Trying to catch up on some rescheduled trips from last week’s Tropical Depression and overall crap weather. Guided Mr. Mitch Smith this morning and took a bumpy ride east in search of some redfish and trout. Started at first light with a 4# trout. Nice start but it was really hit or miss at several places today. Concentrated on a stretch of pretty clear water with depths ranging from 2-4′. Got quite a few 2-3# fish on topwaters but the fish were pretty difficult to raise because of the freshwater invasion in these areas. Fortunately, a loud subsurface bait did the trick and lots of very nice trout fell victim to the bait. We were also able to get several fish on the Berkley Powerbaits with rattle inserts. Come to think of it, we should have thrown the Berkley Rattle Shrimp in today’s yucky water. Oh well, Mitch received a few in his Redfish University goodies bag so maybe he’ll use them on his next trout fishing adventure. Covered lots of water this morning and only found big concentrations of fish in one big area so that’s where we returned. We saw a few redfish and redfish wakes but only one strike which spit the hook. Today’s trout total was 25-30 fish of all sizes, even caught a half trout after a shark clipped him in half. Hopefully the rain will stop in the next few days and the fishing will get a little better but we’re not complaining. Today’s tip: Clean, moving water with bait. No photos...
Read MoreAllStar Rods and Stren Pro Staff announcement and web pages-August 15, 2010
Redfish University is pleased to announce additional Pro Staff sponsorship information from Pure Fishing/Berkley. Eric Holstman has joined the AllStar Rods and Stren Pro Staff. Redfish University uses AllStar ASR Redfish 7’o rods exclusively and Stren Tinted Fluorocarbon(Gunsmoke, Coral Mist and Tannic) in 15, 20 and 30# spools. The Allstar ASR Redfish rods are beautifully matched with the Penn Conquer 4000, the Penn Sargus 4000, the Abu Garcia Inshore Revo and the Abu Garcia Soron. Checkout the AllStar Rods and Stren websites below. http://www.allstarrods.com/as_e_holstman.html http://www.stren.com/pros_detail.php?id=2413&o=0 This bonefish and several like him were caught on Savannah Flats in Ambergris Caye, Belize on the AllStar ASR Redfish 7’0 rod, the Penn Conquer 4000, with 6# Spiderwire Ultracast and a 10# Stren Tinted Fluorocarbon leader in Coral Mist. Please click image to...
Read MoreA week of rain and cancellations, but here’s a fishing report from Redfish University-August 13, 2010
With the passing of TD#5 this week, Redfish University has laid low and rescheduled several guide trips for the coming weeks. High winds, rain and dirty water has made fishing tough, especially in the upper bays and Sound. It was an excellent opportunity for Redfish University to deliver its 2010 Hewes 21 Redfisher to The Ships Chandler in Destin to have a 50 hour service performed on the new Yamaha 250 SHO. Oil changed, lower unit oil change, plugs, a full system check/boat check and we’re ready to go! I refuse to let anyone touch my boats except Mac, Pete Jr.and Peter Sr. down at The Ships Chandler in Destin. Those needing Yamaha service, boat service, mounting of accessories, a new Yamaha and a new/used Maverick, Hewes, Pathfinder or Contender, I would highly recommend The Ships Chandler. They do it right the first time, every time. Also, got a new lower housing for my Motorguide SW Digital at Bass Pro so we’re set. Redfish University has a full slate next week and the fishing will be excellent. Here’s a short fishing report from Redfish University. Early morning topwater for trout and redfish is excellent. We have been fishing sand bottom and mud bottom exclusively in the upper bays. From 515am-730am the optimal zone and I enjoy throwing the small Rapala Skitterwalks. Long casts on productive banks in Escambia, East and Blackwater Bays as well as Santa Rosa Sound. Make sure you are around large groups of mullets/small baits and you find plenty of redfish and trout. Once the sun gets up around 800am, I’ve been having great success with Berkley Gulp and Powerbait Jerkshads in camo or any natural color such as mullet, watermelon or rootbeer. Use these baits with a 1/8-1/4oz. Marsh Works jighead and you’re golden. Don’t forget your fluoro leader(2-3′) in 15 or 20#. Very simple fishing but extremely productive, especially if you’re around lots of fish. Those Mirrolure Mirrodines MR17 are also very productive once the sun has risen. The sightfishing for redfish in shallow water has been okay. The fish are cooperative but not very thick yet. Give it another few months. Deeper structure has also been a focus of Redfish University in...
Read MoreRedfish, trout and more for new Pensacola residents at Redfish University-August 6, 2010
Back from vacation and busier than ever! Guided Mr. Jim Ball and his son, Thomas, this morning. Jim, Thomas and family are recent new arrivals to the Pensacola area. They are buying a new boat soon and wanted to learn about our local waters and fishery here in Pensacola. They are now very familiar with both!! Started out earlier and showed the guys where they can catch plenty of fish to eat. Whacked the trout and redfish on topwaters, suspending baits and Berkley Powerbaits most of the early morning. Thomas really came into his own with the suspending baits boating several quality speckled trout. We covered a variety of extremely productive areas and lots of proven techniques that have been the bread and butter at Redfish University. Next, the guys wanted go to some areas where they could just catch lots of fish. Picked out some areas in the bay and around the Pass and the guys had a ball with big Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish and some big sharks. Ended the day with some fishing talk and 15 typed pages of detailed inshore angling tips, locations and techniques for fishing in Pensacola. Jim and Thomas will have no problem catching fish in Pensacola year-round and Redfish University wishes them the best of luck in their future angling adventures. Most fish released but a few trout, redfish and Spanish macks were kept for the cookout. Please click an image to enlarge and view...
Read MoreLots of trout and rain at Redfish University-August 5, 2010
Back from another short vacation and ready to fish. Guided Mr. John Prudhomme and friend Harris today for some trout and redfish action in Pensacola Bay. Started at first light and ran about 8 miles to our first area. Found plenty of medium trout on topwater baits in shallow water but these fish were not as aggressive as last week. Switched to sub-surface baits and improved our catch-rate a bit. Ran from the rain and storms and found some better trout in another area but still, not very aggressive. Eight wind direction shifts and erratic pressure didn’t help us today but we did as well as humanly possible. Ended up with 20-30 decent trout with 10-12 being great keepers. Also had a great redfish wake and blow-in and out. Probably an oversized fish but the strike was epic. All fish caught on Berkley Powerbaits and topwater baits. Different areas for tomorrow’s...
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