November Fishing Forecast

Jeff Bordelon

It's November, and somewhat cooler (but not much), which should bring in those precious Sac-A-Lait we all love to chase. Bobby Garland lures in Glacier color on a 1/16 or 1/32 oz. jig heads have always been productive. If you’re a live bait fan, shiners are your best bet. Look for the fallen trees and fish the natural underwater structures. If your chasing Bass, you shouldn’t have any problems at all, as they tend to come into the shallow marsh grass this time of year. The Z-man Trout Tricks in the Fried Chicken color rigged weed less with no weight fishing the top have been a winner here lately for the Bass. This past October we saw a few specks being caught near the mouth of the bayou but with the colder weather in November look for the trout to be heading for Lake Borgne.

With the spillway being closed for 4 years, the lake is reverting back to the was it once was and that means specks and reds at the mouth of Castine. Don't expect many however. November's cold temperatures should have the trout running for deeper water further east. Bass fishing however is another story. This is a great month for throwing crank baits on Castine. Target intersections and drains in the marsh. Monitor water temperatures and target deep sections of the bayou after cold fronts.

Zack Liberto

November typically brings some chilly mornings, some north winds with the fronts and some beautiful days in between those fronts. As many hunters are either getting deer stands hung or duck blinds brushed up, not many people are thinking about fishing underneath the Causeway. Don't let the winds or cooler temperatures fool you, there are still plenty of fish to be caught underneath the 24 mile long reef. With the annual trout run late, as it has been the last few years, expect the big trout to show up to the bridge soon. 3/8 ounce jigheads with plastic baits bounced off the bottom should produce a good mixed bag of fish this month. Concentrate around the pillings for trout and reds, but don't forget to use the shade lines the bridge creates for flounders, as this seems to be their ambush point. Plenty redfish have moved off of the bridge and are schooled up, look for the birds, but there are still plenty of reds to be caught around the pillings. If jigging plastics does not produce, trolling rattle traps along the bridge is also a good way to locate some fish. If you locate a good bite trolling, concentrate on that area with plastics bounced off the bottom. Dress warm and stick and move and you should be rewarded with a decent box of fish.

Dan Sissac, Roger Sissac

November has arrived, and we are still seeing temperatures in the 80s; however, we have been getting cold fronts that lower the mercury by as much as forty degrees. These fronts cause swings in the barometric pressure (it goes up), which some believe to have an effect on bass (I don’t) and that the pressure change alters how bass behave. I don’t believe that barometric pressure causes bass to be “tight-lipped” or leave an area. What I believe happens when a cold front approaches the area is this sequence of events. The colder air brings with it (usually) northern winds that will (usually) push out water, and lower water levels. This lowered water level causes fish that were shallower to move to deeper water, but deeper water relative to where the fish were before the front. What I mean is that bass that were in three feet of water will still be on the same point, for example, but further out so they are still in three feet of water. I will quantify that statement by saying lower air temps may push the fish out even further, if those temperatures are around long enough to lower water temperatures. It takes a few days of consistently changed air temperature to affect water temperature. A cold front (usually) brings “bluebird skies” with it, which also affect the fish. It is a lot easier for predators to see prey on a bright, sunny day - especially overhead predators like osprey. The fish are a bit more reserved than usual and may pass on a lure that is in open, “unsafe” waters. Also, the lure is easier to see, depending on water clarity, so an unnaturally-colored lure may not get many takers. All that said, cold fronts do bring lower barometric pressure, but I believe it is a culmination of the other conditions that affect the fish, not the fact that the pressure itself has risen. Bass have less of an air bladder than speckled trout, for example, so I believe bass are more tolerant of pressure swings. I believe the same for redfish too; basically, my theory is that the thicker the scales of a fish, the smaller the air bladder and the the less the fish is affected by pressure changes (redfish have less air bladder than trout) - this is just my blanket theory based on how I’ve caught fish for the last forty years. Now, onto the forecast! Bass have been biting well as they try to “fatten up” for the winter. Menhaden have been a fall-bass staple in southeast Louisiana. A spinnerbait, jerkbait, or crankbait fished at the mouths of cuts and canals has been very productive. If soft plastics are more your thing, a weightless fluke rigged Texas-style with just a little curve to it (insert the hook a little past the point where inserting it would cause the lure to be straight, so the lure has a slight curve to it) should solicit some strikes; hooking the lure this way causes it to look like a dying menhaden as it makes tiny circles in the water, instead of the darting action a straight fluke normally has. Color choice should be based on the clarity of the water you’re fishing; the clearer the water, the more natural coloration you want to use. Bream have been biting well, but the cooler temps have ceased the spawning colonies. You may have to move often to end the day with a full cooler of the panfish. Sexee Shad in black/chartreuse and crickets are always the top producers. If you are a live bait fisher and can’t find crickets, live worms will work too, but they are a lot messier to use. Catfish are a regular bycatch, so set your drag accordingly. One last thing about which I will opine. My dad says he is “still waiting for the shrimp to show up”; what follows is my belief. There were shrimp present in early/mid August, but I believe Hurricane Francine took out (most of) the shrimp when the strong incoming tide reversed. White shrimp are stronger swimmers than browns and pinks, but I don’t think they could or would swim against the string falling tide after the hurricane. If anyone is still seeing or catching shrimp (more than just a couple), please leave a report (no need to say where) so I can alter my opinion.

