Fishing Spring Warrior area questions

[bassfisher]

Im new to the forums!I fish Spring Warrior/Yates Creek a few times a year. I've only thrown Gulp before. I'm an avid bass fisher and fish tournaments often, but I'm lost when it comes to the saltwater! I am going out this weekend and would like to pick up a few hard baits and some different plastics besides Gulp. Anyone willing to help me out on a couple of baits to pick up!? Thanks in advance!

[Harmsway]

Inshore saltwater fishing is just like bass fishing. Same baits; different package. Try the Saltwater Assassins. Really, your bass baits will work. Any fluke-style jerk baits. Worms look like eels. Any shrimp imitation is good. Try any suspending hard bait; unless you can find somewhere without floating grass. Lastly, hard for a bass fisherman, but plastic under a popping cork is both effective and respectable in saltwater.

Fishin' is the mission.

[bassfisher]

Thanks for the quick reply! I picked up a hard bait today, not knowing if it will work in the color i got, but I've heard a lot about this bait, just not a specific color to use. I got a Cotton Cordell Redfin in a gold/black back color. I figured if it wasn't any good I'd at least have something that might look appealing to a bass!

[SS-342]

The redfin is a good bait! Only problem is the paint. It comes off but it will catch trout and red's. The "right" color changes during the seasons and years to some degree. Any color with a chart tail works better. What they want this week may not be what they want next week. You need a variety of colors but don't go out and buy fifty dollars worth of any one thing. Have a few packs because trout are like the weather - they change. I'd be rich if I could tell you WHY. About the time it all seems to come together-----it happens and I'm back to square one.

...but, that is one reason it is so much fun!

We fish the area you are fishing. We think it is the best! Two miles north of the Spring Warrior tri-pod is Oyster Reef, a good spot. From there south to Adams Beach is good fishing grounds plus Eaglesnest Trout Grounds. Don't overlook Big Spring Creek and a few spot here and there along the grass line and out three or so miles.

Keep looking and chunking and you'll find them. Learn all the fishing methods. Some days jigging works best, other days the cork is the thing and still other days the plug is the trick.

A few days anything will work!

We are usually there on Thursday or Friday. Give us a shout, we'll answer back!

[SS-342]

Harmsway was right on! Believe everything he said.

One thing I noticed about Bass fishermen is they want to "nail" the hook in the fish. Trout have a soft mouth and you need not "nail it". Just tighten the line and reel in. Some Bass fishermen find that hard to do.

Another thing, Gulp has an assortment of new baits that are excellent. The pumpkin/chart shrimp, mid-night Tiger, Goby pumpkin/chart and pink or chart jerk shad are a few. Give them all a good look.

I like to shop with Wilson's in Perry but the Outfitter's store on the Foley cut off have slightly better prices.

Good luck and there ain't nothing like it!

[Steve Stinson]

Get a chrome Redfin to go with your gold one. Also, Super Spook and a One - Knocker Spook in Bone.

[bassfisher]

Wow! Thanks for all the pointers guys, I'm see to the very secretive bass fishers, that when you ask what they caught a fish on they answer, "soft plastics, crank baits, a little of everything". Or the guys that cut off all their baits before a tournament weigh in so others don't see what they caught fish on! I'm looking forward to getting on the flats more often, even more so after all the positive response I've gotten from you guys.

Thanks SS, ill give you a shout if I'm down on Thursdays or Fridays! I'm headed out this Sunday from Yates Creek.

Thanks guys, I will let y'all know how I do Sunday.

[Sun Daze]

Don't waste your time, there aren't any fish from Dekle to the Fennholloway! The entire area has no fish! Hahahahaha!

just kidding, that area is great for BIG trout and the redfish can be thick around the oyster bars. If you look at google earth you can see bars from Yates Creek all the way to SW, and they can all be productive, just move around until you find some! Good luck and catch em up!

