Wade fishermen escape the heat only to challenge Mother Nature
Last updated 6/13/2017 at Noon
For the Record
Capt. Chuck Uzzle
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. These anglers have achieved their goal of being at that special
place when the fish begin to feed, the scene is picture perfect and the plan has
no flaws. One hefty fish after another crushes the offerings of these anglers,
topwater plugs disappear in a foamy wash and that is followed by the sound of
line stripping off a reel. A successful wade is a thing of beauty, especially
when it’s shared with other anglers who understand what it takes to make it all
happen. You don’t just get to a spot and hop out expecting to catch fish,
there’s a little more to it than that.
Summer wade fishing is an excellent way to not only catch fish but to catch big
fish. Pre dawn excursions are the norm when the temperatures climb high and
thunderstorms pop up during the day at a moments notice. The lack of traffic on
the water combined with the cooler temperatures makes wading early and late
mighty productive. The well equipped wade fisherman can make this time on the
water more enjoyable as long as they are prepared. Besides the obvious stuff
like rod and reel, tackle, and pliers there are some other essentials that the
wader should never be without. Proper footwear is a must, sting ray guards or
ray proof boots should always be worn when wading during this time of the year.
Having a barb from a ray get lodged in your leg is a very dangerous and painful
experience so be sure to wear the guards or boots. Another couple of items you
don’t want to be without is some sort of light and a whistle. Both of these
items will help keep safe from other boat traffic in the dark as well as make it
easier to signal for help if needed.
Now probably the last thing any fisherman wants to find in the water swimming
around with them is a shark, wade fishermen deal with this much more often than
they realize because there are plenty of sharks. If you are going to wade you
need to be aware of a couple of things when dealing with sharks. When keeping
fish that you have caught be sure to put them on a longer stringer to get them
farther away from your body. Dragging dead or bleeding fish around behind you is
just an advertisement for sharks and believe me they will find your fish. Talk
with anyone who wades and more than likely they have a story about shark
stealing fish off of a stringer or taking the whole thing completely. There are
alternatives to stringers; the Do-Net is a Styrofoam float with a net in the
middle designed for carrying fish while wading. Other anglers like those on the
middle coast have resorted to making floating 5 gallon buckets using foam pool
toys to keep the sharks away. Whatever approach you choose be sure to pay close
attention and use common sense. Letting a shark take you stringer or a fish off
a lure is much cheaper than trying to fight it.
Well now that you are equipped to do battle you can head out on the water with a
better understanding of what it takes to make a safe and successful wade. Use
your time in the water to not only fish but to study the bottom in the areas you
fish because that will pay dividends in the future. By walking these areas you
can learn a great deal about the structure and what actually makes an area hold
fish. Get in the water and get with the program.
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