Ronald Pierre

This November on the Tangipahoa River is an exciting time for bass fishing. We had a late influx of baitfish that are pushing into back water areas to feed on fall algae. Bass are setting up on any hard cover possible to ambush baitfish. Keys to look for are isolated cover, and any irregularities in the river or bank. Throw spinnerbaits and topwater lures early. Once the sun comes up bass are going to tighten up to the same type of cover. Throw crankbaits, or flip craws and jigs later in the day.
Speckled trout and redfish are starting to show up around the deeper holes in Pass Manchac. Throw market shrimp, and plastics to these areas. Also use electronics to target schools of fish in these deeper areas. Keys to success are finding baitfish, and current. If you find good concentrations of baitfish with a decent current or tidal flow specks and redfish shouldn’t be far away. Once cold fronts push through the area at the end of the month, look for a bigger concentration of fish in these same deep holes.

Lawerence Lemoine

Fishing is picking up on "The Creek" in November! The waters are cooling and the bass are moving into more shallow water to feed KVD Crankbaits are still the go-to lure right now. Bass should be transitioning to deeper water depending on the severity of the cold fronts that pass through.
Fly-fisherman are finding plenty of action along the bank where cypress knees and lilly pads are prevalent.

Ronald Pierre

November on the Amite River has shown some great change for bass fishing. Bass are finally starting to show up in the shallows. The numbers and size of the catches are still a far cry from last year but signs of improvement are promising. Baitfish are starting to show up in the river and are making easy meals for bass. Target any shallow rock or riprap along the main river edges, and throw buzzbaits, shallow cranks, and finesse jigs. Keep an eye out for any baitfish activity in backwater areas, flats, and sandbars. Look for irregularities in the river bends and target areas with cover. Once the heavier cold fronts start moving in look for deeper water and steeper drops along intersections in the river. Throw lipless crankbaits, and drag bulky jigs in these same areas. Bass will hold closer to the bottom so a slow retrieve is a big key to catching these fish later in the month.
Bream fishing has still been decent around the docks in Greys Creek and in other off canals on the south side of the Port Vincent bridge. Throw gulp crickets, and earth worms under small popping corks. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for any bream sucking at the surface. This is a dead giveaway on their position. Once the weather gets colder this month target these fish near bridges, and offshore brush piles on the main river.

Mike O'Brien

Speckled trout have been a pleasant surprise for anglers this year. The storms that have passed through in late summer and early fall have cleaned up the water and made it more salty. Trout can be caught along the northern shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain between the mouth of Bayou Lacombe to Goose Point and Todd's Bayou. Live shrimp, Matrix, and fluke style baits should be good bets in and around the grass lines rigged weightless. Go with a jig head or Carolina rig to work the deeper areas in the main bayou and going into the cuts. Keep an eye out for bait moving in these areas and focus your efforts in those locations.
The good news is the bass are still lurking in the grass and along the shoreline near the Lake and have been receptive to top water offerings worked slowly. Where the grass is thin try a big blade spinner that lets you slow the retrieve down a bit or work a suspending/slow sinking jerk bait. The Rapala X Rap has a small lip that adds a little wiggle and helps it dig a little deeper. The cooler water temperature has them slowing down a little so you need to meet them halfway. Up the bayou in the tree lined area bass are being caught just off the banks and in the wood. Top water poppers in the morning and shorter chunky plastics when the sun gets higher.

