by Steve Utley

Fishing is like reading a book. The difference is this is a living book. Like a book, you start out by looking at the cover. Only, when youre fishing the cover is the weather conditions. You look at the wind, sun, tide, humidity, and the temperature of both the air and the water. With this knowledge, you can make the decision about how you will be fishing - by boat, kayak, or wading, using light tackle or fly. Then you can choose where you want to fish and what you are going to fish for.

Knowing where to cast once you are on the water can make all the difference in the world. Early on, be quiet and pay attention to any activity around you. Especially notice any schools of mullet or shrimp that are jumping around. Sometimes they are just playing around, but often times this can be a sign that larger game fish are chasing them. Casting in that direction is often a good place to start. Underneath the surface of the water you may also see smaller crabs that are being chased by predators.

Pay attention to where the birds are feeding. I watch especially for the blue heron, pelicans, and gulls. They are always on the fish. Follow them. If you know what to look for you can learn to read the wildlife activity on the water just like a living book. It will tell you where to find fish and what they are feeding on.

Structures are the next most important thing to pay attention to. The physical layout of the area you are fishing can control the movement of baitfish and predators alike. I tend to focus on drains, which are gaps between islands and sand bars where water flows from shallow to deep areas. When there is a lot of tidal movement these areas have a TON of bait fish passing through, with some nice speckled trout and redfish sure to follow.

When you get into this drain area, try starting off with a top water lure first. This lure is good for recon as fish nearby will usually strike at it, giving you a quick indication as to whether or not there are any fish in the area. Once you see a strike, switch over to a soft plastic fishing lure that will give you the advantage on that big speckled trout. I always throw a weedless lure, about 3 casts into each section before looking for somewhere else.

Whether I am fishing for fun, with clients or in a tournament, I generally go with the Sea Devil by Brown Lures. Pink Hologram seems to work best for me, but they make many different colors that can work great for clear or muddy water.

Learning to read this "living book" can give you a real advantage the next time that you go fishing. As always, pay attention to the weather, wildlife and structure to get the most out of your day. Time and practice will teach you what all of these clues mean, so go out and test it for yourself. Good Luck Fishing!

About the Author:
Captain Steve Utley of Blue Heron Adventures is a Texas Fishing Guide who specializes in kayak fishing for big speckled trout and redfish. His fishing lures of choice are Sea Devils by Brown Lures. Captain Steve recommends trying out some from Brown Lures for your next fishing trip.