY in this spot. I have looked off of other piers and this water is much dirtier than other places I have seen. I am considering switching to mud minnows because I could put out a minnow trap but I am afraid to throw the net for shrimp because of oysters. Will the trout hit mud minnows this time of year or are they only focused on shrimp at this point? Any suggestions? I am really stumped. Thanks guys.
Sounds like big mullet to me- that would explain the no bites. Big mullet, especially white mullet airborn could look like a trout I suppose. Try throwing a cast net in there- if you get some big horse mulllet then there’s your answer. Not sure how big or deep this creek is but you’d be hard pressed to find big trout in a small creek that is real shallow and low current.
Any size to the trout you landed? Maybe it’s just my observation over time - anyone ever seen trout jump out of water not chasing bait?
They are definitely trout. I know what big mullet are and these are close enough that when they jump I get very clean looks at them and they are def trout. I see bait (shrimp and mullet) running the creek. There is pretty decent current flow too. Both of the trout were 16".
Trout will definitely eat mud minnows. If they are suspended from a cork by a hook, they are easier targets. The problem with the clarity is you will have a hard time getting the trout to find your bait, will just be luck. Two things I can suggest for artificials, first, use a brightly colored(electric chicken, sexy mullet). Second, add some procure(shrimp) to the lures. The scent will help with lure location. There are many places to fish in the lowcountry that don’t require access by boat. If you keep striking out, may want to consider somewhere with a little better clarity. Your spot in winter may produce better once the water clears up.
2014 Pioneer 197 Sportfish
2012 Malibu Stealth 12 Kayak
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Trout are mostly visual feeders, so that might explain your trouble catching them. Try a topwater popper like a Pop-R. Get some in as close to the size as the bait that seems to be there. They come in all sizes. The popping and chugging should get their attention and when at rest the bucktail on the back looks like a shrimp. Give it a try. Another tip is if they are active, wait until one jumps and try to land the Pop-R within a 3 ft radius no more than 2 or 3 seconds after the jump. They often strike to kill then come back for the eat.
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^^Topwater would probably produce, especially if they are super active at the surface. Also try some suspending hard baits, since they seem to thump really hard when swimming, and they’ve got a lot of shine to them.
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quote:
Originally posted by OptikerTrout are mostly visual feeders, so that might explain your trouble catching them. Try a topwater popper like a Pop-R. Get some in as close to the size as the bait that seems to be there. They come in all sizes. The popping and chugging should get their attention and when at rest the bucktail on the back looks like a shrimp. Give it a try. Another tip is if they are active, wait until one jumps and try to land the Pop-R within a 3 ft radius no more than 2 or 3 seconds after the jump. They often strike to kill then come back for the eat.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
Take this information as the Gospel…
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quote:
Originally posted by OptikerTrout are mostly visual feeders, so that might explain your trouble catching them. Try a topwater popper like a Pop-R. Get some in as close to the size as the bait that seems to be there. They come in all sizes. The popping and chugging should get their attention and when at rest the bucktail on the back looks like a shrimp. Give it a try. Another tip is if they are active, wait until one jumps and try to land the Pop-R within a 3 ft radius no more than 2 or 3 seconds after the jump. They often strike to kill then come back for the eat.
This is good advice! Ill add…artificial gulp with Chartreuse or something flashy that vibrates
Mark Ingle
NauticStar 1810 Merc 90
Dock fishing is different…Try taking the lead out of that DOA or gulp and flipping that bail closed b4 the lure enters the water. Before it lands put the rod way up in the air and as slowly as you can…reel and skip/pop your bait while keeping it on top (like a fleeting shrimp) Thats if they are active and targeting a small batch of shrimp moving through …but with that muddy water and only casting from one spot , thats a toughy, you need to be in super stealth mode so Live shrimp /mud minnows / worms casted up current without weight is pretty foolproof. Break some shells off a piling at low tide and all the fish in the harbor may be at doorstep. Btw (I think they are sounding because your spooking them). From my expierience the first 2 trout are always the biggest. I like the vibrating chicken too. Tight lines
J. Simmons
captainclayton@yahoo
239 Key West FS 300
I’ve personally never seen a trout jump completely out of the water chasing bait before, but when I have seen them busting bait, a topwater (as Optiker said) is an automatic strike no matter the water clarity. There are tons of ladyfish around chasing bait now in the creeks, but they will also hit a smallish fast moving topwater.