November in the lowcountry, the Spartina begins to fade to a light brown, skies become crystal clear, sunsets are phenomenal, water clarity improves significantly, and the Trout bite is on! If you have wet a line inshore over the last several weeks you have more than likely picked up at least a couple of Trout. Here are a few suggestions that may help you improve your chances of getting in on some of this late fall action:
Limber up – No I am not talking getting stretched out good due to no stop action, though it may not be a bad idea! I am talking about rod tip, a limber rod tip is essential for trout for 2 reasons: 1) Trout have a soft mouth a, a limber tip will give during the fight and keep from pulling hooks. 2) Bait presentation, weather you are working grubs, a DOA shrimp under an Equalizer, or a top water Zara Spook a limber tip will allow you to add the proper action to the bait required to entice a hit.
Scout – Not quite sure which shell bed to fish, use slow trolling as a scouting method to locate the fish. Grubs, mud minnows, artificial bait bouncing along a shell bed is a full proof way to entice Trout. Use a trolling motor or bump your boat in and out of gear workingalong the beds, once the fish are located, drop anchor and start casting. Remember you want the bait to literally bounce from shell to shell; a lead head missing half of the paint is a lead head that has caught some fish.
Show your colors – As mentioned before the water is usually clear by November as most of the algae has died due to cooler water temperatures. Generally speaking in clearer water lighter colored baits work best and in darker water darker colored baits work well. Tides, wind, and wave activity can change water clarity throughout the day so always keep multiple colored baits on hand.
Something smells - Scented baits have been around for over a decade now, but the concept is still fairly new to the saltwater scene. So new that at some times I do not thing the fish have caught on. I have out fished live bait