The February forecast is as good as the weather

February is here, and we're all hoping the nice weather will stick around. It's usually a transition month for fishing and can be an excellent time to wet a line.

In the early part of the month, winter fishing rules apply; but as we approach March, spring tactics are more in line.

As I stated in last month's winter forecast, if you follow a few key rules you will improve your catch ratio. Slowing down your presentation with artificial and natural baits and picking your day to fish are the most important factors.

Try fishing two days after the passage of a cold front and fish right up until the time the next one passes. You'll be amazed at how well the fish seem to bite.

As we get later into February, try using more live bait. As fish transition into spring, they seem to crave greater amounts of food and are inclined to chase the more active baits we present.

Snook action in January was a little slower than I like, but it was much better than expected. During the winter, these fish seek out warmer waters, including springs, rivers and warm-water runoffs at power plants, and then begin to transition toward the many passes that dot the South Shore area.

The snook bite will be tough throughout this year due to the low number of survivors from the 2010 cold snap, but things are looking up. If you catch a snook, please handle it with care.

Trout were very active last month. Look for them in the deeper grass flats and some of the deeper spots of the Manatee and Little Manatee rivers. Try fishing for them with some of the soft plastic artificial baits.

Redfish, albeit small, can be found near the many oyster bars that fill the back-country waters of Tampa Bay or the deeper swash areas that wind through the outer sand bars lining the area. Try using a large shrimp under a bobber. One of my favorite artificial baits for redfish is a gold quarter-ounce spoon, which can be worked at different speeds. I usually slow down my retrieve when fishing this time of year.

January and February are the months that sheepshead make a big showing. Find structure in deeper water and most likely you'll find a number of them hanging around. Shrimp combined with a little weight on a No. 2 or No. 4 hook will do the trick. Remember the old saying: If you feel the bite, it's too late to set the hook.

January's fishing was OK, and I am optimistic that February's bite will be better. It'll all depend on the weather.

Be safe out there.