November last year turned out to be one of the best Novembers for Eden Isles. Based on the conditions we have now November 2022 should be off the charts. Hurricane Ida has cleansed our lakes and bayous. Ida brought the highest storm surge to the Northshore.
Speckled trout should be plentiful in the Oak Harbor and Eden Isles canals whether you are fishing from a boat or on land. Soft plastics especially Matrix shad could give you limits of specks and reds. Pink Champagne and Limbo slice are two very popular colors. Another good choice are Mirrolures. The 32m and 17mr are two great lures for specks and reds. As we get cooler weather the fish should respond and be more active. The key to a good month is to get out when you have free time. Any time of day can be productive. As they say You have to go to know.

The Rigolets is getting better with the Pearls down lower than they have been in a long time, good salty water from the sound has made its way into the lakes. Grass lines are the ticket to nice boxes of specks and reds. All the hot spots, for the lucky folks that can pick and choose the perfect weather and tide patterns, nice fish are being harvested. (L&N train bridge, HWY90 car bridge, point at treasure isle, 4X bayou and drop-offs at sawmill pass) Lake Catherine is loaded with nice specks , try grass lines on the shorelines and passes from ICW and Rigolets .In the past when the water cools the deep water in the main passes(St Catherine pass, Millers Ditch and UnknownPass ) at the mouth and at the trestles that cross each are easy fishing and hold fish tight on the bottom, along with many snags. There is a drop off from 3—12ft at the mouth of St Catherine’s pass in Lake Catherine, both sides, that is fun to fish. Use the depth finder to stay in the shallow water and throw to the deep water and let the tide move the lure.
Live bait is always better, but not as much fun as tight lining plastic

Patrick Engerran

Expect the cool fronts to start moving in more frequently as November passes by and the north winds pushing water out could bring about some outstanding bites. When the water cools the shad will begin migrating back to pockets and the game fish will follow. Bass are already seen schooling at times around the mouth of bayous, creeks and drains at the line where the mixing water forms. Hunting season is ramping up and more people are in a deer stand and off the water so the pressure will be lighter and community holes not as crowded as the temps cool even more.
Fall is generally the best topwater action of the year as bass are chasing shad and feeding up for winter. Frogs, Pop-r’s and buzzbaits can be thrown all day at times and produce some explosive strikes from the hungry fish. The mouths of the bayou’s and drains with some pads should be a deadly combo and could yield a limit quickly if the timing is right. The good thing about this pattern is the re-loading of the fish during the day. Find you a milk run and hit the best ones numerous times during the day. Even with the migration to the pockets and creeks flipping banks and visible cover will always be deadly. The little bayous and creeks just might be better options to target this month. A Toups’ Mighty Mudbug will always be deadly. For that bigger bite try putting it as a chunk on a C4 jig and drop it softly into reeds and next to cypress.
The main thing is just get on the water and enjoy the cooler temps and lower humidity. The fish will begin their buffet soon and the fall fun will begin.

Here we go! Lemo's reef shines in November! Now is the month to get out to the reef for fast action with speckled trout and redfish. Plastics are the name of the game this month. Matrix Shad in any Chartreuse color will work at the reef. Work the area thoroughly when fishing the reef balls and when you start catching fish, mark the spot and concentrate on what side of the structure your fishing. That should be the pattern to stick to.

Todd Oalman

November success will depend on the weather. The fish will be feeding trying to put on weight before winter sets in. However, if we get a few cold spells the bite will be slow because their metabolism will slow down to conserve energy. When conditions are favorable, look for ambush points and bait concentrations to be top spots to concentrate on. Expect a good top water and jig bite for bass in the marsh. No need to get an early start as the bite will be better as the water temperatures warm up and the fish become more active. Best colors will be bream, mullet, crawfish and crab imitations. On the saltwater side, expect decent catches of trout, redfish, and drum. The deeper holes in the bayou and marsh will hold fish along with the rocks at the mouth of the bayou. Flounders will be on the ledges and on shallow points near marsh runouts. Live shrimp, dead shrimp, and artificials in avocado and opening night will produce the best results. Pay attention to schools of mullets because lots of time big trout are underneath them.

