Fishing Report 5-20-15

Hi,

I decided to go early this morning before it got hot. I went to the Snook Nook but they were out of the baits I use, then I drove to Walton around 7:15.

Fishing Report 5-20-15 Walton Rd. Wind Southwest at 5mph. Low tide incoming. Water clear. Throwing 1/8 red jig-head with different DOA plastic swimbaits.

The tide was very low and although it was incoming there wasn't much movement. There was almost no wind and the water was clear. I went deep past the sandbar, got a tap on the first cast. Got a swirl as I pulled out of the water on the second. Third cast I lifted the tip and felt some pressure-- I set the hook and a trout came up and shook its head then jumped twice. It was small, about 12", but well hooked. I cast back out and got a tap, then nothing. A few casts later another trout struck and I pulled in another small trout, maybe 2 inches bigger. Suddenly all the action stopped, not sure why-- maybe I had scared them since it was so calm. I stayed 5 more minutes then moved South.

I switched baits after not getting any action to a paddletail- still nothing. I was working my way South toward the first pier. It was still very shallow on the deep flat and nothing was biting. I passed the 4 white posts and eased into the area where they were biting last night. I got a tap, then another. I held the lure in place and he took it. Fish on, another trout leaped to the surface and jumped --splashing me, very well hooked but small, about 12". I cast out and got another strike, missed and then another strike as I pulled my bait up. The tail was gone so I re-baited and the lure dropped into the water while I put my baits in pocket- I got a strike!!! I missed the fish but it took the tail off!!!

I went out as far as I could and cast to the weeds towards the shore. I got another strike and lost a fish when it came up. A few casts later I caught another small trout, released it then went deeper. I got a tap and caught another trout. After about 5 more casts I caught a trout that struck 10 feet away and I landed that one and released it. I had caught about 6 trout, 4 were scattered in  the 3rd weedbed.

I decided to go shallow and check out the pier. The water was very clear and I could see it was too shallow to have much luck. On my third cast to the pier I caught a small snook, who jumped a few times before I pulled him in and unhooked him.

I walked shallow and watched-- you could see anything that moved and I looked for fish but aside from the schools of glass minnows, there wasn't much activity. Since there are glass minnows here now I know there will be more action when the tide is up and more action when the minnows go out past the sandbar. This should spike the fishing for a while. The minnows are very small but I'm sure trout, reds, snook and Jack will be chowing down as much as possible. They are like appetizers and it would take many gulps before they would add up to being a meal.

It was getting hot and the tide was finally coming in. I went back deep and caught a trout then started fishing my way North to go in. I saw two guys wading near where I put in and I caught a trout near them but I don't think they were paying attention to me. They had usually their backs turned and were fishing North in the shallow water. I saw one of them catch a small trout too.

I cast deep and got a good strike then set the hook, the trout came up and it was twice the size of the others- a good 20" - but I lost it on top when it shook its head. That was enough for me- I didn't want to fish near the two waders so I headed in before I got sunburned.

Total: 9 small trout and one small snook- a great day on the water. I had fished for 2 hours and 40 minutes.