The cold air hit me like a Crimson Tide linebacker as I stepped out of the truck at the boat ramp. It was two days after a strong December front had rolled through, and although the air was cold, there was no wind. A glance at the dock showed a sheet of ice from the previous night’s stillness, a classic start to winter speckled trout fishing. We would need to be careful walking out there to get in the boat.
I had parked a little way up in the lot, as it generally takes me a while to load up for charters. I wanted to be sure I did not block the ramp in case someone else was ready to launch. Despite the cold, I was excited about this trip. Winter speckled trout fishing had been excellent, the fish were thick in the river, and with the nice falling water and the recent front, I felt it would be a great day.
Winter Speckled Trout Fishing in Fowl River
On this trip, I was in Fowl River in south Mobile County. Fowl is a spring-fed river that stays very clear, although it sometimes takes on a tannic hue after rain. It has a main channel with flats on the edges, and just past Bellingrath Gardens it narrows for the rest of its length. Because of the narrow channel and clear water, the fish can be spooky with boat traffic. We hoped to get in a couple of good hours before the traffic picked up.
After loading up the crew without incident, we made a short run upriver in the cold, pre-dawn dark. The first stop was a ledge off the channel. Sometimes the fish give themselves away by running bait to the surface, but not this morning. I started on the channel side of the ledge and worked from there.
Early Success on Ledges and Channels
The crew threw Slick Lures in the original size, and because the water was tannic, we started with brighter colors like Dirty Ice and Bcat. It did not take long. We landed two trout over 20 inches almost immediately and followed with another 10 or 12 nice trout in the first hour. As the sun began to peek over the trees and hit the water, the bite slowed. I switched a couple of the crew to the Slick Jr. with 1/8-ounce jig heads and had them focus more on the channel while I stayed on the ledge. The change worked, and the Jr.s quickly produced.
The first few boats passing us were courteous, slowing to idle or even sliding by on trolling motors. This helped keep the fish biting, but I knew it would not last.
Shrimp vs. Finfish Imitations in Winter
By midwinter, cold weather and even a freeze usually push the shrimp out of the rivers. At that point, the inshore gamefish feed more on finfish such as mullet and pogies. In the pre-freeze fall period, a shrimp imitation out-fishes anything, but by midwinter, finfish imitations are the key. Classics like MirrOlures in the 51, 52, Catch 2000, and MirrOdine series still work. Over the last several years, however, I have relied solely on the Slick Lure. It almost always out-fishes anything I have used and is both user- and fish-friendly. The single hook is easy to remove and rarely gill- or gut-hooks fish. Changing colors is quick, as you do not need to re-tie each time.
Best Lures, Colors, and Rigging Tips
With the full-size Slick, use the Owner 4/0 Beast hook with the 1/8-ounce weight. On the Jr. size, I like Berkley 1/8-ounce swimbait jig heads with a 2/0 hook. Do not waste money on Slicks if you use monofilament—you will never have consistent success. Fluorocarbon or braid is necessary to get solid hook sets.
Color selection often surprises me, but I generally use brighter colors such as Dirty Ice, Bcat, or Silver Dollar in low light or stained water and natural colors such as Croaker, Cool Beans, Purpsicle, or Mad Mullet in clear water. The Slick Jr. works in almost any depth, but I only trust the big Slick in water 8 feet or less. Do not overwork these lures. They have natural action, and in cold water the bait is not moving fast anyway.
Reading the River: Channels, Flats, and Bottom Contours
On post-front days, the best bite is usually in or on the edge of the river channels. Focus on bends, as that is often where the deepest water lies. If you find fish, stop the boat and make multiple casts. Trout often gather in big groups, and if you set up properly, you can work on them.
During pre-front warmups, focus more on the flats adjacent to the channels. The fish spread out, so long casts to cover water are essential. As you move through the river systems, keep an eye on your depth finder. Make note of any bottom changes on both channels and flats. Even a one-foot change can hold fish.
River Traffic, Safety, and Courtesy
The number of recreational fishing licenses in Alabama has doubled in the last 20 years. More people are sharing the same-sized resource, and inshore boats have gotten bigger, faster, and louder. For safety alone, we all need to stay aware of our surroundings. Things happen fast on the water, and in narrow rivers like Fowl, Fish, and Magnolia, there is little room to maneuver. Show courtesy when passing boats, and you are likely to receive it in return.
A Strong Finish to a Cold Morning
We wrapped up with about three dozen nice trout, a redfish, and a flounder, all caught and released. By then the sun was high, the bite had slowed, and the boat traffic had picked up, which further cooled the action in the clear river. I hope these tips help you make the most of your winter speckled trout fishing in the tidal rivers this season.
