| Wade fishing can be a great way to catch fish at a | | | | have waited too long and found themselves in a bad |
| very small cost, but there are things you better know if | | | | place. Knowing where the shallower water is could |
| you never have tried it before. If you ask other | | | | mean the difference of still being able to walk in or |
| fishermen about wade fishing, I am sure that you will | | | | having a long, dangerous swim. I grew up wade fishing |
| hear all kinds of stories regarding why many of them | | | | around Tampa Bay and around the Skyway Bridge. In |
| will never try it. So, before we get into the things that | | | | these areas you can find sandbars at low tide that go |
| can happen, let's get into what you should have before | | | | out for a mile. They are great fishing spots, but also |
| you go wade fishing. | | | | can be very dangerous. There is not only the concerns |
| Fishing Equipment | | | | of getting stuck out there when the tide comes back |
| There are a few pieces of equipment that you need | | | | in, but there is a strong current that always seems to |
| to ensure a good, and safe, wade fishing experience. | | | | be going the opposite direction than the way that you |
| First, you should have a good fishing rod, anywhere | | | | want to go. So, again, I cannot stress this enough - |
| from six foot to seven and a half foot, with medium to | | | | know where you're going ahead of time. Find out what |
| heavy action. Next, you'll need good saltwater reel. | | | | time the tides are changing. Have a watch with you to |
| Why a saltwater reel? It's going to get wet...Well, more | | | | check the time. Let some one know where you are |
| like it's going to spend some time underwater. What I | | | | going and what time you should be back. A good |
| like to do is to pack my reel with good reel grease. | | | | suggestion is to always have a friend with you. If they |
| This helps to keep the saltwater out, and will make the | | | | can hold their breath, you can ride on their shoulders |
| reel last a lot longer. I do not recommend using any | | | | while they walk you back into shore! Seriously though, |
| high dollar reels for this style of fishing, unless you just | | | | fishing with a buddy is more fun and a lot safer. |
| like to spend money. Also, when you're done fishing, | | | | Clothing |
| instead of rinsing it off with fresh water, steal some | | | | You may think that clothing does not matter when |
| lemon Pledge from the house and spray it on the rod | | | | going out fishing, but you'd be wrong. First off, wear |
| and reel. Something in this stuff counteracts the | | | | clothing that will protect you from the sun. You know |
| saltwater. Just wipe it off when it dries, and put it | | | | that sunburn you get when you go out in a boat? Well, |
| away. | | | | wade fishing is like laying out on a raft - you will burn if |
| Bait vs. Lures | | | | you don't have protection. A hat is a great idea, and |
| Do your homework before you go out. In other words, | | | | polarized sunglasses are a must. Also, try to wear |
| think about what species of fish you are going after | | | | clothing that is in neutral colors like tans, light blues and |
| and what their natural prey is. Shrimp is always a great | | | | light greens. Remember that if you can see the fish, |
| all-around bait or if you have a cast net, whatever bait | | | | they can see you. White and bright colors will spook |
| you find/catch around the area you will be fishing is | | | | away fish, and there goes your day of fishing! |
| definitely part of the natural diet of the fish in the area. | | | | However, keep in mind that you don't want to |
| Don't be afraid to try lures. Topwater plugs like the | | | | camouflage yourself so well that a boat runs you |
| Heddon Super Spook works well in the flats. Another | | | | over... |
| good one is the Strike King Z TOO, which is a | | | | Wading in style |
| weedless lure. Flip out these lures while you're wading | | | | Here is something that you may want to try, especially |
| out to the spot you want to fish. | | | | if you get into wade fishing. Get a truck tire inner tube |
| As for your bait, you're not going to want to drag a | | | | that will fit either a cooler inside it, or a large washtub. |
| cast net around while you fish. Try to get the bait while | | | | Now you have a place to keep your catch, tackle, |
| you're still close to shore. Use a good bait bucket that | | | | lunch, and you now have a work station if you run into |
| will give your bait plenty of water change to help to | | | | a problem with your gear. Safety wise, it could keep |
| keep them alive. Keep in mind that you don't want to | | | | you alive if you for some reason forget to come back |
| overfill the bait bucket because this will cause a lot, if | | | | in before the tide does. |
| not all, of your bait to die. Give them some breathing | | | | Fishing |
| room. Use a good strong fish stringer to tie your bait | | | | Remember what I mentioned earlier, about using lures |
