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Look what's available already- the 2010 Alabama Marine Information Calendar! This free calendar is a dynamite source of information as it includes tide and moon phases as well as regulations, state records, reef locations and a wealth of other information that is helpful on a fishing trip. The neat part is that they are available at a bunch of local retail outlets- and did I mention that they are free!

These are a couple of dry-fit shirts- 1 each men and women's.  This material does a great job of holding body heat while wicking moisture away. It's very comfortable to fish in especially as a base for some heavier clothes. They both retail for under $70.00

Here is a repeat product, because I love mine some much. The ONO's are great polarized glasses with readers that you don't even know are there until you need them. A new addition are the Sun Mag's. Quality polarized readers for $39.99. The regular ONO's retail for $129.00.

Here is a very handy new product. the Bushnell Backtrack allows you to leave a track o so you can follow it back to where you started- just like the "breadcrumb" page on a GPS. It is small, just larger than a keychain- hey, no more looking for a car in a crowded parking lot. It also would make a great backup to the main GPS. Retail for $69.95.

The REVO Inshore casting reel from Abu-Garcia. The baddest casting reel out there. An awesome drag system and the "Infini II" spool design lets you cast to where your license isn't any good. Retails for $229.00.

Talk about an inexpensive gift that will really be appreciated.  The Grabber warmer kit includes toe, hand and body chemical warmers. I carry all of the above and they have been a joy to have on a cold fishing day. Retail $7.99

Here is tip of the week for week of December 3. We are in for the coldest weather of the season this weekend. Moreover, the recent low pressure system dumped a bunch of rain in our local rivers. All is not lost for us fishermen though. The redfish isn't nearly as affected by cold or low salinity as some other inshore species. If you have trouble finding clear water to catch trout in, try some super-scented lures like GULP or even some fresh dead bait like shrimp or mullet. Redfish have a very keen sense of smell and will feed even when the conditions get nasty- heck, I am not sure that they don't even bite better when it's bad!

Mobile Press Register Environmental Editor Ben Raines and his dad, Howell boated over 150 trout with me on Monday. They stayed doubled up all morning long- it was fun to watch! The key to our success was staying mobile until we found the fish and setting up on them once we did find them. Artificial and live shrimp fished under corks and top waters did the trick as far as bait. The tip is to be sure to work an area thoroughly when you get a bite. Odds are that you have found a school can really run up some numbers if you fish them properly.

Here is tip of the week for week of November 12. we are in for some very nice weather if the forecasts hold true for the upcoming weekend. Keep in mind, that even thought we have had some weird weather for this fall, the fish still respond to water temps. You will probably find, that the fish that you were catching a couple of weeks ago are still right there when you get a chance to go back in the next few days because the water temps haven't really changed. As you do your scouting, the last place that you caught them will probably be a good place to start looking again. I am betting that they will still be there! 

Here is tip of the week for week of November 5. The fall is synonymous with red fishing. As I have prepared for a local redfish tourney I have been reminded of that. The redfish are probably always around, but it seems that cooler, lower water really turns them on. The best part about redfish, I think is that they are willing to eat just about anything in any conditions. 

GULP! really appeals to them if you like artificial bait fishing- try a GULP! swimming minnow on a spinner harness or a GULP! shrimp under a cork and watch the reds maul it! 

Bait migration is a key to staying on trout during the fall transition. As the bait and- particularly shrimp- move towards their winter staging areas, they are gathered by what us fishermen call "strike zones". Places like island points are classics, so focus on them as the tidal currents flow around and you should be successful catching fall transition speckled trout. 

The higher water levels north of our area and the abnormally warmer fall air temps have things kind of out of place for early fall. One important thing to remember when looking for trout during periods such as these is to stick with the basics. When the water is warm- say over 75 degrees, the fish will still be most active in depths of over 8 feet. Also, shrimp are the best bait to locate inshore saltwater fish. You can always get fancy when you know that you are around fish, but active inshore saltwater fish will always- always eat a live shrimp. 

Wow! Did you feel that? The first true cold front of the fall passed through earlier this week. The fish were already moving with the fresh water and bait, but this will certainly send them into a fall pattern. The water will cool and the fish will begin to remain active in shallow water all day. Shallow water fishing is my favorite as I don't have to rely on super-clear water. By using techniques such as top water plugs and popping corks, I can appeal to senses other than the eyesight of the fish- thus overcoming stained water. We'll stay in a fall pattern until the water temps get and stay under 62 degrees, so until then enjoy the fishing! 

The fish that we have been catching overt the previous few weeks have really been following bait- mullet, pogies and of course shrimp. They still are holding over hard bottom which means that they are still spawning. That pattern should continue until the water tempos really start to drop, but until then, look for nervous mullet on the surface and/or diving gulls. The trout keep the bait skittish when they are around and feeding. Top waters always work and a suspended shrimp- real or fake will get both quantity and quality of the transitional trout.

It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, there is no better time to be speckled trout fishing than at first light. We always try to plan our guide trips so that we can be FISHING, not leaving the dock at daylight. Trout are primarily low light feeders, so even thought you can catch them fine through the day, your best window will be at daylight. Sometimes, it brings a grumble from the crews when we tell them what time we are leaving, but more often than not, the grumbling comes to a halt when they get on the  "bite at first light"!

This weeks tip involves finding fish by scouting. This is very important as the fish transition from a summer to fall pattern. Keep an eye on the bait movement. Birds will give the bigger bait away, but look for slicks to tell you where the fish are feeding. The fish will also "tell you what they want". A nice school over shell in 2 feet of water may lead to a nice shallow water pattern. Check a few other areas that are  similar and if you get a bite or two you have established a pattern and will be weeks ahead of the other fishermen.

