March is month where flowers blooms and trees bud out. However, with the warm winter, all that has occurred. So has much of the bass and perch spawn. One weekend it was game on. The next weekend it was “where did the fish go”. Another wave of spawners will hit the bank but anglers should check other patterns for bass.
Northshore
The old saying is March weather comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Forecast for the month show some cold temperatures and rain but warm for most of the month. If rivers stay low, the action should remain strong. Reports for crappie across the area were very good last month. Tchefuncte, Tickfaw, and other waters found fish scattered but abundant. The key to crappie was moving. Males were up making beds early due to the warm weather. If an angler found the right spot, multiple fish could be caught. If not, it was one here and there. Corks with a jig and Crappie Nibble were top producers.
Bass fishing was very good last month and should continue to be this month. Local tournaments show the return of big stringers. From 18 pounds on the Pearl for the Dockside Team Trail to 17 pounds for club and opens around Manchac, it took some solid weight just to get a check. However, like many spawning events, some events saw a big drop in weights from one weekend to the next. This time of year, jigs and rogues are common in the reports from local anglers. Stick with back water areas but check banks near pockets for pre and post spawn fish.
Basin
The river is down to three feet on the Morgan City gauge. The level is fluctuating with the tides so pay attention to the tides when fishing lower areas of the Basin. Reports were great earlier in the month but soon turned south. The TBF (Bass Federation) event was won by Tom Goins with 14 pounds. After the event, local events were won with ten pounds. Again, anglers should pick the weekend and watch the tides when fishing the Basin area. Spinnerbaits were top baits for anglers in the TBF tournament. Fisherman should scout deadends but switch to late spring patterns if the pockets fail to produce.
Toledo Bend
Reports are good from the best lake in the country. Local event are producing some big stringers. The number of double digit bass continue to come to the scales. The predominate pattern last week was finding prespawn fish in fifteen feet of water offshore. This does not mean the middle of the lake but spots along creek channels going into spawning areas. Carolina rigged brush hogs was the way to go. However, with the approaching full moon, pockets should hold some big fish. Another way to catch fish is in the cleaner water on the lower end of the lake using jerk baits. Drop off, over the grass, or around cover is the spots to work the baits to trigger bites.
Northshore
The old saying is March weather comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Forecast for the month show some cold temperatures and rain but warm for most of the month. If rivers stay low, the action should remain strong. Reports for crappie across the area were very good last month. Tchefuncte, Tickfaw, and other waters found fish scattered but abundant. The key to crappie was moving. Males were up making beds early due to the warm weather. If an angler found the right spot, multiple fish could be caught. If not, it was one here and there. Corks with a jig and Crappie Nibble were top producers.
Bass fishing was very good last month and should continue to be this month. Local tournaments show the return of big stringers. From 18 pounds on the Pearl for the Dockside Team Trail to 17 pounds for club and opens around Manchac, it took some solid weight just to get a check. However, like many spawning events, some events saw a big drop in weights from one weekend to the next. This time of year, jigs and rogues are common in the reports from local anglers. Stick with back water areas but check banks near pockets for pre and post spawn fish.
Basin
The river is down to three feet on the Morgan City gauge. The level is fluctuating with the tides so pay attention to the tides when fishing lower areas of the Basin. Reports were great earlier in the month but soon turned south. The TBF (Bass Federation) event was won by Tom Goins with 14 pounds. After the event, local events were won with ten pounds. Again, anglers should pick the weekend and watch the tides when fishing the Basin area. Spinnerbaits were top baits for anglers in the TBF tournament. Fisherman should scout deadends but switch to late spring patterns if the pockets fail to produce.
Toledo Bend
Reports are good from the best lake in the country. Local event are producing some big stringers. The number of double digit bass continue to come to the scales. The predominate pattern last week was finding prespawn fish in fifteen feet of water offshore. This does not mean the middle of the lake but spots along creek channels going into spawning areas. Carolina rigged brush hogs was the way to go. However, with the approaching full moon, pockets should hold some big fish. Another way to catch fish is in the cleaner water on the lower end of the lake using jerk baits. Drop off, over the grass, or around cover is the spots to work the baits to trigger bites.