Planning a trip at the end of January and will be staying close by copano. Ive never fished the coast in the winter and was wondering what types of bait / lures are good (live shrimp on popping cork, jigs with gulp shrimp or minnows, texas trout killers on jigs, etc.)?

I am going to make a trip there myself in a few weeks. The last 3 times I have went, the bridge has sucked in the summer months. Hope it is better in the winter.

Will you have access to a boat?

Yep, i just got it up here in FW and taking it down there for the forst time. I am familiar with the south side of the bay but was wondering where and what i should try. Plan on trolling the shorelines and fishing the airport flats as well as redfish point.

There is a place at the back of Copano Bay, called Turtle Bay that is very good. There are some old duck blinds on the West side of the bay where you can pick up some nice reds.

Im a little concerned about the reefs?

Turtle Pen and Port Bay are where I typically fish during the winter time on Copano.

Turtle Pen is pretty easy to get to from Public ramp at the pier, just aim for Newcomb Point and you'll be alright from there.

Port Bay is a little trickier because you have to hit a deep channel off of Rattlesnake Point. If you over shoot it it goes from 12 ft to 6 inches instantly.

The only reefs you really need to be concerned with are Lap, Copano, and Shellbank reefs are the shallowest ones in the bay that you'll have to navigate around.

looks like we may rent a house right by salt lake on the bay side.

Where is port bay?

Port Bay is on the south side of the bay and is near Salt Lake. Salt Lake is a nice area to stay, but the actual lake is very shallow.

This map is fun thing to look at. It overlays the NOAA nautical charts on a Google Aerial Map.

http://marine.geogarage.com/routes

Very cool - how / where do you fish port bay? I was there a few years ago and did not have any luck...

I fished Port Bay from the end of port bay rd. and follow the old bridge pilings to the channel. Did well on flounder and trouts there with reds around the duck blinds.

flydoc - you using cut bait or shrimp on popping corks or plastics on jigs?

I'm sure bait will work especially reds, but I use flys only with the 8wt rod. The trouts and flounder are quite aggresive and readily chew the fly. Clousers and a trailer white fly--Jimmy-- got it done. I would go to the channel and drift the edges and anchcor-up when I get bit. The trout were in concentrated schools and often would hook-up on both flys.
Tightlines

Keep a close check on the Red Tide in the area that will totally spoil a fishin' trip.