While December may not be the coldest month on the year in south Alabama it can be pretty cold. Cold weather trout fishing can be very productive and requires only a small change in fishing methods. Trout do run up our rivers in the cold months. The river temperatures are warmer than the bay this time of the year and as trout are temp sensitive they move up stream as far as the salt line will allow looking for the deeper and warmer holes. Deeper holes may only be 6 feet or so but deeper than the surrounding water.

 On the eastern side of the bay, Fish River, Magnolia River, and Bon Secour River will all hold specks in the winter. A bottom machine is a good tool to have when searching for winter specks. Most fishermen will fish the deepest parts of the rivers early and late and fish the edges or shallower parts during the high sun time of the day. Normally you will drift down current with baits under a cork set about one or two feet off the bottom. A sonar unit is always helpful for this but not required. I use slip corks vs popping corks because the depth changes often and may go below seven feet or so and its easier to cast slip corks than popping corks. The slip corks that I use are the large red or yellow torpedo shaped ones and I use a string with a knot in it and a small bead as my cork stop.

 On most rivers you can follow the traffic as far up stream as needed and then its only a matter of getting in line for your drift. A trolling motor will make boat control much easier but a paddle will work too.

 As the sun warms the water a little you can also fish the edges of the river in the same manner. Specks will move to the shallow edges to feed and warm. For bait, I almost always use shrimp. On the days that shrimp can not be found, grubs, DOA’s and Gulp Baits all work well. When using shrimp, remember that they like salt water so if you run up river don’t pump fresh water into your live well. That may kill your bait. A bubble making pump will work for shrimp.

 On the rivers, you can also find slot reds holding on piers and other structure. During the cold months, its not uncommon to hook a very large red fish on a plastic or shrimp so keep your line in good shape and be prepared.

 If the rivers are crowded and the wind is calm, you may want to give the white trout a shot. They are ganged up around the gas rigs in Mobile Bay and can be caught in big numbers this time of the year. Simply tie off or anchor and fish on the bottom, or, if there are too many hang ups use slip corks close to the bottom. Bait can be plastics, live shrimp, dead shrimp, cut bait, or squid. White trout will eat it all. When you find them you can load your boat up. I have customers that come here this month just for white trout and take home the year's supply of fresh fish. You can honestly catch all you want to clean.

 The Dixey Bar is a little slow this time of the year. Not dead but slow, for sure. The best bait this month will be cut bait while at anchor. Red fish feed by sight and smell so chum lines will work too. You can also find them while trolling the beach with large plastic’s, Mann 25's, or large spoons. Stay in close and look for the mud eruptions in the water and pull or cast your lures trough it.

 The light house, off shore will hold good numbers of whiting and ground mullet which are fed on by the large red fish. Anchor, and fish for your live bait then use larger tackle and fish for red fish in the deepest area at the light house. Keep in mind that the are plenty of things to snag on around the light house, so keep your bait in one spot. If you reel it in slow you will get snagged and with 30 pound tests, that can be a problem.

 December can be a great month on the water, just takes a little change or two in the way you fish. Go deep and stay slow. Stay safe and dry. Know the law and stay on top of the weather. Contact me at backbayfishingwithdon.com.

 P.S. Check out the new law that speaks of fish cleaning at public boat ramps.

~Capt. Don