Frozen conditions for trout prompt warning to 'let it go'

The snow storm of 2018 brought record low water temperatures and big trouble for our trout population. Reports are coming in from across the Lowcountry that large numbers of trout have succumbed to the cold water. While it is too early to determine the extent of trout mortality, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is encouraging anglers to release all the trout they catch. Until we can better quantify the health of our trout population, catch and release is a good idea.

Thankfully, a good number of trout did survive. Recently, I have been catching them in shallow areas directly adjacent to deeper water. Slowly bouncing a Z-Man TRD or TubeZ on a 1/5-ounce NedLockZ jig down the depth transition has proven to be highly effective. Using this technique, I have been releasing 20 to 30 trout in an afternoon of fishing. While it is good to be catching trout, these numbers are way down from a normal late winter fishing trip. Hopefully, enough trout survived to have a good reproductive cycle in the spring. Until then, if you catch a trout, please consider letting it go.

Thanks to everyone who visited me at the Shallow Water Expo. I always enjoy meeting people in person (verses on social media). The Charleston Boat Show is this weekend and I will be hanging around in the Ankona / Salt Marsh Skiffs booth for most of the show. If you have any fishing or skiff related question, look for me at the show.

Contact Captain Greg Peralta at captgregp@gmail.com or call (843) 224-0099.