Most of the Intracoastal Waterway is influenced by tides, so it's important to remember that rising or falling water can dictate the feeding habits of redfish. On a fast-falling tide, they move in close to the drainage in tight schools. When it's falling slowly, they might scatter out around the mouth of a drainage or up into the marsh. They will exhibit the same behavior during the first hour or so of an incoming tide; then the reds will usually move into the cuts. I have always had more success on incoming tides during summer months. I usually check the tide charts and mark off the days with the highest tides to concentrate on them.

Remember that a strong southerly wind pushes a lot of water into the marshes, causing unusually high tides, even during periods when moon or solar patterns call for low tides. Often what are supposed to be low tides end up being more than a foot above normal because of a constant, pounding south wind. Conversely, north winds will push water out of an ecosystem. Proof in point: Louisiana often experiences lower tides during the fall. In early spring, late cold fronts in conjunction with a strong tidal pull will drain an area and help to cleanse coastal marshes.

It's very important for anglers to understand that tidal strength at points away from the immediate coastline won't be as strong as those at a pass near the Gulf. For example, in the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, what is a 3-foot tidal change in the mid lake area at the pass may be reduced to a single foot of change 10 miles up the river at the intersection of the Intracoastal Waterway. The tidal wave weakens as it moves farther inland. Don't expect a huge water exchange on the northern fringes of the intracoastal corridor.

Tides drive redfish feeding patterns for many miles inland, so ignoring them could be a mistake. Large movements of water stir feeding reds, whereas small movements generally have less impact in these tidally influenced areas.

Anglers should not look at the Intracoastal Waterway as simply a convenient travel route. The waterway deserves serious angling consideration for its redfish attributes. In recent years, I have changed my attitude on this manmade navigation system and found the fishing is often better -- and more convenient -- than what can be found in other areas.