"I find it very puzzling that Lap Reef in Copano bay was hot for me in October/November and would produce great trout everytime I went there...", One thing I try to do is read up on any fishing reports that folks are putting out. Your not going to find spots. People don't talk about those but you can get a general idea. In winter trout like muddy bottoms which usually means backlakes and marshes. Right about now I would think to they should be starting to transition to sand and grass. They will eventually end up back at the reefs once the water gets hot and they will stick around there till the water cools. I don't fish Copano, so if I'm wrong somebody chime in.

Winter fishing can be great. In general, I change what I'm fishing for though. In winter I target reds, sheephead, and drum. In spring I start to fish for trout again and in summer it's a toss up. I'm usually thinking trout but I've always got my eyes on the weather looking for that little window that will let me slip offshore.

Q: Why do trout move over mud during cooler times

A: The mud is dark colored and therefore absorbs more of the sun's energy and heat. That warms the water adjacent to the mud. Sand, on the other hand, is light colored and reflects more of the sun's energy, thereby remaining cooler.

Hahaha..Nice..it only absolutely makes sense when you put it in that perspective.