By Bill “Heywood” Howard

Steve “Manning” Manning’s 2010 – 2011 Highlights:

3rd Place –  “The Mystery Lure”

How long have you been kayak fishing, what type of kayak do you fish out of?

I have been kayak fishing for just about 3 years.  I now have a Native Ultimate 14.5.

What type of equipment do you normally use? Rod, Reel, Line, Leader.

I usually carry three rods. The three spinning reels are a 2000, 2500 and 3500 series.  They have 8lb., 10 lb. and 15 lb. Power Pro respectively.  I use 30lb fluorocarbon leader on each.

What was your biggest fish caught?  What did you catch it on and how did you use that lure?

Biggest fish was probably a 32 in snook.  Caught it on an Arkansas glow DOA shad tail and a CAL 1/8th ounce jig head.  I just swim the lure back without really working it much.

What type of area do you look for when targeting that species?

Generally look along mangrove edges, especially where there is a point or island where there would be moving water from tidal flow.  Also target snook in colder months in estuaries.

What lures did you use for the Dynamic Duo?

I actually used two of the exact same rigs.  I used two DOA shad tail in Arkansas Glow.  Caught a 22 in red on the shad tail after the tail had been lost.  In the future I would use a spoon in place of one of them.

What lure did you use for the My Lure is Better than Your Lure?

DOA shad tail in Arkansas Glow with a 1/8th ounce CAL jig head.

How did you rig the Gold Dart? (The Erick Bell Memorial)

I rigged it weedless using a Mustad #4 power lock plus hook with a 1/8th ounce weight.  I caught nothing!

What lure / lures did you use for The Tackle Box?

DOA Arkansas glow shad tail with a 1/8th ounce CAL jig, a 1/4 ounce Johnson gold spoon and a bone color spook junior.

When targeting the Big Three, Snook, Redfish and Trout, what type of area do you look for during the following seasons:

 

Winter:

For reds and trout I look for grass flats with an incoming tide where the sun is warming the water.  Also, on the big negative tides I fish pothole areas.  For snook I look for dark bottom, dark water and mangrove edges.

Spring:

Grass flats and potholes for reds and trout.  I look for significant mullet activity.  Mangrove edges where there is moving water for snook.

Summer:

Try to get out very early in summer.  Tend to fish mangrove edges of grass flats.   Also, oyster bars on incoming tides.

Fall:

Pretty much the same as in the spring.

If you could give one tip for using artificial lures, what would it be?

Pay attention to the bait fish that are around and try to use something that is similar to the bait.  Not sure how important color is, but the profile of the bait can have a big impact.