Out on the water for my first time

Hello Mike.  Both Christmas Bay and Salt Lake are good spots.  Salt Lake has very easy access and is closer to Houston so I , personally, would lean toward Salt Lake.  However, regardless of which destination you choose, keep an eye on the weather conditions, especially the wind this time of year.  As for bait, since this is your first outting, I suggest the old reliable gold spoon which is easy to cast and, I have found, about as productive as any other bait.  Using the spoon would allow you to get familiar with your boat, paddling, etc. and do some fishing with a little less hassle than some of the other baits might produce. Should the spoon cause a problem hanging up on shell,  I suggest switching to plastic under a small cork.  In any event,enjoy the outting and the day.  Jim Richards

Thank you Jim - Great advice. 

What are the bottoms like in Salt Lake?  Sand? Oyster?  Any stingrays to worry about?  Is the inflow from Nick Lake a good place to set up for fish feeding on bait?

I don't recall areas of hard sand bottom.  I do recall oyster shell being an issue, particularily on an outgoing tide.  In Salt Lake, I generally drift in the Yak unless I am near the weir which is down  toward the entrance to Nicks Lake.  The weir area and the cut to Nicks have been productive areas.  Also, the north shoreline of the lake can be productive.  Unless you are dealing with a stong south wind, you can paddle down the north shore line toward the weir and do some fishing, and then hit the weir area and the cut to Nicks. As you may know, there is almost no commercial development in the area which can make for a very pleasant day on the water.  Regards, Jim

 Stingrays can be encountered whenever you are in saltwater but they're usually not a problem if you're careful.  If you wade, just remember to slide/shuffle your feet.  You want to avoid stepping on them.  Also, be careful not to step backwards.  Stingray guards offer a great deal of protection but most leave the foot somewhat exposed so it's still a good idea to shuffle your feet.