Thread: "Do nothing" drift and winter fishing

Can anyone help me figure this technique out? Apparently during the cold months, specks will seek more stable, deep water in the tidal rivers around Mobile Bay. They say the best way to catch them is with slow-worked grubs on the bottom of the channels, hence the "do nothing" drift. Apparently you throw out some jigs and pop your rods in rod-holders and drift/slow troll with the tide. I say "apparently" because I haven't found any fish this way... I just moved to Dog River and hate to admit that I can't find the first speck... Any advice?

I can't offer tips as I have never done it, but I understand the best spot to fish that way is up here at the upper end of the Blakely River in a deep hole at the King's Battery. The hole is about 20 feet deep on the chart just where the Blakely branches off the Appalachee (the Blakely is only about 2 miles long).

There is also a deep spring hole in the Bon Secour River in a sharp bend just below the Co Rd. 10 Bridge.

I've read of people using the technique with live shrimp. I had intended to try this year (just moved down, too) in the Blakely but my boat's down right now.

This article says the hole at the King's Battery is 60-70 feet deep.

http://www.nighthawkpublications.com.../journal_1.htm

Trout fishing is way better at the mouth of Boggy than in the bend-just sayin!

IMHO 'do-nuthin' is best in the late fall early winter when trout are in the deeper holes up in the delta rivers.

The Dawg has a few deep spots like the 'NO WAKE' zone in front of the Mariner Restaurant is a good spot to try this, and upriver around Bender Point...
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.5916.../data=!3m1!1e3

But in my experience you will do better with hard baits (jerk) and slow retrieved soft plastics on light jigheads (1/8 ounce). Especially this time of year.
The colder it is, the farther upriver you should fish.
When it starts getting warm, try a DOA shrimp under a popping float drifting the shoals (shallow bars and bays).

You might want to consider joining the ACFA (inshore fishing club) ... ACFA / a local Alabama inshore saltwater fishing club

Thanks for the info guys! I'll give another try or two before I give up for the year. Last year I tried the do-nothing in the TIC, but ended up giving up and catching trout on topwater over by some rocks in the turnaround basin.

Those guys on WNSP/GDO just keep tempting me to try and catch them deep.

Yep, that is the 'standard' for winter trout fishing (low & slow).
Trouble is the fish don't listen to the radio or read ;-)
Trout have their own ideas. When the weather warms up for a few days they generally get more active and a bit shallower.
They love to suspend a bit on sunny afternoons with an incoming tide.
And even the topwater bite (under or near mullet schools) can be awesome on afternoons like that just before dark.

I know nothing about fishing around Mobile, but I have been able to find plenty of trout in January fishing saltwater creeks at bridge crossings. I've caught dozens in just an hour or so on most days when I find where they are schooled up.