Best retrieves for April trout

Working topwater or sub-surface lures effectively for spotted seatrout isn’t difficult.

With a topwater lure, it’s easy to see whether or not it makes a swimming motion and imitates a wounded baitfish.

For “walk-the-dog” lures such as Zara Spooks or Rapala Skitterwalks, all that’s needed is a pumping action to make the lure zig-zag on the surface. Popping the rod tip creates the needed motion.

For jerkbaits, a series of hard downward movements of the rod tip while reeling in line will make that lure descend a few feet. Then the angler stops the retrieve and allows the jerkbait to wobble toward the surface. This erratic wiggling elicits strikes.

Guide Ricky Kellum prefers soft-plastic imitation shrimp, especially in April. He fishes shallow water and doesn’t worry about hang-ups with soft-plastic lures that can be rigged so they’re virtually weedless, but fishing soft plastics correctly involves more than casts and retrieves.

“I always start fishing shrimp lures slowly on the bottom,” Kellum said. “If I’m not getting results, I change (retrieves).”

And he’ll make a change that’s usually counter-intuitive when it comes to fishing. Normally, after allowing a shrimp lure to sink, he’ll pop it off the bottom a couple of times, then allow it to settle. Strikes usually come on the fall.

“If I’m getting strikes but missing fish, I’ll sharpen up my retrieve,” Kellum said. “A lot of times a quicker pop will make specks strike harder.

“It’s kind of like if they’re boiling at topwater lures, but I’m missing them. I’ll speed up my retrieve, and they’ll attack the lure harder. At times, making a lure move faster seems to excite speckled trout.”