I wanted a change of scenery from my backyard creeks so I drove south and gave SML a second shot. My first trip there I got blown all over the place and had no luck but I keep seeing pics of how good this place can be so I decided to do some recon and figure out this truly unique salt lake. Headed out early afternoon looking for some finger mullet to net but guess it was the wrong time to find them. Started working my way south along the east shore trying to get some relief from steady SE breeze and about a 1/2 mile down paddled into a huge school of reds...freaked me out! They were everywhere and only in a foot of water splashing all around me. Stood up on my Malibu and cast a MirrOmullet in the middle of the frenzy and nothing! Tried for another couple minutes with no luck before they moved away. I continued south and ran into several other schools of reds and trout and threw everything from gold spoons, doa shrimp, jig heads with paddletails and grubs, and several different mirrolures...They were busting all around but no hookups! I'm sure if I had my livewell loaded up with baits it woulda been a different story but what the heck...seen tons of fish caught on arties at Guana. Wrong time? Bad luck? Were they spawning and not feeding maybe? At one point a red tail whipped the side of my yak just taunting me! I've never really seen anything like it before...any suggestions or ideas for my next trip?

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Malibu Stealth 9

Did you actually see the fish in these big schools or was it just big swirls and water splashing with lots of mud trails? The reason I ask is b/c I spend a lot of time in that area and mostly find schools of mullet. They dont jump much but they do mud up the water good and will even "push" water as they run around in the shallows and they'll appear to be reds. There are plenty of reds out there though. I've been catching them regularly sight fishing singles and pairs of fish. The trick out there is to stay AAAAALLLLLLLLOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG way from the fish, spot them, and then cast in front of the moving fish and wait for them to get right up on the bait before you move it. You'll still have some refusals but for the most part Guana reds are aggressive and hungry!!!

For the trout just hit the middle of the lake in some of the deeper water that you can find and either blind cast as you drift, or troll until you find the trout. Look for mullet schools as I usually find trout on the edges of them. Once you catch a fish just anchor up and then work the area thoroughly. If they are there they'll hit within a few casts. If nothing bites move on until you locate more.

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2012 Hobie Pro Angler 14

I had such a similar experience down there. Almost an identical story. But those were mullet, at first i freaked out too but when i never hooked up with anything i knew they were just big mullet schooled up. I could be wrong but what are the odds of us all having similar experiences but never catching anything...

You weren't holding your mouth right.



Actually, Ring King's advice is spot on. Do what he said and if your still not catching, then you really aren't holding your mouth right.

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"For when sleeping I dream of big fish and strong fights."