Pro Talk: Best Lures for Chesapeake Bay Speckled Trout

We spent 15 minutes on the phone with Capt. Walt to discuss the best lures for speckled trout in the Chesapeake Bay. Here's what we learned...

Capt. Walt
Website: http://www.ltcharters.com/

Location: Chesapeake Bay (Big Bay)

Tides: Incoming tide. The speckled trout fishing is the best on a strong incoming tide. The clean ocean water improves visibility for the trout to feed.

Approach: There are many tiny islands that are slowly erroding away into the bay. Along the banks of these islands, grass over hangs and falls into the water. Speckled trout like to hang around these areas and feed on small blue crabs that use the grass for cover.

Rigging Selection: For a shallow water – weedless presentation, the 5/0 Unweighted Swim Bait Hook is perfect.

Bait Selection: The Hogy Skinny Series 6inch and 4inch

Why This Bait? I think this larger bait is better for targeting the bigger fish in an area. Often you can feel smaller fish hitting the lure, but it takes a bigger fish to eat the entire bait. This increases the average size fish I catch.

Colors: Chartreuse and bubblegum. The bubblegum color may mimic the pinkish hue of a molting blue crab.

Retrieve:  SLOW. After casting the bait, let it sink to the bottom, give it one sharp twitch and let it sink down again. Twitch and repeat the slow sinking presentation. Strikes usually happen right as you begin twitching the bait.

OUTFIT

Rod: Crowder E Series 7’ Medium Action

Reel:  Okuma Salina

Line: 12lb Suffix Mono tied direct to the hook using a loop knot.