Shore Thing Fishing Report, 1/17/2024

January 17, 2024

While most fishermen are home cleaning their gear and stocking up on tackle, a few diehards are out there plying the local waters for monster trout.

- by Sonny Schindler, Shore Thing Fishing Charters

I am not gonna lie, this week is going to be very cold. I doubt we will have any trips leaving the dock until the temperatures go above freezing. That said, when we leave, it will definitely be in the middle of the day. You might as well throw the alarm clock out; there is no need to get out there until temperatures are warmer. We will focus on areas that will be either very deep or structure-based.

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Some diehard fishermen will be working the bayous and rivers looking for those big speckled trout. My extreme hatred of cold keeps me from doing this type of fishing. However, I have seen some absolute giants come from this cold-weather fishing.

If you are doing this type of fishing, most anglers are trolling. Please be considerate of other fishermen. If boats are trolling in the area, there is no law saying you can’t anchor and fish, but it is definitely frowned upon in the heavily trolled areas of the rivers and bayous. Usually, the drop-offs to the deeper holes are areas I would recommend starting. Slow, slow, slow retrieves with big swim baits or sinking crankbaits work well.
 

 
I usually take the easy way out and set up on bridges when the tide moves, looking for sheepshead and puppy drum.
 
As we know, our winters here can be very harsh at times, but seldom do they last very long. If you are getting out during this cold snap, I can’t stress enough to be as safe as possible. Make sure your boat is in top working order. You definitely want to layer up, bring some warm beverages, and have someone on land who knows where you are going and what time to expect you back.
 

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