The last bit of winter

With the combination of cool water temperatures and a full moon, I continued working my winter pattern as March rolled around. The strong tide and mid morning incoming tide after a negative low set up well for a day on the mixed sand and grass of Pine Island Sound. This provided an opportunity to target spotted sea trout on the flats as well as keep an eye out for tailing redfish. When the water warms as it will soon, I’ll make my way closer to the backcountry adjacent to creek mouths and deeper cuts looking for both redfish and snook as they transition out of their winter hideouts towards outer shorelines in order to fatten up after the slim pickings of winter.  This week, for the most part, the wind has kept the redfish from tailing but the trout chewed well and some pompano showed up on the flats to keep us busy. A seven or eight-weight rigged with a weight forward floating line and nine foot leader was our rig of choice. Our go to fly was the   chartreuse and white clouser. Lastly, I always have light tackle spinning gear on the skiff and we did well with a soft plastic white paddle tail swim bait.