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John's Journal... Entry 140, Day 4

SECRETS OF CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY

The Wind Tells You Where to Catch Trout

EDITOR'S NOTE: Some of the best trout fishing in the nation is in Destin, Florida. Captain Mike Parker's Guide Service books for three different captains who fish the Choctawhatchee Bay area around Destin almost daily. Captain Daniel Pike of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has fished Choctawhatchee Bay for more than 10 years and also goes to the bay to learn how to fish.

"Without question, I believe that the wind has a major impact on the numbers of fish I'll catch on a particular day in Choctawhatchee Bay," Pike emphasizes, "especially during the summer months, when we fish the grass beds." According to Pike, various grass beds in Choctawhatchee Bay cause the trout that live on these grass beds to either feed or not to feed, depending on the wind's direction. On some grass beds, the trout bite better if a strong southwest wind puts a chop on the water. Other grass beds seem to produce more trout when the wind blows from the north. If you study the grass beds and fish them regularly, you often can determine which wind direction will produce the most fish on a particular grass bed in the Bay.

Although the prevailing winds usually come from the southwest, often a north wind will blow in during the middle of the morning. "When you fish an active grass bed during a southwest wind and the wind begins to blow from the north, leave that bed, and fish a bed where the trout prefer a north wind," Pike recommends. Generally, Pike prefers to fish choppy water because he feels you don't spook as many fish on the grass bed when you drift over it. On calm slick-water days, Pike feels that most anglers spook more fish than they catch on the grass beds. Like the other anglers, Daniel Pike has learned that if you remain quiet when approaching the grass beds, you'll see and take more trout. He also has learned that most anglers make mistakes when they set their anchors in ChoctawhatcheeBay.

"When fishermen start to drift across a grass bed and begin to catch trout, they usually stop the boat by throwing the anchor overboard," Pike mentions. "However, I always want to anchor on the outer edge of a school of trout to keep from spooking the school. When one of my anglers catches a fish, instead of throwing out the anchor, I pick up the anchor as quietly as possible and slowly and gently let it down to the bottom. I don't want the chain on the anchor to clang against the anchor or the anchor to make any noise when it enters the water or digs into the bottom. For this reason, I keep control of the anchor rope as I drop the anchor down to the bottom. The quieter you can set the anchor, the more trout you'll catch off that grass bed that day."

Trout fishing in Choctawhatchee Bay resembles fishing the flats in south Florida. However, many anglers who fish in the Florida Panhandle use Upper Gulf Coast fishermen's tactics to catch trout. That why many anglers who fish Choctawhatchee Bay strike out. Many of the techniques that fishermen in the Florida Keys use to catch trout also will take trout in the clear-water grass beds of Choctawhatchee Bay during the summer months. However, just like fishing in the Keys, you need to hire a guide to consistently catch trout during your first one or two trips to the area.

For more information on fishing Choctawhatchee Bay or to fish with one of the guides, contact Mike Parker at 408 Lee Lane, Destin, Florida, 32541, call (877) 827-7667 or check out his website at www.destincharterboats.com.

TOMORROW: REDS IN CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about the Secrets of Choctawhatchee Bay...

Day 1 - Learn How and Where To Catch Speckled Trout
Day 2 - Live Chum
Day 3 - Fishermen Strike Out
Day 4 - The Wind Tells You Where to Catch Trout
Day 5 - Reds In Choctawhatchee Bay


John's Journal