If you ever need a laugh there is no better place in the world to get one than at your local boat ramp. We all know about going to the mall and “people watching,” just sitting on a bench and watching people scurry around doing things that just make you laugh.

The slick surface of the lake was disrupted by skipping shrimp and the familiar sound of trout crashing the helpless crustaceans. Each cast with a soft plastic was met the familiar thump of an aggressive fish that thought they were much larger than they really were. One small trout after another continued to hammer the jigs and also continued to be too small.

Like a scene from a bad surf movie the whole “locals only” mystique plays out at the boat ramp every time a new angler from another bay system shows up to sample some new water. “What’s he going to do with that little boat” or “what’s that diving board doing over the motor” are all questions and smart aleck remarks that come from the close minded.

For many of us the summer months mean different things when it comes to the sport of fishing. There are those who can only dream of clean blue prop wash, flat seas at dawn and an endless expanse of gulf as far as the eye can see. For others the thought of rushing into the bay amid the sounds of working birds and fleeing bait gets their heart pumping in anticipation of hungry trout and redfish by the bunch.

“That’s just stupid, that is just stupid” said my partner for the day Mike McBride, “I can’t believe you can get these fish to eat topwater plugs in 7 feet of water.” Our drift along the east shore line of Sabine had produced some very respectable fish that no wade fisherman could have ever reached. The pattern was foreign to “McTrout” and he made no bones about it, drifting in deep water and throwing topwater plugs was just too strange a concept for this shallow water angler extraordinaire.

The launch was uncrowded and the temperatures were already starting to climb as Ron Begnaud and I prepared to head out in search of some willing redfish in the marsh.

In all honesty this has to be one of my absolute most favorite times of the year, that transition from winter into spring when the weather starts to cooperate and the fishing goes nuts.

Next week marks the annual hiatus from school that kids of all ages look for once the Christmas holidays are over. Spring break is here! During this week off from the rigorous demands of reading, writing, and arithmetic, you can rest assured that a cry will rise up from the masses that there is nothing “fun” to do.

Technology is a great thing, the endless uses for gadgets and other electronic forms of communication have transformed a once very simple sport into a highly technical and ever evolving event.

The big center console finally drifts to a stop in the early morning darkness as the anchor rope comes tight. Solitary figures equipped with the latest gear that would make a NAVY Seal jealous slide over the gunnels into the warm still water and begin casting in all directions, probing the shallow flat for the fish of their dreams.

It’s often been said that “God does not deduct the time from a persons life that’s spent fishing;” what a wonderful thought.

More than once it has happened; you and your best fishing buddy are standing side by side using the same lure but only one of you is really catching fish. The next time this happens, you need to examine you partner’s lure a little more closely, especially when it comes to topwater plugs. There are plenty of serious fishermen out there who just take a plug out of the package and start using it without any thought of checking several key components. Hooks are the main thing, inferior hooks cost fishermen more fish than anything. Check to see how sharp the treble hooks are before you chunk that plug, sometimes they are not nearly as sharp as one might think. Split rings that hold the hooks are another culprit, stainless steel split are a must when hustling fish in saltwater.

Like a scene from a bad surf movie the whole “locals only” mystique plays out at the boat ramp every time a new angler from another bay system shows up to sample some new water.

Fishermen are an ever-evolving breed, much like the fish they pursue fishermen continue to get smarter and better equipped in order to be more successful. A perfect example of this phenomenon is as close the nearest tackle box and fishing rod.

Show me an angler who shuns deep water and I’ll show you a fisherman who’s missing plenty of fish. With so much attention being paid to shallow water angling these days it’s no wonder your local fishing hole is growing more crowded by the day,

It’s a common known fact that we have some of the craziest weather in the world here in Texas, especially on the coast. January and February have historically been some of our worst weather months, the conditions at this time of the year coupled with low water temps can make it down right miserable.