Fishing Tips For Potholes In The Lower Laguna Madre Grass Flats
 |
A gold spoon retrieved cleanly across the top of a pothole, states Danny Neu, is downright deadly.
When it comes to fishing tips, Captain Neu is someone we could all take a few cues from. Both as a professional guide and in his free time, Neu has been fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre’s endless grass flats for some time now. The Port Mansfield area is a place which offers rewards for fans of many different fishing techniques – and Neu is a master of all of them.
All over the lower coast, there are circle-shaped sandy breaks which are typically surrounded by vegetation. It’s easy to spot these potholes, as they are usually known, especially when wearing polarized sunglasses. These structures resemble tiny versions of crop circles and are among the best places to find baitfish hiding out – and predators swarming in pursuit. Port Mansfield and other spots along the lower coast are rife with potholes among their miles and miles of grass flats.
“A great deal of my fishing takes place while wading or drifting potholes during late spring to early fall,” recalls Neu. The springtime abundance of bait establishes the Port Mansfield areas as a buffet for predators. Fortunately for sightcasters, the thick grass and sand keeps water clarity at its best.
Neu tells us that one of his favorite times of year is when baitfish start moving through the area’s bay systems. “Every angler should keep an eye out for piggy perch and pinfish – they’re the most reliable indicator that you’re in a good spot.”
The places Captain Neu prefers for his drifting and wading are the locations where he can actually spot the fish hanging out at the edge of grassy structures in wait for their prey. “When the water’s clear, the rest is easy. I just keep an eye out for baitfish on the move and slicks and I know exactly where to set up.”
Wading and drifting are both productive means to catching fish; choosing an approach boils down to personal preference.
“I prefer to wade when working potholes. I am able to deviate and thoroughly fish each patch of sand before moving to the next one.”
One of the fishing tips Neu offers is to try wading when you spot a group of fish in the midst of feeding so as to maintain a good position, something which is much more difficult to do when drifting.
Casey Hardin, a biologist studying sea grass on the lower coast, believes these bald spots are formed due to bottom sediments serving as substrates. “It may be a bottom composed of gravel or perhaps hard sand that does not allow for grass growth; however there is no question that potholes are excellent ambush points for speckled trout and redfish.”
An angler himself, Hardin spends much of his free time fishing the same grassy areas he studies. “The Upper Laguna has some great shoreline, but not a lot of potholes. Personally, I love fishing these areas and I now mark potholes on my GPS before I start wading to make sure that I hit all of the best ones,” says Hardin.
When the winds pick up speed, drifting can be something of a challenge, but one of the insider fishing tips when dealing with the flats and potholes is to drift in these conditions in order to spot good potholes for angling quickly.
“I usually go for a weedless spoon as my first choice, but when I’m not getting results with that or a topwater, I reach for a red and white soft plastic lure. It never fails me in a pinch,” Hardin says. Agreeing with fishing reports for the region, Hardin also recommends lightweight jigs and suspending baits when fishing among the potholes of the Lower Laguna Madre.
Related Videos:
Finding Great Keen Shoes on Sale
Selecting A Good Bait Casting Reel
Fishing Feed
What do you think about this write-up?