| bucket to; most of these are plenty long enough for | | | | while wading out to your fishing spot? If you notice |
| your fish and the bait bucket. If you can, try to stay | | | | schools of Mullet in the flats, there is a great possibility |
| away from aerators. These make noise and you don't | | | | that there could be Redfish in with these schools. |
| want to spook away the fish as you are approaching | | | | There is also a high possibility of Snook and Seatrout. |
| them. Also get a fishnet or lip grip for your fish; this will | | | | Always be on the lookout for baitfish breaking. You |
| make handling your fish easier and safer for you and | | | | could find that the fish that you're after are still in the |
| the fish. | | | | shallows, and have not moved into the holes and |
| Let's talk about wearing waders when you fish. There | | | | channels yet. However, you still need to be very quiet |
| are a few things that you need to be aware of before | | | | when approaching, and have a pole that can make |
| using them: First, if you go too deep, they will fill up with | | | | very long casts. You would be surprised what you can |
| water. Second, they will try to drag you down if you | | | | hook into in only inches of water. |
| go in over your head. This can make a great day go | | | | Once you reach the hole or channel that you wish to |
| really bad, very fast. I am not saying not to use them, | | | | fish in, you can switch to bait if that's what you want |
| but just be aware at all times of where you are about | | | | to do. If you choose to fish with lures still, however, you |
| to step because there are some deep holes out there. | | | | will need to cast in a clocklike manner to cover a lot of |
| I am unsure, but I think they now offer waders with | | | | area. Move along the edge of the hole or channel so |
| flotation in them for safety. If so, I would strongly | | | | that you can cover a large area in hopes of finding |
| recommend them. Or another option is to just wear a | | | | where the fish are. Then, try to work that area until the |
| ski belt or some other kind of waist flotation device. | | | | fish move. You will find that using a soft bait works |
| As for myself, I don't mind getting wet, so I wear an old | | | | very well - Bounce them off the bottom, or work them |
| pair of tennis shoes. You should always have | | | | in a current. D.O.A. shrimp and Love's lures are two |
| something on your feet - there are plenty of things to | | | | that I would recommend. |
| hurt yourself on including broken shells, crabs, and don't | | | | Something to think about |
| forget stingrays! Try to do the stingray shuffle when | | | | I am sure that you have heard stories about wade |
| walking across sandbars, so that they will hear you | | | | fishing - everything from sharks to sea monsters. |
| coming and move before you get to them. If you don't | | | | When you're out there all alone, they all seem true. |
| know what the stingray shuffle is, it is scuffing your | | | | Something to think about though is that you are going |
| feet on the bottom while you are walking. On a side | | | | into other creatures' homes - we are the outsiders. So |
| note, stingrays are not out there to hurt you; their barb | | | | always watch what you're doing, and have respect |
| is their only defense and you would want to defend | | | | for these creatures. |
| yourself if someone stepped on you too! Please show | | | | Also be aware that you're going to be catching fish, |
| them respect and scuff your feet as you go, and you | | | | and most likely putting these fish on a stringer attached |
| should have no problem with them. | | | | to you. These fish will be splashing about for a bit, and |
| Where to wade fish | | | | most likely bleeding a little. I think you know where I am |
| Before you ever go wade fishing, you need to know | | | | going with this. More than once I have had situations |
| where you're going to go. This may sound simple, but if | | | | with sharks. When you're dangling fish in the water, |
| you don't do some research, it could mean your life. | | | | you're asking for them to come up and check out your |
| Please don't take this lightly, as people die wade fishing | | | | catch. I have had times when I have been pulled back |
| every year. Always check out the area very well | | | | a few feet, only to find just heads of my catch still on |
| before fishing. During the low tide, check out the deep | | | | my stringer and a large fin circling me. Oh, and believe |
| holes and the shallow areas. Track the best area to | | | | me - smacking a shark on the nose with your pole |
| walk to get out to the channel or hole that you want to | | | | really doesn't work very well. So, remember the inner |
| fish. Remember these areas because the tide will | | | | tube? It's really a great idea because you can put your |
| come back in, and many seasoned wade fisherman | | | | catch into the cooler... |