Specks serve up big fun once saltwater anglers locate the schools and figure out the kinds of lures the trout want to hit.
Some days speckled trout will hit big topwater lures with the vigor of an angry redfish. Other days, the best way to attract a strike is to bump a
YUM Croaker Curltail right along the bottom. Trout fishermen have the task of figuring out whether the fish are on top, on the bottom or somewhere in-between.
Numerous factors influence how speckled trout feed. Important among them are the water temperature and color, the stage of the tide, the bottom depth, the kind of cover the fish are relating to and the forage they are enjoying. Warm, clear water, fast-moving tides, shallow bottoms, defined rips and ambush points and surface-schooling baitfish all tend to make fish feed more aggressively and to look toward the top. Opposite conditions, not surprisingly, have the opposite affect.
For topwater trout, the best lure depends largely on the size of the trout and the size of their forage. Big specks with big appetites have trouble resisting
Heddon Saltwater Super Spooks and Rebel Jumpin' Minnows . Slightly smaller, a Creek Chub Knuckle-Head, Jr. or Excalibur Spit'n Image will attract fierce strikes from hungry trout.
When the trout are in shallow grass, where they spend a lot time, anglers should try working
Bomber Pop 'n Shrimp, which pops, spits and darts like a fleeing shrimp and has the natural profile of a real shrimp. A Pop 'n Shrimp should be worked quickly and erratically, and when the fish miss the bait, the angler needs to keep it moving and remain ready.
For fish that are aggressive but won't quite come to the top, two terrific choices are a
Bomber Mullet and an Excalibur Swim'n Image . A Mullet darts erratically and irresistibly when fished with quick jerks of the rod tip. A Swim'n Image offers a steady wide wobble and runs very shallow. Both come equipped with saltwater hardware and in colors designed specifically for saltwater use.
For deeper or less aggressive trout, various
YUM soft-plastic lures figure into the equation. Most anglers fish these offerings on 1/4- or 1/2-ounce leadheads. Occasionally, conditions dictate heavier or lighter heads or specialized rigs.
Among the most effective soft-plastic lures for catching trout in middle depths are
YUM Samurai Shads and Houdini Shads . A Samurai Shad looks like a real baitfish and it’s tail configuration makes the whole body move like the bait is swimming. Typically the best way to fish one is simply to crank and hold on. A Houdini Shad darts erratically and is more often worked with twitches and pauses.
When the trout are feeding near the bottom, a
YUM Croaker Curltail is thought to beat. Using just enough lead to keep the bait down, anglers hop them along in the surf, along ledges and beside other trout-holding structure. Most trout hit Croaker Curltails on the drop, when the baits look most vulnerable.