Rainy weather can help put more fish on your line as we move into warmer weather. Although not as critical at this moment, before we know it the Gulf will be hotter than the fourth of July.

Rain can temporally cool the flats and create a good trout bite with the overcast skies.

The wind associated with stormy weather helps move your vessel along, covering more water and breaking up the sunlight that makes the trout want to sulk in the grass on a flat calm day.

One of my favorite rigs for overcast/rainy days is the popping cork rig. The corks come in many shapes and colors, I’ve had the best luck with the oval shape cork in blaze orange. To keep the cork from tangling when you cast it, use a 20lb. leader tied to the braid between the cork. This stiff line will prevent the braid from wrapping up on the stainless wire.

For the bait use a piece of leader about 18″ to 24″ long when fishing in 3 to 5 feet of water with a jighead and soft plastic. The best baits for me are a 1/8 red D.O.A. jighead with a MirrOlure Lil John or D.O. A. CAL shads and 3″ shrimp.

Cast the cork rig ahead of the boat’s drift and give it 2 to 3 good pops, then pause for a few seconds and repeat this same motion back to the boat. Most of the strikes will come as the bait is falling from the last pop.

Incoming tide will be mid-morning this weekend. 

Homosassa Weekly Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

To schedule a fishing charter or shore lunch excursion with Captain Toney, visit his website.

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