Cold Water Fishing in Texas
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Fishing has long been one of my top five outdoor activities as it hasn’t really changed that much over tens of thousands of years. Fishing out in the cold water of Texas, however, can be rather insufferable. Luckily for Texans, winter doesn’t really come around until the early months of the year.
Humans have been practicing fishing for the best part of 40,000 years. Yet still today, the best fishermen are the ones that can reel in a bite despite bitterly cold weather, inactive fish (What wine goes well with fish?), or rough waters. We give you the top tips and best fish to catch, next time you're out fishing on the cold waters of Texas.
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Saltwater vs Freshwater Fishing
From what I can tell, a beginning fisherman never deliberately chooses to cast their rod in fresh or saltwater—they just get started in whatever fishing waters are close to them. Nevertheless, everyone has their preference, whether that is on a boat or onshore; in salt or fresh water; fly or reel fishing. Pick your poison!
The beautiful thing about Texas is the diversity it offers. From the shores of Galveston to the swamps in Montgomery County and the countless major rivers and lakes across the state, it truly is a wildlife paradise.
Fish Behavior
The thing that has helped me most along my fishing journey is some simple knowledge of different fish species. This includes their ideal climate, diet, environment, migration patterns, and where they are most concentrated. This information can be found in less than five minutes, and will certainly make you a more enlightened angler.
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Fish are cold-blooded animals, which means their body heat is directly affected by their surrounding waters. This has a considerably large impact on their day-to-day activity. Ideal temperatures vary greatly from fish to fish, with the vast majority of fish still active and catchable when waters are above 40ÂşF.
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Do Lures & Bait Matter?
The simple answer is “of course”, as they always matter. However, when it comes to temperature, the type of lure is much more important. As water depth increases, temperature stability also increases, which makes the fish gather closer together and travel deeper in the water.
This should make you consider the type of lure you use. Spoons, jigs, and sinking lures are three of the most popular kinds. It all comes down to knowing the behavior of the fish species.
Safety
Fishing in the winter is also significantly more dangerous than in the summer. In wet conditions, a person can develop hypothermia in temperatures as “mild” as 40ºF.
In certain weather conditions, hypothermia, shock, dehydration, tiredness, and even frostbite aren’t anomalies. They happen more often than you may think. Aside from the obvious precautions you can take, the safest thing to do is to not go alone.
If fishing alone, it is best to be well prepared and bring a life jacket, first aid kit, space blanket, fire starters, and a metal container to boil water for hot drinks.
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Winter Fishing Spots in Texas
Rivers
Naturally, the biggest rivers in Texas such as the Rio Grande and Red River are the top contenders. When it comes to fishing in moving water, the trick is to find the correct spot. Some fish prefer fast, moving water, while others like it shallow, and some prefer to settle where there is lots of cover.
Lakes & Power Plants
Lakes are an obvious place to start fishing, and in the winter, power plants make them the ideal choice. Power plants and nuclear reactors warm the lakes they’re built on, in turn making the fish more active.
Coasts & Oceans
Coastal and ocean fishing have the advantage of size and diversity of fish, so even on the coldest days you can set out to catch something. Sheepshead, one of the most robust fish in the Gulf of Mexico, can be caught pretty much all year round.
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Wetlands
Wetlands and marshes are ideal for catfish and also for catching bait, such as minnows, crayfish, worms, and leeches. Carp, perch, and walleye are all species that can be caught in a swamp during the cooler months.
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Best Fish to Catch in the Winter
Trout
Trout prefer covered areas where they can easily hide. They love to swim in cold water and thus can be found where fast water meets slow water, where deep water meets shallower water, near rocks and sandbars, and around docks.
Fly fishing is the best type of fishing for trout as they like to eat bugs. That being said, they can also fall for bait and lures, given you use the correct kinds. Worms, fish eggs, flies, minnows, and other kinds of live bait are best.
Bass
Bass are versatile fish, both in the water and in the kitchen, making them one of the more popular kinds of fish in Texas. They can be caught with a huge variety of baits and lures, both live and artificial. They’re sensitive to light, so tend to linger in deeper water—perfect for reel fishing.
Catfish
Catfish aren’t just unique in their own right, so is the fishing method used to catch them. “Noodling” involves dunking your arm up to the elbow in fish guts, sliding it into a catfish hole and fishing out the catfish with your bare hands.
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Red Drum
Red drum fish, also known as redfish, are a popular catch in the Gulf of Mexico. They have distinctive black spots at the base of their tail fins and can be found in creeks and bays during the winter. The daily bag limit is five redfish per person, with 16 inches as the minimum total length and no more than one fish exceeding 27 inches.
Half a million years after we first stood on two feet, fishing continues to be an integral part of most civilizations around the world. It’s an exceptionally practical sport (for those who call it that), yet one that is nevertheless still loved even in the most frosty temperatures.
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