David Woods is a South Padre Island fishing guide with over 20 years of experience. He is the author of three
books offering expert fishing advice.
Under the buzz and glow of the metal halide flood lamps, the surface of the water popped and crackled like frying bacon as speckled trout greedily fed. I first tried my spinning rod and threw to the edge of the light, working my jigs back in. Nothing. I tried a few more times before setting the rod down in mild frustration and getting out my fly rod set-up. With a fly rod you can deliver tiny jigs, tied on size eight hooks, or even smaller. I was using a #10 the other night.
After a cast or two into the light, I had my first trout on for the night. The drag clicked and peeled the line out into the channel. I was surprised by the strength of the fish. After a quick fight, I unhooked the fish and measured it at just under 22” and then flipped it back into the water to go eat more shad. I continued fishing, catching quite a few more once I had figured out they wanted the small fly I was offering.
I am amazed at how fast the trout population responds to changes in regulations. Back when I began guiding, the creel limit was ten trout at a minimum length limit of 15 inches. Catching a limit wasn’t easy and generally only one or two of the fish would be over 20 inches. I remember fishing all night long sometimes and catching only a trout or two over 22.
Most of the fish I caught the other night were around that size with one near 26. Trout fishing in the lights did not use to be like that. I never will cease to be amazed by the forces of Mother Nature either. Those trout turn all that shad into massive gains in seemingly no time at all. It must be all that omega-3. I think a few things combined to create the situation we have, with good rains last year and the new regulations shaping a bloom population after recent freeze events.
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