< Previous90 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 FEATURE one wall,” Collins said. “One area has some old wine bottles. And she crowned the main room with a garage sale chandelier. She paint- ed the interior and exterior bright yellow and orange. The Pollocks constructed two coops on their property, using chicken wire, lumber and an out-of- control passion vine. Sandra Pollock feeds them daily — pellets and scratch and kitchen scrap. All agree their chickens are happy. “I like to think they are happy in their home,” Collins said. “I hate they cannot free range, but I also think I provide safety. I love having them and they seem happy.” (Above) Robin Collins decorated the outdoor area of her Kemah chicken coop with stained glass and colorful bottles. (Left) The main room features a garage sale chandelier. “I like to think they are happy in their home. I hate they cannot free range, but I also think I provide safety. I love having them and they seem happy.” ROBIN COLLINS COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 91 FEBRUARY10-21,2023 FEBRUARY10-21,2023 SCANHERE: SCANHERE: Fun & Sun Galveston Recreation Bring this coupon in for 15% Discount RENT ME AT 29th & Seawall 346-408-0888 RENT ME AT 29th & Seawall 346-408-0888 2115 Strand | Open Daily 409.762.7400 Strand Brass New Collection by Artist Christopher Radko92 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 FEATURE ‘SO ADDICTIVE’ Fly fishing is gaining popularity along the Texas coast story by TRACE HARRIS S ay fly fishing and most people would imagine whipping line over a river after salmon in the Pacific Northwest or teasing cutthroat with tiny bouquets of feathers on a mountain stream in Colorado. That might change because a group of innovative anglers is popularizing the venerable art on the saltwater of the Texas Gulf Coast. Eric Trout opened Galveston Fishing Co. in September to cater to saltwater fly fishermen. A long-time guide, he and manager Capt. Stacy Lynn bring decades of expertise to the business. “Fly fishing in Galveston has grown a lot as fly fishermen seek out different species of fish,” Trout said. “People usually think of rivers when they think of fly fishing. But I began as a guide five years ago and have seen more and more people COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 93 (Clockwise from top) Stacy Lynn and Eric Trout both are boat captains and fly fishing guides. They run Galveston Fishing Co. in the island’s downtown, where Trout is the owner and Lynn the general manager. The store carries cork-handled fly rods and a variety of fishing flies. (Opposite) Trout displays a fly through a magnifying glass in his shop. The flies are designed to mimic insects, shrimp and other small prey. PHOTOS: STUA r T VILLANU e VA94 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 become interested in the sport.” Anglers casting flies around Galves- ton are after the same fish as those using more traditional saltwater tackle — redfish, red drum, speckled trout, tarpon, sheepshead, jacks and triple tail, he said. Although the environmentals and fish species are vastly different, saltwater fly fishing requires as much casting skill as working flowing fresh- water, Trout said. And anglers find the challenges it presents exciting and attractive, he said. “Regular gear fishing is more intimate and requires waiting for the fish,” Trout said. “Fly fishing is more technical and you hunt the fish. I would compare fly fishing to bow hunting, while regular fishing is more like conventional hunting.” Because of the environmental differences, coastal fly fishermen have even more ways to ply their craft. Many wade but others work their flies from boats or kayaks. Galveston Realtor Kimberly Gaido of Sand `N Sea properties was an early adopter of fly fishing’s light tackle and near weightless lures for chasing saltwater fish. She took up the sport almost 23 years ago at the urging of a friend and hasn’t looked back, she said. “The sport has grown exponential- ly in recent years, especially among women,” Gaido said. Gaido has caught all types of salt- water fish casting flies, even a sailfish in Central America, she said. Her favorite time to fly fish in Gal- veston is in the fall or winter and she likes to work the marshes, she said. “Saltwater fly fishing is a great sport,” Gaido said. “It’s so addictive.” FEATURE Kimberly Gaido fly fishes for redfish off Sportsman Road in Galveston. Gaido took up the sport more than 20 years ago. PHOTO: JeNNIFer reYNOLDS “Saltwater fly fishing is a great sport. It’s so addictive.” KIMBERLY GAIDO COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 95 (409) 762-HELP www.UWGalv.org FUNdraising for our community Wanna raise some FUN at your workplace? We can help with that!!! FOUNDATION & CONSTRUCTION Specializing in all types of foundation & structural repairs • slabs • pier & beam • Historical homes • beach front homes • all masonry repairs • piling install • carpentry CALL TODAY TO GET A QUOTE 409-655-0505 “Five Star Foundation lives up to its name... Five stars from start to finish!”96 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 HOOKED EMBRACE THE COOL Frigid weather makes for hot angling, so layer up and throw down story and photos by