Keith Lusher NorthshoreFishingReport.com has release it’s fishing forecast for February and the opening of the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway has taken it’s toll on numerous fishing hot-spots in Lake Pontchartrain. Numerous 1-star reports litter the forecast because of the muddy, fresh water that the Mississippi River has dumped into the lake. Lemo’s Reef, the Trestles, Causeway, and Lake Borgne have all been a challenge to fish in February with chocolate milk colored water stretching as far as the Challmete Wall and the ICW. Anglers are finding more success in the rivers and bayous that spill out into the lake. Bass and sac-au-lait reports are typical for this time of year with the sac-au-lait bite starting to improve more and more each day. The Tchefuncte River is starting to heat up and those crappie fisherman who have done their homework are being rewarded. Deep dead-end canals lined with piers and fallen trees are your best bet for finding the big slabs that the river is known for around this time of year.
Wintertime Fishing
Fishing in February can pose an array of questions that bass anglers have. The drastic changes in the weather, combined with the muddy water, poses real problems for bass anglers looking to find a pattern. Northshore fishing guru Jeff Bruhl has a few tips for anglers who are targeting bass in the rivers and tributaries that pepper the region north of Lake Pontchartrain. “On bright sunny days, bass may patrol grass mats for food. The mats heat up like a roof on a house which is home to insects, frogs, and bait fish,” Jeff says. For this style of fishing, Jeff says there is no better lure to use than a jig. “By far the best wintertime bait is a jig and pig. Crawfish are a primary food source because of the little crustaceans that hatch in the late fall. The Pearl River and Tchefuncte River have plenty of bottom crawlers for bass to target,” Bruhl says. The Covington bass angler recommends a fast action rod. “In our area, extra fast or fast action rods with medium heavy blanks is a good starting point. Abu Garcia’s Veritas or Villain lines work well. Add 65 lb. Spiderwire or 25 lb. 100% Fluorocarbon, a peg, and a snelled Berkley Fusion heavy cover hook to the mix for a dynamite setup for winter bass,” he says.
Spillway Closing
With the closing of the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway, all eyes are now on the NASA’s SSEC Modis Satellite map which allows viewers to see the areas that are first to clear up. An important factor will be the winds in February.
Wintertime Fishing
Fishing in February can pose an array of questions that bass anglers have. The drastic changes in the weather, combined with the muddy water, poses real problems for bass anglers looking to find a pattern. Northshore fishing guru Jeff Bruhl has a few tips for anglers who are targeting bass in the rivers and tributaries that pepper the region north of Lake Pontchartrain. “On bright sunny days, bass may patrol grass mats for food. The mats heat up like a roof on a house which is home to insects, frogs, and bait fish,” Jeff says. For this style of fishing, Jeff says there is no better lure to use than a jig. “By far the best wintertime bait is a jig and pig. Crawfish are a primary food source because of the little crustaceans that hatch in the late fall. The Pearl River and Tchefuncte River have plenty of bottom crawlers for bass to target,” Bruhl says. The Covington bass angler recommends a fast action rod. “In our area, extra fast or fast action rods with medium heavy blanks is a good starting point. Abu Garcia’s Veritas or Villain lines work well. Add 65 lb. Spiderwire or 25 lb. 100% Fluorocarbon, a peg, and a snelled Berkley Fusion heavy cover hook to the mix for a dynamite setup for winter bass,” he says.
Spillway Closing
With the closing of the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway, all eyes are now on the NASA’s SSEC Modis Satellite map which allows viewers to see the areas that are first to clear up. An important factor will be the winds in February.
NASA's SSEC Modis Satellite Map (February 4, 2016)
North and west winds will be crucial to flushing out the lake of the muddy, fresh water that has infiltrated the clear brackish estuary. James Smith of Hammond fishes the Manchac area all the way to the Trestles and says “I think we may have dodged the bullet with the spillway. If we can get some good hard fronts to come through here and push the rest of this muddy water out, then I think we’ll see those winds switch over to the south and southeast come spring,” Smith says. The latest satellite view shows a sliver of water on along the Northshore still holding relatively clean water. The unusually short time span that the spillway has been opened looks to have spared the Lake from complete saturation of silty water.
Biloxi Marsh
A great option for speckled trout and redfish anglers that normally target the Lake is the Biloxi Marsh. Those who choose to make the run across Lake Borge can often find a few fish to help quench their thirst for the bronze and speckled beauties. But Buddy Hereford says that the marsh hasn’t produced like past years.” The fish seemed to have abandoned the areas that I fish in the Biloxi Marsh from Lake Borgne to Stump Lagoon. This year the temps have stayed in the low 60’s and mid to low 50’s, but the bite is gone just the same,” he says. Buddy says if you must go, there are some spots that you may just get lucky fishing. “If the ‘gotta goes’ hit, the deep canals toward Bob’s Lake or Bayou Loutre may have fish as it looks like the shrimp from Lake Pontchartrain are finally making a push through Lake Borgne and the marsh surrounding it,” hereford says.
