After me and Allen canceled a trip Monday due to high wind at the weather sites, I visit, (St Tammany Yacht Harbor. 11 gust to 14, Causeway, 14 gust to 16) , Decided to just go this morning no matter what. News and weather shows 10-15 and rain headin our way, snuck a peak at the yacht harbor, OH BOY, NE at 3. Made the launch and quick ride to the bridges and started chunkin at the black rag north of 174 about 6:30am. Had the whole place to myself for about 2 minutes when boat after boat came thru the draw, but all were headed south. Got to fish quite a few pilins (without a bite) before the first boat stopped at 174, it was Dudley with a camera crew , Before the camera guy could say ROLL UM, Dudley drops anchor and starts hauling specks over the side fast as he could hang a live shrimp (I assume it was shrimp) on the hook and cast. About the time I had enough watching other people catch, I snagged an old blind speck on the chartreuse beetle of my tandum rig. All that did was make me stay and watch Dudley catch fish and give interviews lots longer than I should have. Went thru to the east side of the bridge to rig up a Rucker rig with a ½ oz bell sinker(tried 1oz, but I need bigger rod and reel if I have to haul that in) and a shrimp lookin thing, by the time I was complete, I was castin distance from the hwy 11 bridge so I started fishing there. Tried both sides of the bridge with double beetles and Rucker rig with shrimp thing(pretty soon I hope to remember the name of it) with nary a nibble. Made a move south and discovered 3 boat already in the area I wanted to fish. Made lots of cast at the twin span till 2 of the three boats left and the third moved to the west side and anchored. Quick move to stake my claim where we caught last week and started chunkin a tiger bait Matrix on 3/8 oz golden eye head. Lots of cast and retrieves later I find myself watchin the guy on the other side of the bridge slammin the specks on live shrimp, DAMN, finally about 9:30 a nice speck hit’s the box and the bite picked up. Caught specks at the bridge, away from the the bridge and all points in between, BUT never two in the same spot, just kept movin back and forth till the bite slowed about 10:30 or so, live bait guy left (limit or out of live bait, I don’t know). About that time Chris, CDANIELS76 arrives and we had some how ya doins, Seemed his boat followed him to work and couldn’t resist the chance to wet a line on the way home. I tried the west side with the Rucker rig and the shrimp thing with no luck, and drifted back with the tide to the east side, while crossin under the bridge I was jiggin the pilins and BAM, 18“ speck, spent the next hour jigging under the bridge(in the shade) and #25 hit the box at 11:37.
Weather was perfect, light to no wind all the time I was out, Clean water, 8 on 1-10 scale all over, steady fallin tide and water temp about 77 deg.
Tried several baits, Lemon head matrix, purple and chartruse, double beetle, something kinda pink and clear with a yellow tail,(lost to trestle monster without a bite.) The Tiger Bait Matrix on the golden eye head did all the damage.
No doubt the conditions were the prize of the day, allowed me to fish all angles and tecniques to find what the speck were lookin for.
Taking a new friend tomorrow hope the luck holds.
-Eastofmrgo 5/12/15
For more reports from the bridges click here!
Weather was perfect, light to no wind all the time I was out, Clean water, 8 on 1-10 scale all over, steady fallin tide and water temp about 77 deg.
Tried several baits, Lemon head matrix, purple and chartruse, double beetle, something kinda pink and clear with a yellow tail,(lost to trestle monster without a bite.) The Tiger Bait Matrix on the golden eye head did all the damage.
No doubt the conditions were the prize of the day, allowed me to fish all angles and tecniques to find what the speck were lookin for.
Taking a new friend tomorrow hope the luck holds.
-Eastofmrgo 5/12/15
For more reports from the bridges click here!