As summer continues, so do the rain storms. Rivers are going up and down more than your favorite roller coaster. Fishing reports are doing the same. One week the reports are great. The next week tides, rains, and winds keep the anglers home. Anglers should pick their days but take Mr. Weatherman’s forecast with a grain a salt.
Northshore
A recent round of rain has sent the rivers up along Lake Pontchartrain. Anglers continue to bring in good sacks but fishing has been tough due to high water. Schools of shad are beginning to migrate out of the rivers so shad patterns are great choices. Crankbaits and white colored spinnerbaits are good choices to start a trip. Topwaters like white frogs or poppers fill in the gaps. For muddy water, slow moving dark colored jigs are best.
If, and it is a big if, the weather turns to sunny days and the rivers fall, try suspending jerkbaits around point and main river cover like laydowns and docks. During the summer heat, fish will suspend in deeper water and under anything that provides shade.
Basin
The Basin did fall below four feet at Morgan City but there is a small rise coming the next week or so of August. Many of the events out of the lower Basin has just about every angler/anglers weighing in a limit. I suspect the anglers that zero just throw back five fish and do not bother with the points or aggravation of weighing in a small sack. The best report for action is the lower marshes. From Bayou Black to the west, anglers report a ton of marsh bass are being caught. Frogs over grass, worms around points, or spinnerbaits around wood are popular themes in the reports.
Panfish action is also picking up steam. A cork and a tube jig (or Gulp crickets) thrown around the bigger Cypress trees is a fun way to spend the afternoon. In the midsection of the Basin, the reports are just about every tree has got fish. But anglers are known the stretch the truth a little.
Delacroix/Chef Pass
Since it has been several years since a hurricane has passed through the marshes of Louisiana, the bass fishing continues to improve. The Chef Pass area through Violet and all the way down to Delacroix, bass fishing has rebounded in a big way. Although many fish are small, 10-12 inch range, the numbers can make up for the lack of size. There are some nice fish mixed in with the small one, too. For area in the marsh, try silver bladed spinnerbaits to imitate shade. Delta Lure’s Thunder Jig in Houdini does a good job cover the shrimp colors. It also does double duty as a redfish bait, too. A Vudu shrimp is hard to beat, too. Anglers should fish the bigger lakes and ponds but check drains and runouts for the best action.
Venice
Just like the roller coaster, the reports go up and down for the area. If the tide is not right, anglers can struggle catching fish in Venice. However, the river should be below five feet on the New Orleans gauge by the end of August. This gives the bass a few less spots to hide. Delta Duck is the community hole. Other areas should be options as the river falls. Last year, Loomis and Southeast Pass were fertile grounds for bass fishermen.
On the how to’s to fish Venice it should be simple. If the tide is falling hard, flip the canes. If the tide is rising, try the points in canals or entrances to ponds. The water usually moves in one direction when entering a pond. Anglers should fish the side where the water is moving out of the pond. For canals and ponds, a good option is weightless plastics fished slowly around isolated grass patches. Spinnerbaits and frogs are good depending on wind and cloudy cover.
Northshore
A recent round of rain has sent the rivers up along Lake Pontchartrain. Anglers continue to bring in good sacks but fishing has been tough due to high water. Schools of shad are beginning to migrate out of the rivers so shad patterns are great choices. Crankbaits and white colored spinnerbaits are good choices to start a trip. Topwaters like white frogs or poppers fill in the gaps. For muddy water, slow moving dark colored jigs are best.
If, and it is a big if, the weather turns to sunny days and the rivers fall, try suspending jerkbaits around point and main river cover like laydowns and docks. During the summer heat, fish will suspend in deeper water and under anything that provides shade.
Basin
The Basin did fall below four feet at Morgan City but there is a small rise coming the next week or so of August. Many of the events out of the lower Basin has just about every angler/anglers weighing in a limit. I suspect the anglers that zero just throw back five fish and do not bother with the points or aggravation of weighing in a small sack. The best report for action is the lower marshes. From Bayou Black to the west, anglers report a ton of marsh bass are being caught. Frogs over grass, worms around points, or spinnerbaits around wood are popular themes in the reports.
Panfish action is also picking up steam. A cork and a tube jig (or Gulp crickets) thrown around the bigger Cypress trees is a fun way to spend the afternoon. In the midsection of the Basin, the reports are just about every tree has got fish. But anglers are known the stretch the truth a little.
Delacroix/Chef Pass
Since it has been several years since a hurricane has passed through the marshes of Louisiana, the bass fishing continues to improve. The Chef Pass area through Violet and all the way down to Delacroix, bass fishing has rebounded in a big way. Although many fish are small, 10-12 inch range, the numbers can make up for the lack of size. There are some nice fish mixed in with the small one, too. For area in the marsh, try silver bladed spinnerbaits to imitate shade. Delta Lure’s Thunder Jig in Houdini does a good job cover the shrimp colors. It also does double duty as a redfish bait, too. A Vudu shrimp is hard to beat, too. Anglers should fish the bigger lakes and ponds but check drains and runouts for the best action.
Venice
Just like the roller coaster, the reports go up and down for the area. If the tide is not right, anglers can struggle catching fish in Venice. However, the river should be below five feet on the New Orleans gauge by the end of August. This gives the bass a few less spots to hide. Delta Duck is the community hole. Other areas should be options as the river falls. Last year, Loomis and Southeast Pass were fertile grounds for bass fishermen.
On the how to’s to fish Venice it should be simple. If the tide is falling hard, flip the canes. If the tide is rising, try the points in canals or entrances to ponds. The water usually moves in one direction when entering a pond. Anglers should fish the side where the water is moving out of the pond. For canals and ponds, a good option is weightless plastics fished slowly around isolated grass patches. Spinnerbaits and frogs are good depending on wind and cloudy cover.