Taylor Valois

Most states are gearing up for the next season that follows fall…, which is winter. The problem with Louisiana is that typically we are still wearing shorts and short sleeves during our November month. During this time of year we usually see the famous world series run of trout but as of now they are still staged back a bit. These trout are most definitely in the Lake but the water temps are just not there yet. The thing is you don’t want to be caught sleeping when they do turn on because it can be fast and very soon. When you start hearing reports of catches you want to be fishing a light colored lure on clearer days. When fishing cloudy/murky water days you want to fish dark or bright colors like Matrix Shad in Lemonhead or Purple Haze. The key is getting your lure to the bottom and jigging it back towards the boat. Rule of thumb for this is you want to give yourself enough time to reach the bottom so counting to 3 when letting your line fall can be a great tool for this. As always use reports on Northshorefishingreport.com to help and also write detailed reports to share knowledge with everyone. Get out and get fishing!

Chris Basey

When fishing Bayou Liberty you should start fishing in the main channel close to a mouth of another bayou or in the outside bends. Make long, but pin-point cast to structure such as grass lines, stumps, docks. If there is a little ripple on the water use a shad colored spinnerbait with silver blades or a Tenn. Shad colored silent crankbait. If they won't come out to it then you will have to go in to them. Start pitching under docks, or to holes in the grass. Just make sure if the water is clear to stay in a area where its hard for the fish to see you. Use the cover to block the fish from seeing you. For the pitching I would start with a straight tail worm at first. As the water cools down everything in it slows down. The straight tail worm has less action which mimics this slow down. Saltwater fishing hasn't been what it was the past years as the trout have pushed further west to Bayou Lacombe and Goose Point.

George Seibert

The migration has begun and speckle trout are coming back to the marshes and area lakes. They need to fatten up after the spawn for the coming cold winter. But again mother nature has thrown a curve ball with another hurricane, Ida, which was a direct hit this time. The lake has been full of shrimp and bait fish are everywhere. Trout were being caught around grass beds at the marshes edge. Flounder have finally appeared again and also white trout. Redfish have been abundant all summer long and should continue. Sheepshead are also abundant at the rigs and holes. Fish all out flowing trenasses and bayous. Look for bait fish near the shore lines and diving birds. As the water gets colder with the front after front fish the deeper holes. At this time of year live and plastic both work. Hope everyone fared well. Good luck and tight lines.

The specks in the Biloxi marsh are plentiful but scattered, the size is mostly small but the numbers are great. They are scattered around in the bays and lakes where deep water flows into shallower water. Interior lagoons are worth a shot, but the better fish I have caught have come from intersecting deep canals throw anything yellow under a poppin cork. Look at Google maps for spots “off the beaten paths” for weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) trips as the crowds are building and the main thoroughfares are a stressful location to enjoy a fishing day. Find the tide lines and try all over (hard flowing side, weak flowing side, dead water in sharp turns etc.) Good tide and light winds make tide lines easy to find, don’t pass up a shot at the lines even if they are out in the middle of nowhere, Looks like Gafftops and hard heads have disappeared so tipping plastic with shrimp is safe. Always try a slick or two for a fast couple of bites. Plastics under a popping cork will do the trick.
The reds are abundant in the ponds, canals , bay shorelines and Lake Borgne shorelines. Start early to beat the crowds and catch the light wind. Try all canals and ponds that have enough water to float ya boat. Aim at all points and pockets on the shore line, no matter how small or unoccupied they look. Live or Dead shrimp under a popping cork is always a good bait, but my favorite is a 1/4oz gold spoon ,plastics and Saltwater Assassin's rigged weed less will get hits also, Hell, reds eat anything, so pick your poison and have fun.

BE AWARE, duck season is about to happen, to many places to fish in the marsh to ruin a hunt or your fishing trip , be aware of the area your fishing in, all the area around goose flats is private property, and areas around cutoff lagoon is heavily hunted, give them their space, lots of fish in less hunted areas.

Luke O'Neal

The Tchefuncte river is picking up. It's still a morning and evening game but a few fronts will change that. Once the water temps start dropping into the 70's you should find the bass starting to school and a crank bait and swimbait will work great. Top water lures are still good in the mornings and evenings. Reds are being caught around the mouth of the river and hopefully in a few more weeks the trout will show up too. When fishing remember that more tide movement is best, but you can still make the best out of slow tide days. Look for any baitfish and fish drains coming out of the marsh.

Fishing on Pontchatoula Creek has picked up as of late with the recent cool fronts. The bass have come out of the deeper water and are chasing shad on the surface making it easier for anglers to lacate them. The creek is loaded with bass and goggle-eye right now. Anglers are finding success with shallow running crank-baits. The creek offers an abundance of structure. Bass and perch use this structure as cover to ambush bait-fish and also to keep cool during the hotter parts of the day. Be sure to monitor rainfall because the creek will muddy in a hurry.