Hakala also turns to a gold spoon immediately after a storm. "A spoon gives you an opportunity to make long casts beyond the zone of trolling motor influence (noise)," he explained. "Get in close to the shoreline and cast parallel to it. This keeps the spoon in the strike zone longer." Hakala notes that because of the floating debris and late-summer grass that is also on the water, anglers must use a weedless spoon with a single hook that rides upright.

Once he locates a school of redfish, Hakala slows down. "No trolling motors now," he emphasized. He climbs back onto his poling platform and positions the boat so anglers can toss a fresh shrimp on light spinning tackle. "The redfish are willing to feed after a storm. We put a shrimp in front of them, wait until they are over it, and then move it ever so slightly." I asked whether he used live or frozen shrimp, thinking that with the off-color water, he might choose the scent of frozen shrimp. "Definitely live," he answered.

Capt. Scott Tripp is also on the lagoon at least 200 days a year and described a tropical storm that he experienced last year. "We were on fish and the bite was fantastic, as good as I have ever seen it. As the storm passed, perhaps 75 to 100 miles away, barometric pressure fell and the fish suddenly got lockjaw, stopped feeding and moved off."

Tripp explained that the fish moved to the nearest deep water to ride out the storm but as soon as the storm had passed, they moved back onto the flats. "I find most of my reds a couple of days after the storm in the back corners of newly flooded bays," he said. "These areas have fresh plant life and new forage and the redfish will definitely feed." Tripp added, "Because the water is off-color, I like to put scent into it and I'll use shrimp or a chunk of mullet." He noted that he frequently could not see the fish in the back of the flooded bays, but knew the redfish were there when he noticed muddy water when it should have been a clearer, rust-red color that is common of tannic water.

Tripp's eyes twinkled and he felt compelled to let out his best-kept secret. "We have some culverts down here and when lagoon levels rise because of a hard rain, water flows through them. The culverts are like magnets. Redfish by the hundreds will lay out in front of them after a storm passes and they are there for one purpose-to feed." He cautioned that for an angler to be successful, the lure must move in the direction of the water-flow so that it appears natural-like a crab or other crustacean being funneled out with the current.

Satisfied that I was ready to tackle my home waters, I decided that it was time to survey other areas around the state. I realized that tides flush the Florida Keys, for instance, more quickly than the Indian River Lagoon, but I was curious how anglers there handled the problem. Capt. Manny Riano specializes in fly and light-tackle fishing on Biscayne Bay and the backcountry of the Florida Keys. He noted that after tropical storms pass in his area, the water changes color and it becomes more difficult to see the fish.

As I suspected, the problem was basically the same. When I probed him on his solution, Riano seemed to share my frustration. "I find that the fish have moved to new locations. I have to do a lot of poling, but when I eventually find them in shallow water, I cast a shrimp as close as possible so they can find it. They will still eat."

The waters along the Gulf Coast are different still with large flats fed by rivers that dump increased amounts of fresh water and runoff after a tropical storm. I inquired of Capt. Steve Kilpatrick, noted for having guided a fisherman to the first 200-pound tarpon on a fly, as to how anglers in the area of Homosassa catch redfish after a tropical storm. He, too, lamented the rising water and lack of visibility on the flats. "We have to move back into newly flooded water, sometimes even fishing at the base of the trees." He went on, "To find redfish, I go to a spoon. It casts far, covers a lot of water and puts out a good vibration that the redfish can readily locate. Sometimes, I'll even attach a rattle to help them find it." Once he locates a school of fish, however, he changes tactics. "When I have them located, I go back to a live shrimp under a popping cork."

In the Panhandle, Capt. Don Turner fishes Apalachicola Bay about 200 days a year and approaches the problem differently. "Fresh water usually runs redfish to deeper and saltier water. They tend to move to bridges and rocky areas." He goes to a bottom rig with an 18-inch leader and a 2/0 Kahle hook and uses shrimp as bait. I asked Turner if he ever found redfish in newly flooded areas after the storms and he said that when he did, he would use a shrimp suspended under a popping cork.

Tropical storms in late summer and early fall are a fact of life for Florida redfish anglers. Learn to negotiate the changing conditions and you'll enjoy all-season opportunities.

Shrimp Scents

Natural baits can make the difference in off-color water following storm events. Indian River Lagoon fisherman Mike Hakala described a shrimp rig with a twist.

"I pinch off the flipper and insert a stainless steel circle hook into what is now the last joint on the tail," he explained. "The stainless steel hook is heavier and will take the shrimp down to the bottom, where it needs to be."

As for the use of a circle hook: "We release most of the reds that we catch and with live bait, a circle hook catches the redfish in the corner of the mouth." He grinned when I inquired about the hookset. "That's the most difficult thing for experienced fishermen. There is no hookset. You just point the rod at the fish and start reeling. When you feel weight, raise the rodtip and fight as you would normally."