Preparation is part of any fishing trip. It is even more important when wade fishing because an angler has to carry everything needed with him once leaving the boat. Bush’s attention to detail when preparing for a wading trip is a big part of his success.
The evening before an island wade trip, Bush will perform an inventory of his gear to ensure there are no surprises when he anchors at Ship Island in the predawn hours the next day. His equipment includes:
• Rods and reels
• Waders
• Wading belt with tackle box
• Landing net
• Boga-Grip
• Fish basket or stringer
For wade-fishing Ship Island, Bush’s primary tactic is tight-lining Matrix Shad soft plastics on a Hoosier Hooker jighead.
His rod-and-reel combo is the same as he uses fishing from a boat:
• a 6-foot, 5-inch medium-light Castaway Skeleton saltwater casting rod
• an Abu Garcia Revo S spooled with 15-pound Vicious Offshore line
Bush also recommends a good set of lightweight, insulated waders with built-in boots. When purchasing waders make sure the boot fits properly to avoid blisters and to ensure there is room to wear multiple layers of clothing if weather dictates.
Bush uses a wading belt that has a pocket for a small Plano tackle box to carry his soft plastics and jigheads; and D-rings on which to clip his Boga-Grip, tie-off a landing net, as well as a fish basket or stringer; and rod holders to carry an extra rod.
Bush never leaves the boat without a landing net; a large, thrashing speckled trout can be difficult to grab with your hand or a Boga-Grip.
An inexpensive aluminum-frame net with a few modifications will get the job done. Bush cuts the handle down to 24 to 36 inches, drills a hole for a tie-off cord, and then fills the handle with spray foam to provide floatation.
He also takes the hoop off the handle and sprays it full of spray foam, and then screws it back on the handle.
Bush uses his Boga-Grip to lift larger trout from the net to dislodge his bait, as well as to weigh a fish. The instrument really comes in handy when your bait gets crushed by a redfish that will not fit in the net.
Fish baskets and stringers are a personal choice. In the cooler months Bush uses a stringer, but when the water warms and sharks are a possibility he switches to a fish basket. Trout in a fish basket are less likely to attract sharks than trout thrashing on a stringer.
Fish also stay alive longer in a fish basket, keeping them fresher before going on ice.
To keep a stringer of trout alive longer, run the stringer up through their bottom and top lip instead of through the gills.
Be the first to comment