90% of Redfish Are HERE in Winter (Are You Missing Them?)

Winter fishing can be frustrating—one day, you’re on the fish, and the next, they’ve disappeared. But here’s the thing: redfish don’t just vanish. They follow predictable movement patterns based on water temperature, depth changes, and feeding habits. Once you understand where they go in cold weather, you’ll spend less time searching and more time catching.

Most anglers make the mistake of fishing dead zones instead of focusing on the 90/10 rule—where 90% of the fish are in just 10% of the water. In this video, I break down exactly how to find redfish in winter, so you can start catching instead of guessing.

👇 Watch the full breakdown here:

Best Baits for Winter Redfish (Based on Conditions)

✅ Warming Trends (Shallow Water)

• 2.0 Paddle Tail
• Prawn USA Jr.
• 2/0 Round Eye Jighead 1/8 oz or 3/0 Hoss Helix Hook 1/16 oz
• Presentation: Small, subtle, and slow to avoid spooking fish

✅ Intermediate Depths (Morning & Night)

• 2.0 Paddle Tail
• Prawn USA Jr.
• 2/0 Round Eye Jighead 1/8 oz or 2/0 Round Eye Jighead 1/4 oz
• Presentation: Keep it on the bottom, fish slow

✅ Post-Frontal Conditions (Deep Water)

• 2.0 Paddle Tail
• Prawn USA Jr.
• 2/0 Round Eye Jighead 1/4 oz
• Target low-current areas where redfish conserve energy

What NOT to Throw:

❌ Big, loud baits (e.g., topwaters, large bladed lures)
❌ Fast-moving presentations (Redfish are sluggish in cold water)

Final Takeaways

If you’re struggling to find redfish in cold weather, remember:

• Fish the right depth—shallow in warming trends, deeper after cold fronts.
• Look for structure—mudflats, marshes, and deeper channels near feeding zones.
• Slow down your presentation—redfish aren’t chasing fast-moving baits in winter.

Dial in these patterns, and you’ll be catching more redfish all winter long! Got questions? Drop them in the comments—I’ll do my best to help!

-Pat