longshot, i'm with ya i fish flats on loz nearly year round with the exception of dec & jan. if you can find brush near the channel in feb you have usually hit jackpot. you hit the nail on the head when you said make long casts it makes a big difference,the warmer the water the fish dont spook as easy,i have caught alot of fish in 3 ft of water sitting right on top of them from apr to nov. I start every trip fishing shallow i only move deeper when i have to. When you troll the flats do you work the channel edges?