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| | | Get Your Feet Wet - Catch Fish! | | By JAY BREWINGTON |  |
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| ** | Wade fishing, has to be on of the most enjoyable ways of fishing our skinny Florida waters. Our late wadefishing and kayak fishing expert, Jay Brewington, before he passed, told us why he believed this very popular style of angling is so much fun and, best of all, so very productive. In addition, Jay shared his expertise when it comes to some of the equipment you'll need to "get your feet wet" as a wading angler. And best of all, how to be very productive wade fishing our bountiful local waters. Here's what he wrote. | |
I've been a listening fan of Captain Mel's fishing show for the last several years. A frequent topic of conversation is landlubber fishing. Well, I'm here to tell you that fishing without a boat is one of the best ways to enjoy Florida's waters.
Why go boatless? Let's take a look at some of the more compelling reasons. First and most important is productivity. I firmly believe that I can out-catch most people who fish from boats. The gains in stealth and quietness are enormous. Fish, especially those on the flats, spook easily. Wade fisherman, with their low profiles and quiet approaches can reach fish that boaters scare off.
And, of course, one of my biggest reasons for not using a boat to go fishing is economic. You remember the old saying, "A boat is a hole in the water that you throw your money into." That's one of my favorites, and I'm just not interested in spending my money on boats.
Another plus factor in shorebound fishing is time. You can figure that for every hour on the water in a boat, you'll spend that much time maintaining it. When I get home from a fishing trip, I clean my gear (20 minutes) and I'm done. In addition some the finest fishing spots for shorebound anglers are very close to populated areas. I am sure there is a spot to go fishing within twenty minutes of any house along our vast Florida coastline. Time also accumulates when you are at the boat ramp. Some days boat ramps have more congestion than the Interstate at rush hour.
Some would argue that boats allow you to reach places that you can't wade to. This is true. However, there are places I can wade to that a boater will never reach. Water so skinny, that the finest flats boat can't reach it. So we will call this argument even. Each side can make a point here.
Fishing without a boat actually covers three different categories of fishing: 1) Wade fishing, 2) shorebound fishing, and 3) Bridge/Pier fishing. All three have their place and all can be highly productive. Everyone has his or her particular favorite. What doesn't change, however, is the remarkable success one can achieve by not using a boat.
Equipment for Waders
You've decided to take the plunge, so to speak, and try your luck at wade fishing. What do you need? Well, lets cover what I consider the basic requirements of a wading anglers. And here is one of the joys of wade fishing -- the element of simplicity. You don't need a lot of gear. In fact, it is counter-productive to carry excess baggage. Thus my theme for wading is "lighten up."
Let's take a look at the rod and reel you'll need. You'll want an outfit that can make long casts of light lures and baits. This kind of fishing is all about presentation. I like a light to medium action 7 foot or 7-½ foot graphite rod. I prefer a one piece but have noticed much difference when using a two piece rod. Couple this with a medium weight spinning reel and 8-lb. test fishing line and you're good to go.
The amount you spend on this rig can vary. My favorite is a Shimano Stradic 4000 and a G. Loomis GL2 7-½ foot flats rod. This outfit, though somewhat pricey, cost about $250, but it is absolutely marvelous for wadefishing. At the other end of the spectrum I have a Penn 4400 mounted on a 7-foot Lexus rod. Total cost - about $100. It is a solid, reliable, alternative to the higher priced outfit. There are many excellent choices in rods and reels out there. The bottom line is this - decide how much you want spend, then go to a reputable retailer to make your choice.
If you like fishing with live bait, you're in luck. Get a good self-sealing plastic bag and you've got a tackle box. Most of the time you'll need some ¼-oz split shot and 1/0 hooks. You can carry this in a shirt pocket. I recommend a high quality bait bucket. Make sure it is large enough to keep your bait healthy. Many of the waders are now using custom built 5-gallon buckets for their bait. These look particularly good for finger mullet, chubs, and other kinds of white bait.
Those of us who prefer artificial lures have to carry a tackle box. Here's what I keep in mine: 5 jig heads, 3 colors of jig tails (rootbeer, green, and white), 2 DOA Shrimp (measles color, of course) 2 gold spoons, and 2 top-water lures (right now a Top Dog, Jr. and a Chug bug). If I can't catch fish on one of those lures, they probably aren't biting.
The easiest way to pack your lures is to use the small Plano boxes and put them in a fanny pack. You can wear the fanny pack over your shoulder. You can find some high priced solutions in which to carry your tackle, but I think you'll enjoy the wading experience more if you keep it simple and relatively inexpensive.
One other important aspect of wade fishing is footwear. In fact, it is probably your most critical choice. Nothing can spoil a trip like slicing your feet on an oyster bar, stepping on broken glass, or any other number of mishaps that can befall you. Wear something on your feet.
At the very least make sure you wear a pair of sneakers. Athletic shoes tend to rot out quickly, though. I would recommend investing in either a pair of dive booties (about $35) or a high quality wading boots (about $50). I use the dive booties, myself. They are lighter and seem to provide better ankle support. Take care of them and they'll last you for several years. One word of warning - not even the best wading boots will protect you from a stingray's tail. Shuffle those feet!
A rod, a reel, and a couple of lures - that is all you need. If you try wading a couple of times you might never get back in that boat again!
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