Redfish in the Rain

It’s rainy and foggy, light levels are low, and you’re having trouble getting those redfish on the end of your line? While there’s no such thing as 100-percent predictability in the world of fishing, as a general rule, rainy low-light conditions are usually awesome for fishing. But to capitalize on them you do need to alter your tactics a bit. The next time you have redfish in your sights and you can barely see, remember these tips for rainy, low-light situations.

Redfish will often bite well in low-light conditions. If, of course, you respond to the environment accordingly.

1. Go for the gold. The gold spoon, that is. Or reach for copper. Duller colors generally work better than brighter ones in low light, and that silver spoon that’s ideal on bright, sunny days often takes a back seat to a less aggressive flash.
2. Try matte colors. What’s true of spoons is true of plastics and plugs, too. Bright or fluorescent colors may strike our eyes as attractive in all different lighting conditions, but dull, matte, and darker colors often do the trick in dim light.
3. Choose an offering that stimulates a sense other than sight, alone. Anything with a blade that vibrates or rattles that clack will give the fish something to home in on before they can spot it with their eyes. Note that scented lures may increase the amount of time a fish will hold a lure after the strike, but doesn’t always increase the number of strikes you get in the first place.
4. Stick with live bait. Yeah, we know this one’s a nonstarter for some folks. But truth be told live bait often out-catches artificials. And when the fish may have trouble locating your offerings this is truer than ever.
5. If it’s calm out, try topwater. Some of the most intense topwater action you’ll ever experience will come in low light, particularly when it’s calm out and drizzling. I can’t say I have the scientific expertise to say why. Maybe the fish are more attuned to action on the water’s surface, maybe the ruckus of a topwater bait stands out more in a drizzle, or maybe natural bait tends to cruise at the surface in these conditions so the fish naturally hunt there. You’ve got me. But whatever the reason, tie on that topwater – you won’t regret it.