I'm new to wade fishing and I was hoping some of the gents on here coule give me tips.
Basically, I am fishing next to KOA at SPI. I'm going to walk out from the boat docks. If you could give me a walk through of what you do when you get to an unknown area I would appreciate it.
I know from gps that there is a gut that intersects land the north and oyster beds to the west with tidal flood areas to the east. Compounding years of experience is difficult but I'm looking mostly tips for safety such as things to look for that could be dangerous.
If anyone is going to be out there and wants to show me the ropes that would be awesome. I'm going to try to look for some locals to team up with also.
Thanks all.
-E.

Get a good pair of wading boots and wear neoprene socks under them to keep from cutting you feet up.

Good pair of wading boots. Wear long pants for the jellyfish. Shuffle feet or get a pair of Ray guards for the Rays. Make sure you know where the deep holes are. You will learn a lot with your feet.

Ray guards: check
Reef boots: check
So would a big hole look like a big black circle unless its a sand hole??
Are the neoprene socks essential? I was going to wear double socks under the reef boots.

Where you're wading is a bigger deal than how.
If you're trying to slop around in thigh deep poot mud in some marsh, get ready for a long day. Sliding your feet keeps you from stepping into/onto something you didn't want. I've kicked away hundreds of rays, but the only time anyone actually got stabbed was stepping off the scooter, bizarre.

When you locate an area holding what you're looking for, wading will catch a lot more than out of the boat, so you're on the right track, and you'll learn quick enough what's working and what's not.

Yeah I'm not to sure on the bottom Im hoping its not mud. I heard you can walk on top of the grass if its muddy under the grass.

Grinder I got the shedog in bone think that'll do the trick on top of the reefs?

Topwaters over shell yes!!!! Neoprene socks no!!! Been catching my trout over shell and hard sand. Been busting some nice solid trout to 6 lbs. also if tops aren't working I throw mirrodines and plastics in that order. Trout been feed g on shad where I'm fishing. Good luck.

Looks like you're mostly going to be wading a grass edge with a sand drop off where you are going. Get the neoprene socks....it's the brand that makes a difference. You'll be ok without them if you are only doing it once a year, but the neoprene socks from Simms...called gaurd socks keep the tiny little shell fragments out of your socks and keep you feet from getting chafed or pricked with tiny shell fragments... in the end keeps your risk of getting Vibrio lower.

Trout will be along any current edge in that system....particularly if you're on the drop off and there is a current edge. Learn a skill called reading the water which includes reading the current edge, eddies, looking for baitfish concentrations, trout slicks, and any bird activity over those same areas. That's. Find the bait, and you'll find fish. The lions don't stray to far from the gazelles...right?!

Reds will likely be shallower and closer to any structure like a rock embankment, grass line, open pockets in the grass. Reds also love current...even if it's almost impercieveable to us...they know where there is current on structure.

holla if you want to know more
tobin@troutsupport.com

all the finer details of 20 years of experience and in our DVD's. Details that blow away the learning curve. I had a customer buy them 6 months ago, this past weekend he fished his first tourney and came ounces from being on the leader board. Not bad for a first showing.

Had good day of learning what worked and what didn't. Ended up with a lot of snot rockets from the channels and some dink reds from some potholes. I stalked a large sheepshead but he spooked when I tried to get close. I saw a tremendous amount of mullet and pin fish. Didn't really see alot of large game fish but I heard they were further north. As far as rigging I found out that 2 poles was a bit unmanageable and a backpack wasn't the best idea. The oyster beds laughed at the reef boots, left some nice gouges. The area had a little bit of all the typical footing. Oh and pat wasn't joking about the poot mud not being fun.

Thanks Grinder. Area looked like it would be great when the fish start to move back out. The brownsville ship channel is really close to there should be pretty good when the bulls leave.