The bass hot spots around south Louisiana have continued to produce some nice stringers and big fish. From the top lake in the US, Toledo Bend, to local marsh hotspots like Bayou Black, the bass fishing is on the incline. The reports on the number of bass per trip and size continues to improve across the area. Let’s hope April will continue the upward trend.
Northshore
With a few passing fronts dropping several inches of rain, the Northshore fishing goes from a mud hole to stained paradise. A recent trip during a Wednesday Evening Bass tournament proved to me the fishing in the Tchefuncte is on the rebound. It took ten pounds to win but several nice fish were brought in on a tough day. I fished as a guest but my fishing partner and I had a solid 11 pounds combined. If you head to the local rivers, stick to main river points and Lily pad fields. Buzzbaits are great early then switch to flipping plastics or a slow moving spinnerbait or chatterbait (white or shad pattern). The shad are thick on the lower end of the Tchefuncte so topwater baits will come into play very soon.
The Pearl and Tickfaw are other fun spots to hit with good stringers come of both systems. Of course, high muddy water changes the fishery and tactics angler need to use to catch big stringers. When the muddy floods the area, hit marsh area bayous and ponds for quicker action. When the river begins to drop, in it drains and jigs that catch fish.
Chef/Delacroix
Action has been hot for the marsh. Stringers vary with the weather but numbers are there. Frogs, swimming matrix shad, and light Texas rigs are good choices for ponds and bays across the region. If cloud cover happens, go to Pop Rs and spooks for big fish. Always look for grass when fishing the marsh. Add a point or a drain to the mix whenever possible.
Basin
Reports across the area a very good but the marsh spots seem to be producing right now. 16-18 pound stringers south of Hwy 90 are normal for most events in the area. The river may start to rise as we get rains up north and some snow melt. The Mississippi River is set to rise the next few weeks, too. For area around Bayou Black, frogs and soft stick baits around grass have been top tactics in some of the reports I have received. For Basin anglers, try spinnerbaits around wood or plastic in and over grass. Deadends may have a few fish that are spawning but main bayous and points are better options after the early full moon this month.
Toledo Bend
The advice for Toledo Bend is to go. Anglers should plan a trip to the top lake in the country. It is in our backyard and usually fishes well in April. Bass are fairly shallow this month with the 4-8 ft depth range being the prime depth to fish. Anglers who find grass should try wacky worms, crankbaits, and Texas or Carolina rigged lizards.
Panfish
Several reports on Lake Runners (Chinquapins or red ears) around the Chef Pass and Pearl River marsh have come in. Anglers can throw a 1/16 ounce beetle spin around grass in ponds to locate some spawning bream. The goggle eyes along the northshore rivers should begin biting at the end of the month and when the rivers clean up. Crappie action has been fair but the spawn is just about done for the year. The Pearl stays colder longer so some crappie may stay shallow this month.
Northshore
With a few passing fronts dropping several inches of rain, the Northshore fishing goes from a mud hole to stained paradise. A recent trip during a Wednesday Evening Bass tournament proved to me the fishing in the Tchefuncte is on the rebound. It took ten pounds to win but several nice fish were brought in on a tough day. I fished as a guest but my fishing partner and I had a solid 11 pounds combined. If you head to the local rivers, stick to main river points and Lily pad fields. Buzzbaits are great early then switch to flipping plastics or a slow moving spinnerbait or chatterbait (white or shad pattern). The shad are thick on the lower end of the Tchefuncte so topwater baits will come into play very soon.
The Pearl and Tickfaw are other fun spots to hit with good stringers come of both systems. Of course, high muddy water changes the fishery and tactics angler need to use to catch big stringers. When the muddy floods the area, hit marsh area bayous and ponds for quicker action. When the river begins to drop, in it drains and jigs that catch fish.
Chef/Delacroix
Action has been hot for the marsh. Stringers vary with the weather but numbers are there. Frogs, swimming matrix shad, and light Texas rigs are good choices for ponds and bays across the region. If cloud cover happens, go to Pop Rs and spooks for big fish. Always look for grass when fishing the marsh. Add a point or a drain to the mix whenever possible.
Basin
Reports across the area a very good but the marsh spots seem to be producing right now. 16-18 pound stringers south of Hwy 90 are normal for most events in the area. The river may start to rise as we get rains up north and some snow melt. The Mississippi River is set to rise the next few weeks, too. For area around Bayou Black, frogs and soft stick baits around grass have been top tactics in some of the reports I have received. For Basin anglers, try spinnerbaits around wood or plastic in and over grass. Deadends may have a few fish that are spawning but main bayous and points are better options after the early full moon this month.
Toledo Bend
The advice for Toledo Bend is to go. Anglers should plan a trip to the top lake in the country. It is in our backyard and usually fishes well in April. Bass are fairly shallow this month with the 4-8 ft depth range being the prime depth to fish. Anglers who find grass should try wacky worms, crankbaits, and Texas or Carolina rigged lizards.
Panfish
Several reports on Lake Runners (Chinquapins or red ears) around the Chef Pass and Pearl River marsh have come in. Anglers can throw a 1/16 ounce beetle spin around grass in ponds to locate some spawning bream. The goggle eyes along the northshore rivers should begin biting at the end of the month and when the rivers clean up. Crappie action has been fair but the spawn is just about done for the year. The Pearl stays colder longer so some crappie may stay shallow this month.