COURTESY GRAHAM FARMER COURTESY GRAHAM FARMER
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GGear for Speckled Trout EAR is always an individual preference,
but experienced trout fishermen consis-tently
use specific types. Most choose a
6-to-7-foot, fast action, one piece graphite
spinning rod, such as a Shimano Teramar. Many
spinning reels like the Penn Battle III work well but
should comfortably hold 6-to-12-pound test braid
line and have a smooth, reliable drag.
You get what you pay for in saltwater equipment
and a malfunction can ruin an otherwise rewarding
trip. Fishing in cold weather can be an exhilarating
pleasure or a real challenge — quality gear can make
the difference.
Whether using soft plastics such as the Berkley
Gulp or hard plastics like the MirrOdine, realistic
action is critical and the idea is to present a lure that
swims flawlessly and offers the most lifelike presen-tation.
Some fishermen choose monofilament and some
choose braid, but with either choice repeated casting
in windy conditions occasionally produces a fouled
line known as a wind knot or
bird’s nest. It’s always advisable
to pack pliers equipped with a
line cutter designed for braid to
quickly get back in the game.
With the onset of winter,
anglers are setting the hook on
heavy specks, maybe even the new
state record. There are wild places
waiting along our coast that hold
these remarkable fish. Inshore and
nearshore waters from Bald Head
Island to New River Inlet offer
some of the coast’s finest speckled
trout fishing. Veteran anglers look
for rips, creek oxbows and switch-backs
around inlets, coastal bays
and estuaries.
When water temperatures fall,
live bait becomes scarce and the
time is right to ambush specks
with plastics. Be prepared with
a wide variety of lures to include
twitch baits, soft plastics and
suspending crank baits, because
productive combinations can vary
day to day.
Graham Farmer and Toney Lanier pose with a haul of speckled trout. The distinctive
fish is fun to catch and good eating.