“Catching Specks and Reds in Texas on Mepps and Mister Twister with Phillip Cambra”

Part 4: Wade Fish All Year Round

Editor’s Note: Phillip Cambra of Clear Lake, Texas, a tournament red fisherman and speckled-trout fisherman, has fished tournaments for 20 years. This week, he’ll share his secrets for catching speckled trout and redfish.

Question: Phillip, you wade-fish year-round in your region, right?

Cambra: Yes, I do. When the water temperature’s in the mid-80s, I prefer to fish a sandy bottom with the Mister Twister Exude RT Slug. I’ll generally fish in 1 to 2 feet of water. I rarely fish in water that reaches the tops of my knees. I like to fish the Trinity Bay area, which is part of the Galveston Bay system. Wade-fishing is best in mid to late summer, and I’ll continue to wade-fish until the first week in October. When I’m fishing in shallow water and stumble into a school of redfish, I’m usually able to make the redfish eat the RT Slug or kill it.

When it comes to trout, there are specific times of day when they’ll eat, but the redfish will eat at any time of day. In the dead of winter, when water temperatures are in the high 40s and low 50s, I’ll still wade-fish. In July and August, when the water temperature is in the mid 90s, I’ll be wade-fishing. When the water’s colder, I prefer to fish a slower-sinking RT Slug or Exude D.A.R.T. So, I’ll use a 1/16-ounce Mister Twister jighead.

Question: How do you fish the D.A.R.T.?

Cambra: I like the D.A.R.T. because its cylindrical shape causes it to dart back and forth with a more-erratic action than the RT Slug. I’ll fish the D.A.R.T. in all colors, but my favorite is clear with metal flake, which is productive in clear or green water. If you’re fishing on a bright, sunny day, the D.A.R.T. really lights-up when the sun hits it, and the fish are able to see it from long distances. Whether I’m fishing the D.A.R.T. or the RT Slug, I’ll catch both redfish and trout, which feed on the same baitfish and often will feed on the same school of bait. I’ll often catch a redfish on my first cast and a trout on my second cast into a school of baitfish.

Question: How do you decide which region to wade-fish?

Cambra: Wind direction is always my first consideration. I like to fish a leeward shoreline because it’s protected from wind. On a windward bank, the shallow water’s often muddy. The leeward bank is usually clearer than the windward bank. So, when I wade-fish, the wind direction tells me which shoreline to fish. The second factor that determines where I’ll fish is where the baitfish are holding.

If I can find clear water that’s holding bait, I’m confident that I’ll catch redfish and speckled trout. We’ll usually catch a number of trout on our wade-fishing trips. The smaller trout are more aggressive in warm water than the larger trout. Even when I’m catching small fish, 3 to 4 pounders are hanging around these smaller fish. In warm water, I’ll work the D.A.R.T. quickly to trigger many strikes. In cold water, I’ll fish the D.A.R.T. slowly or fish the RT Slug.