How To: Catching Speckled Trout on the Fly in the Winter
By Patrick Hunter
Fly fishing along the coast of the southeast has become extremely popular. Most fly anglers, when they think of fly fishing along the Carolina’s coast, envision flooded spartina flats and tailing redfish. While sight casting to slot reds tailing in the grass or cruising the flats is very exciting, these opportunities only exist around the full moon tides, commonly known flood tides, or in the fall and spring seasons. So what options are available to an angler in the wintertime?
Spotted trout, speckled trout, seatrout or “specks” are my favorite saltwater fish to target this time of year. They show up in the marshes and estuaries when the surface water temperature dips below 60 degrees. They travel in large schools, attack flies like a territorial bass or brown trout, and they can be caught at almost all times of the day. In this guide, I’ll share some simple “how to” tips & techniques to help you chase specks along the southeastern coast!
Fly Fishing Gear Needed for Speckled Trout
Most inshore saltwater anglers will say you need a 9 foot 8-weight fly rod, large arbor reel, and a weight forward floating fly line. While I agree this is the way to go for targeting redfish, bonefish, snook and similar inshore species, my preferred way to catch speckled trout is with a sink tip or full sinking lines. Here are the setup’s I recommend:
I like to use a nine-foot seven-weight or eight-weight rod. The wind is my only concern this time of year. On flat calm days I’ll go with the seven-weight because I can make accurate casts at distance with a sink tip line around oyster beds or into creek mouths, and I have way more feel for a strike. However, the eight-weight gives me more versatility. I will opt for more backbone if the tide swing is more drastic and I need to utilize a full sinking line, or if the wind is greater than 15 MPH. I also prefer an eight-weight if I am throwing top water flies like poppers.
A good fly reel goes a long way when fishing in the salt. A large arbor reel with plenty of backing will help with your pick-up ratio, and a sealed drag is a must have. I like to have interchangeable spools for my speckled trout fly reel setup. Same as streamer fishing in rivers, I want to be able to switch between floating line, sink tip, and full sink as the tide and situation changes.
Fly lines for speckled trout fishing this time of year are the most important part of a fly fishing setup. At a minimum you need a large headed weight forward floating fly line and a full sinking line, either a three inches-per-second or five inches-per-second depending on the estuary’s bottom and the average depth. If you can, throw a sink tip in there as a third line, or at least carry along a few sinking leaders to add to your floating line. These options will allow to effectively cover the whole water column. For leaders and tippet I recommend 12 lb as a minimum, but no more than 20 lb. For the sinking lines just use a 4-foot piece of straight tippet, and on the floating line use a 7.5 to nine-foot leader. The shorter leader is great when you are making tight pocket casts into thin creek mouths or around oyster beds.
Best Flies for Speckled Trout
When it comes to flies, speckled trout like it simple and easy. Most baitfish patterns will work. In the winter time, the water becomes “gin clear” so fly patterns should be natural in their color pattern. Clouser Minnows, deceivers, changers, and poppers will all be successful. Here are some tried-and-true Blue Line Co. patterns that work well this time of year in the southeast:
Hackle Clouser - Chartreuse or White
Marabou Clouser - White/Grey or White/Chartreuse
How to Find Speckled Trout
Speckled trout are active in estuaries, flats, jetties, inlets and the marshy areas where saltwater meets freshwater. These inshore fish are not typically targeted by sight fishing, like their redfish cohabitants. Although Speckled trout are not in the “trout” family, they operate similarly to trout in rivers. They love current, structure, and often hide out in deep holes when the tide goes flat. The best fishing is found on the falling tide or the incoming tide, when the largest amount of water is moving in or out of the inlet or estuary.
The current caused by either an incoming or outgoing tide will cause specks to school at the mouths of creeks or inlets. Trout will be found on the deeper, down current side of a creek bend. The current acts like a conveyor belt, bringing past baitfish and shrimp to speckled trout waiting in ambush. Utilizing a strip and pause method is the most effective, but don’t let the fly sink too deep before you start your retrieve. Oysters lining the creek floor have a propensity to take flies prisoner and rarely release them! The jetties can offer very similar opportunities, but a strong trolling motor is needed to hold your boat in the incoming or outgoing current. When fishing in the current just remember, slacklines miss strikes. Keep the fly in motion to keep slack out of both the fly line and the leader.
Structures around tidal flats and estuaries can look very different. Floating docks, piles, submerged trees, oyster bars, drop-offs, submerged grass, even sunk boats can hold schools of speckled trout. Fish these areas like you would for bass. Trout hiding around these areas will often dart from cover and slam a fly. These are great areas to throw topwater flies or implement “pop-n-cork” style setups. The popping or snapping sound of a popper fly or inline foam cylinder will draw even the most selective trout out for a meal.
On the ebbs of the incoming or outgoing tide, seek out trout in deep holes. The schools in these areas are larger than those around current and structure. Subtlety is key here, a big fly or popper will blow the school out. If you find a deep hole, fish a sink tip or a heavy weighted fly on a floating line and jig the fly through the hole. Most takes will be on the fall or pause.
Conclusion
Fishing for speckled trout in the winter time is one of the most rewarding experiences a fly angler can have. These fish hit a fly with such aggression, it feels as if the rod tip was struck by lightning. These fish offer both challenge and excitement. You will catch plenty of fish in the 12 inches to 20 inches range, with opportunities to catch a 25 inches plus or “Gator” as they are coined, will keep you coming back to the flats and creeks all winter long. Whether you’re a local or planning a trip down these gin clear waters are extending an invitation to experience one of the most enjoyable and exciting inshore species in the southeast.