By Frank Davis
Posted Monday, January 1, 2007
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There wasn't a single spot anywhere on the Hopedale marsh Thursday that my charter captain Rob "Redbone" Martin and I didn't get into the speckled trout! And big speckled trout, too, I might add!
Live bait on the bottom and Speculizer lures up top were the two most productive methods for us. . .and they'll be the two best methods for you for catching them this weekend.
"I really recommend that if you're gonna come fish anywhere in the Hopedale area this Saturday and Sunday," Capt. Redbone explained, "you concentrate on the areas in Bayou La Loutre, Bayou St. Malo, and as far down the road as Stump Lagoon.
"Every one of us down here (the guides) has been catching near limits of trout, and day in and day out the fish react the same: (a) they are holding suspended about 20 inches under the surface, for the most part; (b) they seem to be feeding primarily in the current lines; (c) the bite is most active at the time of most active tide movement; and (d) catching fish is guaranteed with both artificials and live shrimp for bait. . .provided you work 'em right!
"And if you ask any of the pros and veteran anglers, they'll tell you without hesitation that the winter fish pattern which are in place right now should remain effective all the way through mid-January. So essentially, there's really no hurry to get down here and start fishing! Yeah! Right! Don't let me beat you to the launch!"
And speaking of the launch, Capt. Redbone is really adamant about the time of day you ought to start fishing this weekend and next.
"Guess what?" he quizzed. "You do not have to get up with the chickens to fish this weekend. If you sleep in, get up around 8, drive down, and launch at about 10 o'clock. . .the bite should be on! And I mean hot and heavy! That's how it's been for more than a week now -- I don't expect it to chance at all any time soon!"
The biology behind that strategy is simple. Mid-morning this time of year will usually place you right in the midst of a really good moving tide. That's point Number One! Then since the mornings are beginning to start off on the chilly side -- and that means chilly water, too --- if you wait a tad before you ease onto the backdown ramp, you'll give the sun an opportunity to warm up the fishing water a bit, which in turn promotes the strike and feed response in fish. Point Number Two! So once again, all the pros (and especially Capt. Redbone) heartily suggest a 10 o'clock launch time.
Works for me!
One last note about this weekend in particular: my weather people tell me that the winds that began picking up velocity late this afternoon will peak out Saturday---in other words, Saturday is gonna be tough! Cold, high gusts, possibly dirty water. . .not conducive to a good bite situation.
But late Saturday afternoon thing are expected to start settling down and by Sunday and into Monday fishermen should see banner days for trout fishing, virtually all over the Hopedale marsh.
"So give the Missus a credit card, set her off to shopping at the mall, and you come down to Hopedale," Redbone teased. "The way I see it, everybody gets just what they want!
Until next week, be careful and courteous out there. Believe me, y'all, there's plenty of room for all of us to fish. So as your Momma usta say. . ."Y'all play nice, now!"
Tight lines and good times,
Frank Davis
P.S. Just for the record, Capt. Redbone is one of those charter guides who actually fishes and offers charter trips all during the winter (a less crowded but still a highly productive time of year). So if you want to make book or set up a charter trip as a Christmas present for someone special, give Redbone a call ASAP. His number is 504-319-4446 or 504-454-3777.
Article Courtesy of Frank Davis
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