CAPT. NATE SKINNER I get as excited as a child during the holiday season, but for dif- ferent reasons. The arrival of cooler weather to the upper Texas coast brings me as much joy and excitement as presents under the Christmas tree. I look forward to our annual cool-down every single year, and you should, too. Far too many folks associate coastal inshore fishing with blazing temperatures. Don’t get me wrong, warm weather and time on the water go hand in hand. But we Texans get more than our share of tropical conditions. So, let’s embrace cool weather while it lasts. The truth is, decreasing water temperatures tend to make catching quality fish a little easier. Speckled trout and redfish begin to stack up in certain areas as things really start to cool off. And when they decide to feed, they usually are chewing big time. With the onset of winter, pinpointing the fish and knowing when they should eat becomes a little easier. One of the largest hurdles anglers face during the winter is wind from varying directions. Cold fronts that cause cooler conditions also produce gusty conditions. Ahead of an approaching front, we typically have strong southerly breezes. As a cold front arrives and passes, we get northerly gusts. That shift is something anglers should consider when they’re planning to hit the water. If the outing is going to take place during prefrontal conditions, then areas on the southern end of upper coast estuaries are going to hold more fishable water because they’re protected from southerly gusts. After fronts, the upper reaches of bay systems protected from northerly breezes will be the best bets. The other thing cold fronts affect is tide levels. Southerly breezes tend to elevate water levels, while north winds tend to blow water out of estuaries. So, for example, a shallow flat that usually holds fish during extreme high tides, is probably not the best place to target after a cold front has just passed through. Cold fronts also affect barometric pressure. As a front approaches, the pressure usually falls and reaches its lowest point right before or right after the weather system arrives. Afterward, the barometer begins to rise as high pressure sets in. Some of the best action from redfish and speckled trout will take place as the barometric pressure falls. As high pressure sets in, fish typically become less aggressive. As more Put on a jacket and embrace the cool down. You just might be surprised at how good the rod-bending action is. COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 97and more days go by and the barometric pressure begins to stabilize, the rod-bending action usually picks back up. That’s not to say high-pressure days aren’t worth fishing — you just never know. Stretches of water over soft, muddy bottoms with patches of oyster shell hold warmer water during the winter better than stretches with hard, sandy bottoms. So, you can expect to find larger concentrations of fish over muddy bottoms with scattered shell when cooler conditions prevail. Many of these areas are along smaller satellite bays and in the far up- per or back reaches of estuaries. There are many options suited for both strong southerly and strong northerly winds. Wade fishing muddy flats that are knee- to waist-deep is a good way to tangle with plenty of trout and redfish during the winter. It may seem silly to leave a perfectly good boat as temperatures plunge. But it’s a great way to thoroughly and stealthily cover an area that’s loaded with fish. Lures that imitate mullet rule during the winter. Those that sink slowly, or suspend, work the best. An erratic retrieve with plenty of twitches and pauses will draw the most strikes. More often than not, the bite occurs on the pause. Speckled trout and redfish in a winter pattern tend to follow the predicted major and minor feeding times as indicated on solunar tables, more than they do during any other time of the year. It would be wise to look up when these periods of activi- ty are predicted, and focus on these time windows. Above all, it’s important to realize the fish have to continue to live their lives, regardless of how cold it is. They are going to eat at some point. If you can key in on when that will occur, the results can be downright impressive. It’s time to embrace the cool. Layer up and get out on the wa- ter. You just might be surprised by what you find. Until next year, Merry Christ- mas and Happy Holidays from my family to yours. 98 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 HOOKED Quality fish become easier to pattern when cold weather sets in. COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 99 4112 Seawall Blvd.. Galveston 409-682-6689 MEXICAN CUISINE Mr. Taco Sunday Brunch Featuring: seafood, Mexican bakery, burrito station , taco stand omelette. Adults $29.99 per person Kids 6-12 $18.99 10:00am -2:00 pm 4130 King Circle Galveston, Tx $730,000 s o l d 2402 Market St Galveston, Tx $949,000 2102 Post Office #1 Galveston, Tx $550,000 f o r s a l e S o L D Clay conrad clay@lat - 29.com (832)247 - 1311 bain@lat - 29.com (409)392 - 8850 bain mceldowney 3819 Ave R Galveston, Tx $575,000 For sale "New construction behind the Seawall in Midtown Galveston! 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