quote:
Originally posted by baracuda
i ran through some bayous during and right after the cold weather. saw hundreds of trout and a couple dozen reds still alive and well, lazy, but live. did not see one floater. i do not think they are as bad off as everyone wants you to believe.
I can understand Raddaddy’s reply. I’ve never once cruised our marsh and saw hundreds of Trout? Come to think of it, I don’t think Ive ever seen one while cruising. I’ve seen some under a light while gigging.
You need to explain that one to us a little better? I’d say mullet, but I know it was too cold for them.
Whatever the outcome of this cold snap. They’ll make a come back as always.
“live and let live” … “those that deserve it.”
Everything JAinSC stated is correct. It is VERY common to see trout on the flats in the winter months. There are some studs that hang out with large groups of reds, and in most years, schools of dozens to hundreds congregate very shallow after a typical cold front to warm up. However, this is not a typical year. The flats trout around here are dead. The water temperature stayed below 45 for 10 days. During the winter of 2010, the water stayed below 45 for only a few days, and you could dip net hundreds of trout if you wanted because we had 9 consecutive mild winters to grow the population. The trout population (by DNR estimates) was whacked by around 80%. This winter was worse, but until the spawn, we won’t know how bad.