March can be a good month for freshwater fishing. Unless of course you live along the gulf coast area of Louisiana. Heavy rains, winds before and after fronts, and roller coaster temperatures often throw a monkey wrench in any game plan. However, if the timing is right, a trip may be more Dr. Jekyll than Mr. Hyde. The bass and white perch (crappie, Sac-au-lait) spawn heavily during March. If an angler knows where the fish were last year, they should be there this year or very close to the same areas. All that is needed is a good warm day between fronts to catch a few fish.
Basin Report
The Atchafalaya River controls the water levels in the Basin. The predicted levels for early March is about four feet. If the water levels on the Morgan City Gauges fall below four feet, head to the Basin to find bass and panfish. If not, reports are good on the Verett side of the spillway. Tournaments are being won with 17-19 pound stringers. Jigs, rogues, and punching seem to be the best options from the reports coming in. Look for canals with stained water because much of the area is muddy. As the river falls, the Verett side should clear. Marsh areas below Bayou Black are producing numbers in both bass and sac-au-lait. Dularge to Penchant and up to Orange Groove canal are good for perch jerkin. Tube jigs under corks or tight lined next to bank vegetation is the way to find them.
Northshore
Another round of rain sets the river fishing back another week. The Pearl River is high and will remain so for a few weeks. Each passing fronts only reinforces the rain swollen river. If a trip to the Pearl is a must, try the marsh ponds around the lake. Some ponds remain stained during high water times.
The good news is many of the smaller rivers and bayous will become fishable after a passing front. Bass and crappie reports have been good this past month. A recent trip to the Tchefuncte put 20 nice white perch in the boat for me. March should be a good month for white perch along the northern part of Lake Pontchartrain. Anglers should try a fixed cork presentation for perch first then use a sliding cork around cover and other areas where perch are discovered. Road Runners are another option. A Road Runner bounced throw a spawning area often triggers a bite from the bigger females. With the water stained to muddy, start with black and chartreuse tubes.
Delacroix/Marsh
March is a challenging month with the weather dictating the action. However, several options are possible in the marsh. Bass, reds, and trout are scattered along the lakes and bayous of Delacroix. Anglers can catch bass but fall back on trout if needed. Bass are tough to reach as many head to ponds which may be tough to access when water levels are low. Fronts play heck on water levels this time of year. Water may be here today and gone tomorrow. Delta Lures Thunder Jigs are a great way to catch local bass. Plastics on light Texas rigs are a mainstay for local bass. Trout will take Matrix Shad (Creole) under a cork. Just look for the armada of boats.
If the saying March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb holds, the full moon later in March is the time to be on the water. Warmer water and calm weather signs fish to move into their spawning areas. Anglers should brush up on the biological cycles of their favorite species to help target places where spawns occur. Also, keep a journal this year because fish tend to repeat the same pattern next year.
Basin Report
The Atchafalaya River controls the water levels in the Basin. The predicted levels for early March is about four feet. If the water levels on the Morgan City Gauges fall below four feet, head to the Basin to find bass and panfish. If not, reports are good on the Verett side of the spillway. Tournaments are being won with 17-19 pound stringers. Jigs, rogues, and punching seem to be the best options from the reports coming in. Look for canals with stained water because much of the area is muddy. As the river falls, the Verett side should clear. Marsh areas below Bayou Black are producing numbers in both bass and sac-au-lait. Dularge to Penchant and up to Orange Groove canal are good for perch jerkin. Tube jigs under corks or tight lined next to bank vegetation is the way to find them.
Northshore
Another round of rain sets the river fishing back another week. The Pearl River is high and will remain so for a few weeks. Each passing fronts only reinforces the rain swollen river. If a trip to the Pearl is a must, try the marsh ponds around the lake. Some ponds remain stained during high water times.
The good news is many of the smaller rivers and bayous will become fishable after a passing front. Bass and crappie reports have been good this past month. A recent trip to the Tchefuncte put 20 nice white perch in the boat for me. March should be a good month for white perch along the northern part of Lake Pontchartrain. Anglers should try a fixed cork presentation for perch first then use a sliding cork around cover and other areas where perch are discovered. Road Runners are another option. A Road Runner bounced throw a spawning area often triggers a bite from the bigger females. With the water stained to muddy, start with black and chartreuse tubes.
Delacroix/Marsh
March is a challenging month with the weather dictating the action. However, several options are possible in the marsh. Bass, reds, and trout are scattered along the lakes and bayous of Delacroix. Anglers can catch bass but fall back on trout if needed. Bass are tough to reach as many head to ponds which may be tough to access when water levels are low. Fronts play heck on water levels this time of year. Water may be here today and gone tomorrow. Delta Lures Thunder Jigs are a great way to catch local bass. Plastics on light Texas rigs are a mainstay for local bass. Trout will take Matrix Shad (Creole) under a cork. Just look for the armada of boats.
If the saying March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb holds, the full moon later in March is the time to be on the water. Warmer water and calm weather signs fish to move into their spawning areas. Anglers should brush up on the biological cycles of their favorite species to help target places where spawns occur. Also, keep a journal this year because fish tend to repeat the same pattern next year.