Jeff Bruhl The rivers and rain slowed at the end of May. The good is news is the Pearl River fell below eight feet on the Pearl River, La for the first time since winter. Panfish action has been good across the area. Tournaments are taking solid stringers to get a check. If rain turns to a scattered thunderstorm pattern, the area will have some great opportunities.
Northshore
The West has a heavy stain but is very fishable at 8 ft. The East Pearl and lower marsh have a good population of one pound bass. Anglers can pick up a buzzbait or spinnerbait and have a blast. Several trips in May produced plenty of panfish – bream, crappie, and goggle eye. The goggle eye are late spawners this year possible due to cold rainfall. Since it is late spring, the man focus should be on main river trees. For West Pearl, pitching plastics is a top tactics. Crawfish are plentiful on the Pearl so choose black with red flake Chigger Craws or other plastics with red or orange flake. Vibrating jigs and spinnerbaits are great for lower marsh because fish are there but scattered.
Delacroix/Desallemands/Marsh
Many East Pearl tournaments are finding top stringers coming from Delacroix area. However, anglers who do their homework are experiencing the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde nature of the marsh. Frogs around grass and Texas rigs work for the area. Des Allemands fishes about the same style as Delacroix. Lafitte area from Des Allemands to Pen are another options. Reports are the bass are in some of the lakes around the grass beds. Temple Bay, Gulf Canal, and Bay Badeau are a few spots where bass reports put the fish.
Road Trip
Toledo Bend Lake Association awards a replica for any bass over ten pounds caught, certified, and released back into the lake. The 2015-16 produced 139 trophy fish. Reports from the Bend are some fish are shallow but most are moving back to main lakes points and offshore structure. Topwaters around hydrillla patches on the lower end is a good tactic. Pitching to flooded cover is a good north Bend tactics. For offshore cover and structure, anglers can try the old standby Carolina rigged watermelon red lizard with a chartreuse tail for bottom cover. Deep diving crankbaits and ten inch power works (TX rig) is another way to find a productive hump or brush pile.
Trout
Lake Pontchartrain trout fishing has slowed. Trestle trout have turned to small fish. Many guides report Lake Borne rigs are better options. Causeway fishing should turn on this month if we are to have a full moon of May run. Some years it does not happens. I have heard rumors but nothing to confirm the report.
Northshore
The West has a heavy stain but is very fishable at 8 ft. The East Pearl and lower marsh have a good population of one pound bass. Anglers can pick up a buzzbait or spinnerbait and have a blast. Several trips in May produced plenty of panfish – bream, crappie, and goggle eye. The goggle eye are late spawners this year possible due to cold rainfall. Since it is late spring, the man focus should be on main river trees. For West Pearl, pitching plastics is a top tactics. Crawfish are plentiful on the Pearl so choose black with red flake Chigger Craws or other plastics with red or orange flake. Vibrating jigs and spinnerbaits are great for lower marsh because fish are there but scattered.
Delacroix/Desallemands/Marsh
Many East Pearl tournaments are finding top stringers coming from Delacroix area. However, anglers who do their homework are experiencing the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde nature of the marsh. Frogs around grass and Texas rigs work for the area. Des Allemands fishes about the same style as Delacroix. Lafitte area from Des Allemands to Pen are another options. Reports are the bass are in some of the lakes around the grass beds. Temple Bay, Gulf Canal, and Bay Badeau are a few spots where bass reports put the fish.
Road Trip
Toledo Bend Lake Association awards a replica for any bass over ten pounds caught, certified, and released back into the lake. The 2015-16 produced 139 trophy fish. Reports from the Bend are some fish are shallow but most are moving back to main lakes points and offshore structure. Topwaters around hydrillla patches on the lower end is a good tactic. Pitching to flooded cover is a good north Bend tactics. For offshore cover and structure, anglers can try the old standby Carolina rigged watermelon red lizard with a chartreuse tail for bottom cover. Deep diving crankbaits and ten inch power works (TX rig) is another way to find a productive hump or brush pile.
Trout
Lake Pontchartrain trout fishing has slowed. Trestle trout have turned to small fish. Many guides report Lake Borne rigs are better options. Causeway fishing should turn on this month if we are to have a full moon of May run. Some years it does not happens. I have heard rumors but nothing to confirm the report.
