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In this week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, host Nick Williams checks in with Wade Perry of Mobile Baykeeper and Justin Dunham of Eight Mile Drifter for a conversation that covers a lot of ground across the Delta. Wade brings an environmental and dock-fishing perspective from Dog River, including an update on Mobile Baykeeper’s restoration work, the ongoing coal ash concerns near Barry, and a surprisingly strong late-winter to early-spring trout and redfish bite around lighted docks. Justin follows with a broad freshwater report focused on pre-spawn bass, scattered but catchable crappie, and the kind of hidden backwater oxbows that can really shine this time of year for anglers willing to paddle, scout, and experiment.
Conditions Recap
A brief cool snap rolled through, but the bigger picture still looks like a spring transition is underway across the Mobile-Tensaw system. Nick noted signs of warming around Miller’s Ferry, where he and his family caught bass, crappie, blue cats, yellow cats, and found an area that looks promising for bluegill in the coming weeks. Justin’s report backed that up from the Delta and Escambia side, where bass are pushing shallow, shad are flipping in warming backwaters, and crappie are beginning to stage but still seem somewhat scattered depending on location, water depth, and how quickly those areas warm. On the saltier side, Wade said the Dog River dock-light bite has been unusually good for this time of year, likely helped by a lack of rain and enough salinity to keep bait and game fish hanging around longer than usual.
Dog River Dock Lights, Speckled Trout, and Redfish with Wade Perry
Wade’s report centered on fishing from his dock on Dog River, where a combination of depth change, nearby creeks, shell bottom, and well-placed lights has created a dependable setup for trout and redfish. He said the bite has been better than normal for late winter and early spring, and that the key is letting the lights stay on consistently so bait and fish relate to them over time. He also emphasized that dock-light fishing is one of those situations where being quiet matters. Pulling up too fast, making too much noise on the dock, or throwing oversized tackle can all work against you.
His approach is simple and scaled down. Wade said he prefers 8- to 10-pound monofilament and mostly throws a Berkley PowerBait Swim Shad, with a quarter-ounce silver spoon mixed in from time to time. He also recommended downsizing corks at night, noting that anglers often do not need a loud, heavy popping cork when the fish are already positioned around the lights. He works the water column in thirds, starting shallow and then moving deeper, and he changes his casting angle based on tide direction. He added that redfish often stay closer to the bottom and tighter to pilings than trout, which makes light line fun but risky around structure…