Winter redfish can be very spooky, and fishermen should always be conscious of making unnatural noises while poling into the shallows, especially in the marsh where sometimes hundreds of fish will be congregated. But some noises resonating through the water will trigger a different reaction, more favorable to anglers.
Small mullet and mud minnows produce vibrations as they break the water’s surface, and redfish lick their chops when they hear them, going into feeding mode, especially during periods of unseasonably warm weather. While South Carolina’s winter can be brutally cold, locking down feeding behavior, these bone-chilling days are only temporary.
In fact, warm spells occur frequently, raising the water temperature into the upper 40s and lower 50s, making ideal conditions for a more- aggressive presentation. Reds will slide up on these oyster rakes, gazing into the current flow hoping for a tasty meal to arrive.
Tommy Scarborough of Georgetown Coastal Adventures will tie on small, topwater gurglers and work them along the oyster rakes near exposed shell, attempting to mimic small minnows.
“Redfish form wolfpacks (groups of three to five fish) on the edge of oyster rocks when it warms up some. Toss a gurgler right in front of the fish’s nose and they will pounce all over it,” said Scarborough, who will also throw a neutrally-buoyant fly tipped with a rabbit tail zonker. The suspending fly will be irresistible to aggressive fish waiting for food to come by.
Clear water is expected in winter, but sometimes excessive wind and heavy tides will muddy it up. Glass rattles producing small, but very effective clicking noises will help gain the attention of a passing redfish.
“Rattles at times make all of the difference in the world for every pattern out there in dirty water,” he said.
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