Redfish move slowly in winter water

Capt. Allen Jernigan said one of the keys to catching winter red drum is to fish slower than you do during the rest of the year.

In really cold water, reds are moving slowly enough that a technique called “dead-sticking” — the bait is intentionally stopped and let fall to the bottom — can be effective.

Even during warm winters, fishermen need to slow their retrieve and control their urge to cover a lot of water,and slow their retrieve. Allowing the bait to stay in front of the fish for a few seconds is often what tempts them to bite.

Baits with scent are a good choice for winter fishing. When fishing a bait slowly, it has extended visual attraction to fish. By adding scent, the attraction is doubled.

In the winter, Jernigan said, red drum seek out places that are a little warmer, and they tend to stay there unless pushed out by fishermen or a predator (usually porpoises). A degree or two doesn’t sound like much, but it can mean the difference between drum that are feeding or merely hovering to stay warm.

Some of the most-obvious places that will be warmer are shallow bays and small creeks that have minimal current or tidal flow and dark bottoms that are exposed to sunlight. All three factors contribute to water that’s a little warmer than surrounding areas.

Baitfish, crabs and such like warmer temperatures, too, and the warmer places are more likely to hold whatever bait is around during the winter.

Jernigan believes that spending some time on the water looking for these places is a significant part of catching fish during the colder months.