[CSMarine]

Yates Creek is only about three miles from my house, and that's the area I fish 99% of the time. Great fishing, but tempermental. You either slay them, or get skunked. Try a gold spoon around the bars for the Reds.
Also, if you don't watch the tide closely, it'll leave you high and dry.

[bassfisher]

Thanks guys! Ill be sure and stay away from that "no fish area" lol. NOT!

And as far as Yates Creeks tide, I've had to wade the boat in, in past years, and man it on the trailer. But never been really stuck. A few years back a friend took me out of "a really good spot" he called it. The spot was Hickory Mound. Needless to say it was my first and last trip there. Got stuck in the creek!

I'm going to try and be on the Gulf more often and learn a little more. I fish out of a 15' Alumacraft with a 15 horse, and usually pull it with a red Ford Ranger, so if any of you guys see similar in the area, its me! Also, I'm also disabled, and only about 3' 10" tall, you'll know its me if ya see me! I do appreciate all the feedback.

Do any of you guys use a trolling motor out there? I've never used mine, I always took the batteries out to reduce weight. I'm debating whether or not to use it.

[Bream Reaper]

I like throwing a fluke. U get a lot less harassment from the pinfish.

[tin can]

Bassfisher, I am also a bass fisherman. However, I've dabbled at the inshore fishing over the past few years.

The Spring Warrior area is a great area to fish if you have a bass fishing background. Think springtime bass fishing. Only year around. Topwater baits, spinnerbaits, flukes, spoons, and hard jerkbaits are all good.

In response to your trolling motor question, for me, a trolling motor is a must for inshore fishing. One huge difference between bass fishing and inshore fishing is the tidal movement. With a trolling motor you can hold yourself in a particular area, or move through an area and fish it thoroughly. without a trolling motor you're at the mercy of the tide movement. Also, you can maneuver out of bad places much easier with a trolling motor. You stated you have a small boat with a 15 horse. That can be a good thing. You'll be able to go places the bigger boats can't. But be aware, the rocks don't discriminate. They'll tear up a 15 horse as fast as they'll tear up a 200 horse.

SS-342 mentioned bass fishermen wanting to set the hook. One piece of advice would be to leave your worm rods at the house. I use a medium power, fast or medium action inshore rod for every type of bait I throw. When a trout hits your bait start reeling and slowly raise the rod tip. That's all you need to do. If you know it's a red nail it.

Good luck!

[CSMarine]

Hey Bassfisher.

I'd be lost without my trolling motor! I have a larger center console boat, but 90% of the time I fish out of a 14 foot Stumpknocker boat with a 25hp kicker, and a fifty pound thrust trolling motor. I roam the grass line, and creeks around Yates and Spring Warrior, so it would be tough without my trolling motor. In addition, I can use it to get out when that incoming tide in the creeks ain't quite deep enough for a gas motor. One last benifit is, being retired and monetarily challanged most of the time, I have to fish out of older rigs. On more than one occasion I've been saved by using my trolling motor to get back in. Two years ago grass got caught in the water intake causing overheating, and a blown a head gasket. I was just outside the mouth of Spring Warrior. I used my trolling motor to get all the way back to Yates Creek where the truck was parked. I've had plenty of those type days over the years where a trolling motor saved the day.
BTW, I drive a white four door Nissan Frontier flatbed truck with a U.S. Marine Corps decal in the back window if you happen to see it parked at the landing.

[bassfisher]

I've decided I'll keep my battery with me. May help me stay up around the oyster bars where I've heard the redfish are at during high tide this time of year. I'm ready to get after em!


Also, what do you guys think all of this wind and rain will affect by Sunday? Water clarity, grass, etc?

[bassfisher]

Well we went out of Yates Creek Sunday. It was pretty windy all day, until about 5:45 the wind slowed a little. We caught a ton of rock bass, 4 trout (only 2 legal) and 2 flounder we caught in the creek at Yates. I had a nice redfish on, 25-30 inches, but he broke me off. Not sure what we were doing wrong, I talked to a few others and everyone limited out on trout, and caught several over 20 inches.