It seems like the only way to come up with a good game plan lately is to have a weather man on 24 hour call. The sqaully weather changes everything from minute to minute. The good part of the nasty weather is that it seems to have a positive effect on the fish feeding activity. I feel that it has to do more with the wind and cloud cover but there are theories that say that the falling barometer has the big effect. Whichever is correct, most fishermen agree that fishing before or right after a squall is very productive. So don't give up on your day due to a little rain- be careful, but be patient. Waiting out a storm may be the best part of your game plan!

It is croaker time- for the fishermen and the trout. When the water gets the hottest- as it is now, trout really eat croakers. Be sure that the croakers that you use swim upright as soon as you hook them and use enough weight to get them to the bottom. Don't be surprised at the size of the trout that eats your croaker either- it may be a 6 pounder or one that you have to measure- less than 14"- because they all get mean during this time of the year- regardless of their size!

Tight line fishing is an very effective and simple way to catch inshore fish like speckled trout. By tight lining, I mean that the line is tied directly to the hook or via a leader.  There is no cork on the line. I like to use just enough weight to get the bait down, but not so much that the tide can't pull the bait slowly along the bottom. The key to my tight line rig is the hook, though. I use a #4 or #6 kahle or "suicide" hook. This hook is self setting and almost always hooks the fish in the side of the mouth. When using finfish like croakers, I hook them through thru top lip only and with shrimp, through the horn. I usually let the fish have the bait just long enough for him to pull a good bend in the rod and then simply start reeling. They rarely get off. There is a diagram of the tight line rig on this website under "Rigging for trout".

It's Rodeo weekend! That means that there will be thousands of lines in the water trying to catch the fish that will fill only a relatively few spots. This week's tip is on how to give yourself the best chance to claim one of those spots. First, keep in mind that the bigger fish of a species are not only more experienced, they are probably fewer in number. That means that they won't be able to compete with the smaller fish in their school for bait. On the other hand, the smaller fish won't be as able- or willing to attack a larger bait. Secondly and most importantly, because the bigger fish are "smarter" we have to work on making the best presentation possible to fool them into biting. Be sure to rig so that your bait can move as naturally as possible at the end of the line. If you are using croakers for example, remember that they are bottom dwelling fish so one presented at the surface in 12 feet of water isn't going to get a big trout to come up and eat it. On the other hand, a pogey looks very natural on the surface and especially when the trout are really feeding, a big trout may be enticed to leaves the depths to eat one. Lastly, be sure to be at your "A" spot at the prime feeding times. For trout, that is at daybreak and during a tide change. Good luck and be safe!

It is Roy Martin Young Angler Tournament weekend this weekend. One of the most enjoyable parts of fishing to me is seeing a young person catch fish. It helps me remember that fishing is fun. Most youngsters treat every fish that they catch like it the biggest and most spectacular fish that they have ever caught. Nothing is taken for granted. That's why I think that we as adults, need to be sure that young people have good experiences on the water. Of course, it's nice to always be catching fish, but as we all know, that doesn't always happen. I paid particular attention to a trip that I had this week with a young person. I noticed that he always wanted to be doing something so I started giving him little tasks to do when the bite slowed- Checking the live well for dead bait and get it out, be sure the fish have enough ice on them, etc. I also spent time showing him how to cast better and even tie a basic knot of two.  The most important thing that I learned- and I learned this from my father- is to be patient. They are learning and we have to encourage that. I noticed that when we got to the dock the young man was smiling so I felt like he had enjoyed himself and would be looking forward to going fishing again.   

Some big Spanish mackerel have shown up with the clear, salty water that has pushed into the Bay and Sound.  These are incredibly fun fish to catch on trout tackle and will eat the same baits as the trout- live shrimp, croakers, etc. I like to look for them on the surface chasing minnows etc. Have a small spinning rig with light steel leader ready and make longs casts to them. Reel the lure- anything shiny will do- in as fast as you can and hold on! The strike is awesome and the fight on light tackle is even better! 

This week's tip is on fishing for trout around deep water structure. As the water in the Bay and Sound warms to over 75 degrees, the nice trout like this one of Jim's start to be come less active in shallow water and more active in deep water. Structure in the form of gas rigs, natural and man-made reefs in water deeper than 8' all offer great opportunities to catch fine trout even during the hottest periods of the day. Be sure to learn how to rig and use slip cork rigs, tight and free lines with live bait like shrimp and croakers. You'll be able to enjoy catching nice trout even if you aren't enjoying the outside temps!

This weekend should be a good one- we have some good weather predicted, and we will be pre-full moon. That is a recipe for some great trout action. Keep in mind that the big spawners are full of roe and doing their best baby-making during these periods. Take a picture if you catch a nice one like Todd's and release it so they can produce more of these fish that we all love to catch.

This is one of- if not the best time of the year to be an inshore saltwater angler. Trout are in a major spawn and feed aggressively when they spawn.  The other neat part is that you can catch then in a variety of ways. Top water plugs in shallow water work as well as shrimp under a slip cork on deep structure. Remember, that the fish are spawning, so it's a great time to catch them but also a great time to release them!

As the salinity levels and water temps reach the right levels, speckled trout go into a major spawn. Be sure to handle big fat spawners carefully, take a picture and release them.  Trout are very prolific species, and with a little help, the fishery that we have may be able to reach its potential. 

Top water baits are without a doubt a favorite of mine anytime of the year. The reason that I like them so much during the spring is that the fish are more aggressive, thus willing to give themselves away even if they are not eating. Also, top water plugs are great ways to cover water. They can be cast a long way so you don't have to move the boat or your self-if you are wading- to see if there are fish around. Even if they don't eat and you get a bite, you can make an adjustment and maybe find a lure that they really like.