Though the Trails can be fished year-round, anglers naturally tend to fish when the comfort level is ideal. “My season runs from April 1 though October 31, mainly due to winter’s inclement weather,” said Chapa. “It’s not that you can’t find and catch fish. You have to consider that winter cold fronts and accompanying winds can make the trek a lot tougher, as well as casting and maneuvering a kayak in general. And our most extreme cold snaps chill the shallows, which have a median depth of 15 inches or so, to the point that reds and trout hunker down in deeper holes, and sight fishing suffers.”
The trails spread out over 20 square miles of bay waters.
Dean Thomas, owner and operator of Slowride Guide Service and Kayak Rentals, claims that business has definitely exploded during the past year or so. Thomas and his wife took the plunge into the kayak business shortly after they discovered the Lighthouse Lake Trails.
“We guide a lot of fishermen out on the Trails,” says Thomas. “During the past couple of years I’ve noticed that about 90 percent of our customers are first-time kayakers. They have read about the trails, heard about kayaking and want to see what it’s all about. We do birding tours, and even have group kayaking trips under a full moon. We get lots of women and kids out here, too. But I get the most pleasure out of guiding fishermen to tailing reds. That’s how I relax.”
And talk about a sneak attack on spooky fish. You can definitely get the edge when you approach fish in a kayak. “You can get within casting range, and they never know you’re there,” says Thomas.
As far as tackle, lure and fly choices go, keep in mind that the water depth is basically two feet deep and shallower, except in the canals and cuts through the mangroves where four to six feet is common, depending on the tide height. On a strong falling tide the deep mangrove cuts provide sanctuary for a mix of trout and reds. At high tide the fish will be scattered out on the flats. With spin and plug tackle you’ll do best with 10- to 12-pound-test line connected to a 14- to 17-pound bite leader. Lure selection should include both soft plastics and hard plugs. Trout and reds here feed primarily on shrimp, mullet, assorted minnows and crabs.
When trout and reds are targeting shad and mullet, a topwater plug is tough to beat on these flats, where the cord grass isn’t too thick. A couple of your favorite walking plugs and small propbaits, such as the Tiny Torpedo, will do the trick.
Choosing and Rigging a Fishing K
A sit-on-top kayak is superior to a sit-inside for fishing—you can paddle in comfort, cast better and bail out easier when it comes time to wade the flats. They typically have plenty of below-deck and topside storage. This is the most common type of kayak on the Trails. I have a Wilderness Systems Tarpon, which is available in 12- and 14-foot models, and there are numerous makes that are similar.
Above all, choose a kayak that is lightweight, has an open cockpit on the stern and waterproof, below-deck storage on the bow. Mine has a flip-up backrest that is the cat’s meow. There are no straps to adjust. You get in, flip the seat up and you are ready to paddle. That’s important when you are making lots of stops to fish, as you do at the Trails. So is a butt pad and back rest. Never set out on the trails without some sort of back support. I have found that many sit-on-top kayaks don’t come with enough back support. In that situation you’ll need to outfit your kayak with a padded seat and backrest. They can usually be purchased wherever kayaks are sold. They are comfortable, but come with straps that need to be adjusted.
Rigging a kayak for fishing the flats is simple. I’ve got a rodholder mounted on the console for quick access. You’ll need a lightweight anchor with about four feet of line. And on the back you’ll need a dry bag stuffed with snacks, a handheld GPS and area map, along with personal items. Many kayakers fit a plastic milk crate in the back storage area. Rod holders can be mounted on the crate. Your tackle can be stowed inside the crate.
I normally strap a soft-sided cooler to the bow. Your paddle should have a leash. Lose your paddle in the current and you are dead in the water. In fact, it’s always a good idea to carry an extra paddle below the deck. Also, don’t forget your PFD and a whistle. Safety is a key factor, especially when you are crossing the deep channels that lead into the Lighthouse Lake Trails.
My favorite fly in these waters is a Skitter Bug, a foam-bodied fly that I tie on a No. 4 Mustad 34011 hook. In a pinch, any small popper, no longer than 2 1⁄ 2 inches or so, would work. Deerhair sliders can be deadly, and Clouser Minnows are effective both in the shallows and in the deeper cuts. For this reason, be sure to carry Clousers of different sink rates. Bendbacks are a top pick in the heaviest grass because they are virtually weedless. Best colors are white-and-chartreuse and pink. Weedless deerhair poppers are good in yellow-and-white, chartreuse-and-white or all white. Tie them on No. 2 or 4 hooks.
Because tailing reds are my focus, I don’t put in on the Lighthouse Lake Trails without a fly rod or two. Anything from a 6- to an 8-weight with a floating line will cover the bases here. When I find reds, I ease out of my kayak, slip the anchor over and stalk the tailers. Quite often trout will be mixed in with reds on the deeper flats. But for the most part I look for pods of baitfish when I’m after trout. Nervous mullet are a sure sign. You can often see the biggest trout holding in the light-colored potholes.
Having kayaked much of the Texas coast I can say that the Lighthouse Lake Trails has some of the best fishing you’ll find anywhere on the Gulf Coast. And I think that once you see what I’m talking about, you’ll be back for more.
