Cold Early Morning Spring Wade Fishing Trip With Wader Dave

I hit the water with Wader Dave on an early morning spring wade fishing trip!!

It was early March and weather patterns had been unpredictable for a few weeks so we figured we’d have a good chance at wading for some bites.

The real bonus is you don’t need a bunch of fancy gear to get tight lines!!

Early Morning Spring Wade Fishing Trip [VIDEO]

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My Setup:

• Rod: Slot Machine Custom Rod
• Reel: Daiwa Legalis 2500
• Line: 10lb PowerPro
• Leader: 20 lb Ande Monofilament
• Scent: Dr. Juice Saltwater Slam Exclusive Scent
• Lure#1: Slam Shady 2.0
• Lure #2: Power Prawn USA Junior
• Lure #3: Slam Shady Mulligan
• Hook: Hoss Weedless Football Jighead
• Hook for Mulligan: Hoss Helix Hook

We started off fishing in separate areas with Wader Dave a bit further out fishing deeper water while I stayed closer to shore to fish the shallows.

The first catch of the day for me came on the Slam Shady 2.0 paddletail rigged on a 1/4 oz. Hoss Football Jighead.

The key factor to bringing this fish in was keeping the rod tip high when retrieving.

I was fishing in super shallow water and this is a great way to avoid dragging the bottom.

Deeper Pockets Of Water

After I reeled in the first snook, I look over and Dave was on a solid trout bouncing a jig along the bottom in deeper zones.

He continued to catch fish out there so of course I had to make my way to the deeper area.

Aside from not having the proper waders to fish deeper water in the cold, I also did not have a box for my lures.

Since we fished a bit deeper than planned, the lures I had in my pockets fell out and were floating all around me.

Wader Dave was consistently catching fish by bouncing the jig along the bottom waiting for a strike.

When it comes to landing fish while wading, you want to keep your gear high and out of the water.

It is smart to tuck the reel in your armpit to prevent it from getting wet.

Once the fish is quickly unhooked, you’re ready for action without getting anything wet.

After I made a few adjustments, I finally started getting the strikes I was after.

I was so cold that I was retrieving too fast but once I slowed it down the bites followed.

A ladyfish bit the tail off my lure so I tossed it back out Nub-style and hooked up on the first cast.

As soon as I saw the fish respond to the darting motion of the Nub lure, I switched over to the Power Prawn USA Junior.

It didn’t take long to get more strikes.

After about an hour more out in deeper areas, I was starting to shiver and get really cold.

So we moved closer to a shoreline and I switched over to the Mulligan.

I was buzzing the lure along the shoreline when the biggest strike of the day came!

Just as I was about to lighten up my drag, the fish went for a run and the line broke.

That was the last strike of the day but overall this was an awesome trip!

Lessons Learned

• Drag Setting: I had the drag way too tight on that last strike which ended up costing me the fish. The drag only needs to be 20-30% of the weakest line strength. So in this case I was using 10lb braid so the only drag we need is about 2-3 lbs. Make sure to check your drag throughout the day.
• Quantity: Often when fishing shallow grass flats, the quantities of fish are on the outside edges near the channel. The best lures for these situations are small jigs and paddletails.
• Quality: The quality fish were caught in the shallow water.

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform