Blog Posts

February Forecast

2/1/2017

Jeff Bruhl

February is the shortest month of the year. Normally, this is a good thing. February weather in south Louisiana is a roller coaster of hot and cold which can throw the fish for a loop. With a warmer than normal January, much of the south Louisiana marsh saw a major spawn during the last few weeks. If the warm weather continues, look for the spawn to move north across the I-10/I-12 corridor.

Northshore
Swollen rivers are everywhere across the area. However, a few days of dry weather will have the water move back to the clear side. One issue to pay attention is wind direction. West winds can drain many of the marsh areas around the lakes (Pontchartrain and Marepaus). Info like wind and spawn should be part of any plans to find bass or other freshwater fish.
Anglers should have finding clean water as the primary goal. Fish begin to move into deadends to spawn so start the search there. Rogues, spinnerbaits, and Texas rigs are good starting points. Stick baits work well on bedding fish. Spinnerbaits cover water. And Texas rigs probe areas where fish may spawn like stumps, tree tops, or shallow banks.
Reports are decent from the Pearl to the Tickfaw. Size and quantity should improve after a year without a storm. Muddy water and falling water levels can change a prime spot overnight so be prepared to adapt.

Basin
The river is moving up. However, west winds and a few days without rain has kept the gauge at Morgan City below 4 ft. Reports are good for the area from Bayou Black to Verret. The consistent thread in all reports is the mixture of muddy, clean, and super clear water. Black swamp water may hold fish but requires long cast and fluorocarbon line.
Dead-ends are prime real estate this time of year. However, tactics depends on water levels and water clarity. Jigs and plastics are good for muddy water. Try spinnerbaits for clean water. Stick baits and floating worms are main stays for clear water.
Sac-au-lait, White Perch, and Crappie
Crappie are known by many names. Just like the bass, reports are the fish are spawning in the marshes of south Louisiana. February should find some spawning crappie move up to spawn on Northshore Rivers. Basin reports have been good for panfish. Again, matching tactics to the water in a deadend will pay off. Anglers can add a few crappie nibbles or crappie psychics to their jigs for a few more bites. Road runners are great for searching areas for active fish. Usually, one crappie means there are more in the area so slow down.

January Forecast

1/2/2017

Jeff Bruhl

The forecast for the next few months is above average temperatures and wet. The New Year started very wet with flood advisories for local rivers. If this patterns holds, river fishing will be tough during the winter months. Luckily, the marsh areas around southeast Louisiana are loaded with bass.
Northshore
January in Louisiana runs like a roller coaster of weather. Highs can be in the 80s and lows can fall into the 20s. Usually, January is wet. Anglers have to take it as it comes. Muddy water in the rivers may mean slowing down the presentation. Marsh fishing can be a better option as ponds and bayous stay relatively clean. The Pearl and other rivers along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain are going to be cold and muddy to start the month. Anglers should break out the jig as bass feed up on crawfish. Drains and backwater areas are top producers this time of year when the tide is falling.
If recent trips around the MRGO (Mississippi River Gulf Outlet) and the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) are any indication of the future, the bass fishing is on fire from the MRGO to the Pearl. However, the bass are not very big. On most trips, a fourteen inch bass is the biggest I have caught. The number of bass make up the difference. Sixty or more bass in a trip in not uncommon. Add in a few reds for excitement and the place is great for inexperienced anglers and kids of all sizes. Anglers should grab a few beetle spins (1/8 oz. or Beetle Spin R lures) for easy fishing. The place is loaded with grass so any floating work or light Texas rig works, too. Another important note is the Bayou Sauvage National Management Area covers some of the marsh near the ICW. Check on restrictions during January as duck season restricts access during certain hours and days.
Tickfaw and Tangipahoa Rivers (areas to the west) are holding some quality fish. The rebound is in full swing since storms killed the bass. Muddy water will be an issue to deal with during January. Anglers who slow down there presentation will be rewarded. However, during warmer stretches, crankbaits and spinnerbaits with crawfish colors work well.

Basin
The big news is the river is on the way up. As the river floods the woods, the bass move in to feast on crawfish. Usually, Lake Verret and marsh areas below Hwy 90 are the best options for action. A jig with a few strands of orange is a local favorite this time of year. As crawfish season kicks off, lures should mimic the reds, orange, and blue of local crawfish. Sac-au-lait and bass reports have been good leading into the New Year so fishing should remain good for the area. If the predictions of a warmer winter holds, the actions should pick up at the end of the month when days get longer. Deadends and grass beds are places to focus during the month of January.

Suspending Jerkbaits
When conditions are right, there is nothing better than a suspending jerkbait bite in the winter. The conditions are colder water temperature (mid 50s or lower), clear to stained water color, and deep water. Fish often suspend after cold fronts. A lure like the Berkley Cutter 110 suspends around 3-6 feet depending on line size. Be far the biggest tip on using on suspending bait is the pause. The colder the weather, the longer the pause. A good rule of thumb is 3-4 seconds to start then go more if needed. Most bites come when the bait is sitting still. Monofilament or fluorocarbon line is another debate anglers have. Fluorocarbon line tends to sink so some anglers believe a suspending bait that slowly sinks is better. Line choice is a personal preference. However, for super clear water, fluorocarbon is a better option.

December Forecast

12/5/2016

Jeff Bruhl

After a dry fall, December’s forecast looks to be wetter. Mild temperatures the past few months have not locked the fish down to normal late fall patterns. However, the fishing has been very good for the gulf coast and south Louisiana the last month and should continue into December.

Northshore
The lower Pearl River and along the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) areas are holding plenty of marsh bass. Ponds and bayou around Chef Pass to small bayous around the lower Pearl, the area has a good supply of grass and bait. On warm days, slow roll a spinnerbait of the bank. However, as the water temperature drops, a Havoc 6 inch red shad bounce down the middle of the bayou will get attacked rather quickly. For ponds and drains off the ICW, try flukes and spinnerbaits. Another option is to break out a flipping stick and probe mats along the river and bayous.
Other rivers like the Tchefuncte are clean and clean. A good rainfall would help to stain the water and produce more strikes. Shaky heads, suspending jerk baits, and spinnerbaits are good choices for area bayou and river. As the water temperature drops, anglers should probe laydowns and other wood cover for fish.

Basin
December can and often is a good month to fish the Atchafalaya Basin. First, the numbers of angler decrease due things like hunting season and holidays. Second, the jig bite picks up. Finally, the trees can be a good place to good wind winds get high as a front passes through the area. Reports are steady across the region. From numbers of bass in the marsh to quality catches on both sides on Stephensville. The first thing to watch for during December is a rise in the river. Rains above Louisiana can cause the river to rise. Next, crawfish begin to emerge from the ground so have a jig rod close at hand. Spinnerbaits and plastics are good options, too.

Lake Pontchartrain
The trout bite has exploded around the corridor of the Wall (Chalmette Hurricane Protection) and eastern Lake Pontchartrain. As the shrimp moved out of the marsh, the trout were around to hammer on them. Many anglers including myself had great trips in November catching trout along the ICW and shorelines of Lake Pontchartrain. As December’s cold grips the area, the trout should move to deeper water. Deep passes, along the Wall, and the rocks of the MRGO (Mississippi River Gulf Outlet) are a few options for trout anglers this month. Just bring a few quarter and three eighth ounce head with your favorite plastics to those area for some action.

November

11/9/2016

Jeff Bruhl

November can be a bear of a month. Often cold fronts flush the marsh of water and muddy the rest of the area, too. So far, the fall around south Louisiana has been hot and dry. It seems everything is behind schedule. After the last blast of cool air came down from the north, the fishing improved. Let’s hope the fronts are mild and wet, but not too wet.
Northshore
Bass fishing has been tough on the Pearl. The West Pearl got low but stayed muddy. The east got gin clear. Anglers can run the marsh with a spinnerbait and catch fish but they are often scattered. Other spots like Lacombe and Liberty are loaded with marsh bass chasing shrimp. The bass are not tournament size fish but fun fish to say the least. Manchac area and rivers to the West have some good fishing when rivers are low. It takes about 11-12 #s to win most events around North Pass.
When summer stays this long, schooling bass are what makes the fishing fun. Finding a school of fish is easy if they are busting on the surface. If not, use Traps and jerkbaits to search drains and lower spots along the rivers for concentration of fish. Floating worms are still good, too. I find surface lures to be fair this time of year for finding fish. Surface plus are good when the schools pop up because the weight of the lures allows for long cast.
Basin
The BASS Open proved the fishing is good for the Atchafalaya Basin but size is not as good as past years. Cliff Crochet won the Open with 15# a day average. There have been a few events won this year with bigger stringers but not many. Punching is still a good option for the area. Greg Hackney proved a square bill crankbait is a hot bait to throw, too. The marsh areas south of 90 have the mother lode of marsh bass so head there for action. Spinnerbaits, light Texas rigs, and frogs are good starting points.
Lake Pontchartrain
The trout have shown up around eastern area of the lake. As you can see by the photo, some are very nice. From Bayou Lacombe to the lower areas of the Pearl River, school trout are there in numbers. For bigger fish, a run and gun approach on the shore line of the lake is where it is at. One common thread is grass beds along the shore. The trout are in eel grass and other vegetation near the shore and around bayous and drains. Here are a few tactics to try when mixing in a few trout with your bass.

Jeff Bruhl

A Vudu shrimp tight lined or slowly reeled around the grass line is a great way to catch fish. Bass and trout grab a shrimp as it falls into the channel. Often, shrimp are being chased by schools of bass and trout. Rip the Vudu out of the grass and let it fall.
Another tactic is to bounce a ¼ oz. jig head with a gulp Shrimp or other offering down the middle of the bayou. Besides trout, white trout and croakers will keep you busy.
For shore line trout, we have been using suspending baits like a mirrodine. The key to using a suspending bait is a rapid retrieve or long pauses in between jerks. Anglers should move often until they get a strike or find a good grass bed close to the shore. And I mean close to the shore. Often, strikes come with a few feet of the bank. However, grass beds off the bank is 3-4 ft. of water may hold big fish, too. Veterans Day is always the day to look for big trout along the bank.

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Jeff Bruhl

I was born with a fishing pole in my hand. Growing up south of Folsom, Louisiana, I spent many days fishing the ponds and rivers in the area. Louisiana is truly a sportsman paradise. A trip for bass in the morning followed by an afternoon venture for a few redfish or speckle trout is what Louisiana is all about. Pharmacy school took me to north Louisiana where I learned about fishing crappie and bass along the bayous. My love of the outdoors has translated into a hobby as well as a job in the outdoor writing field. Articles from my pen have hit many major Louisiana publications. Also, a weekly live radio spot on WWL 870 AM - Outdoors with Don Dubuc is another love I have. Each Saturday morning I am up reporting on some of the state's best bass fishing spots and bass fishing news.