Louisiana Fishin'

[cajun_flipper]

I'm going to try to make it a point to keep this updated just so that people around me can share some information. I fish a lot of the rivers that flow through the central and southeast portion of the state. I'm planning on making several canoe trips on some other small rivers as well as a run to Caney Lake. I'll post reports here. Feel free to add some of your own.

Once I got up the Tickfaw river from Springfield and after blowing the cobwebs out of the old motor, it was time to fish. Spinner baits and topwaters were fruitless, as were super flukes, craws, and power worms. I switched to a Zoom Baby Brush Hog in watermelon seed and caught 4 decent bass. 5 warmouths fell for the texas rigged presentation. The rains in the area had the water high and falling fast. Fish were positioned in current breaks and run outs and slow to bite.

I'm contemplating taking the kayak or canoe out soon depending on the weather. I need about 5-10 days of sunshine for those spots to be worth the effort. My next big boat destination will be the Tangipahoa River in search of spotted bass. Hopefully this will take place during the next week or so.

[natalex1208]

I am very interested in seeing contributions to this thread. I am very likely moving to the area and can't find a great deal of information on bass fishing the area. The consensus is that it is average at best in the southeastern part of the state. Especially north of Lake P. I hope this thread thrives and I hope the fishing is better than advertised.

[Sam]

In order to catch fish in this area of Louisiana you have to wear something purple and gold.

Blue and green means you will NEVER catch anything.

Think purple and gold and you will have many individuals give you input and help plus the fish will go nuts and you will have to get a larger boat to handle the increase in bitges and successful landings.

Just a suggestion.

Geaux Tigers!

[Catt]

I can add a little on southwest Louisiana

[Bass_Fanatic]

I can update on central LA lakes. Saline/Larto, Sibley, Cane River, Ouchita River ect.

[WookieeJedi]

I keep up a report on Lake Claiborne at the La. Sportsman forums. I'm wookieejedi there too.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Well guys, I went to Black Lake in Campti, LA yesterday and had a pretty good day. Boat around 50 bass or so, but they were all between 10"-16", no big fish. I have a tournament Saturday out there, so after that I will post the pattern. If my tournament layout was like Major Leage Fishing, I think I would win it, but with it being the top 5 fish I may have to go looking for a big momma!

[Bass_Fanatic]

Well, Saturday on Black Lake turned out to be exactly what I expected. Started in my first spot and caught my 5 keepers in about 10 minutes on a jerkbait, one 2 lb fish and the other 4 just small swimmers. Fished it until 11:00 just culling ounces. Finally ran and hit a place that I didnt even prefish and cuaght a 2lber off the first tree on a Missle Da Bomb beaver. Flipped trees in there until 2:30 and culled all 5 fish I had and ended up with 10.98lbs. Only problem was that they wanted that bait so bad that they swallowed it and I had to cut two hooks off and the fish ended up dying. So 2 lost fish cost me 1/2lb and bumbed me one spot out to the money! Oh well, still a good finish and bumbs me into 5th in our club standings.

[cajun_flipper]

I'm going to try to keep this thread going as I get to fishing more and more. I'm saving a ton of money right now for a custody battle...attorneys are expensive.

I did get out on the Tangipahoa River a few days ago. All the rail we had recently had the water looking like chocolate milk. I was still able to put together a decent day with a mixed catch. Most were panfish caught on bass baits. Bites were coming on black beetle spins with gold blades near the tree line. It was a slow day, but I love fishing that river. I should be able to really start getting after it in June with the canoe, so if you're into that sort of thing around here, stick around or hit me up.

And Catt is right...if you want to know about south west Louisiana, look no further than him. He's been slaying them for years out there.

[Catt]

Lacassine Wildlife Refuge is dead literally, after record low water levels last year almost no bass are being caught.

The Calcasieu river is improving daily as flood waters recede, a few bass are being caught on Wacky worms.

Vernon Lake is a hidden hot spot!

[cajun_flipper]

I'm starting to hear about some action in the spillway, but haven't been out there to confirm it. You wanna talk about trying to dissect a body of water...the spillway is a BEAST. Henderson is supposedly hitting right now and I'm hoping I can get in on the action if work will slack off some.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I hit up Sibley Lake in Natchitoches yesterday morning. The bass fishing was tough. I found one point holding some small bass and caught 8 little fish. I then ran to a spot where I caught some stripers a month ago and found some, it was just hard to keep up with the school. Ended up catching 8 stripers, biggest going about 5lbs. All my fish were caught off of a crankbait and A-rig.

[WookieeJedi]

Stripers have saved many a day at the lake. Are they breaking the surface yet? If they are doing that in Sibley, a trip down to the Cane River might be in order.

[Bass_Fanatic]

No, they're not breaking the surface. They are still kinda scattered and sitting close to bottom in about 10 FOW out there.

[cajun_flipper]

Sorry I've been scarce. I had last minute warning about 2 career schools so I haven't been out at all in the last 2 weeks. Thankfully they come to an end tomorrow. I'm going to try to get on the water in the next week or so. Be looking for a fresh update from me.

We have more LA bassers here than I thought. Might have to schedule up a Caney Lake trip. I still haven't fished there. Anyone having any luck on big bass there?

[CaneyCatcher]

Fished Caney last Sunday afternoon/evening. My dad and I caught 2 nice bass right in the slot, mine being the bigger of the 2 around 3.5 lbs. That was our 5th trip out there this month and the first 4 we didn't catch squat. We just recently bought a new boat so we're getting back into fishing after years of being off the water. We were fishing DEEP water, around 30 ft, but the bass were hanging around 15-20 in the late afternoon and we caught em on Strike King XD6's. I was fishing shaky head worm and switched as soon as dad caught his. 1st cast with it and I landed our 2nd one. Then that was it until we loaded up. A lot of people will tell you that you can hang it up on Caney in the summer time. Water temp running 85-88 degrees and clear as glass with no cover makes em go deep. We haven't had much luck so we're going to Red River pool 3 this Saturday right outside St. Maurice. Anybody got any info on it?

[Bass_Fanatic]

If you just want to catch fish, tie on a Lucky Craft Pointer 98 in American Shad and fish it along the rocks in the main river. I caught about 60 fish last weekend doing that, but the vast majority are smaller fish. I would also try a frog early around some grass. If your launching in St. Maurice oxbow, if you run towards the back of the oxbow from the launch you will see saline bayou on your right. The mouth of saline bayou can be good at times and then out in front of it is a flat that comes up from 20 foot of water to 3 ft of water. Dragging a jig or digging a 6XD across that drop can catch some hogs this time of year. Good luck and be sure to report back how it went.

[CaneyCatcher]

Thanks for the info Bass_Fanatic, unfortunately I didn't see your response until today after we had gone. well the report is... IT'S HOT!!! I caught one fish early on a Texas rigged 11in. worm (Black w/ Chartreuse tail) and fished just about everything but a pointer. We started out fishing the oxbow, worked down the river down to what I believe was the entry to St. Maurice lake. At about 10:30 we decided to go up Saline Bayou. We went all the way up to where LA84 bridge comes across and worked a good 3-4 mile stretch with spinner baits, T-rigged worms, crank baits, and a Spro frog all to no avail. At around 1 we called it quits and went for a hamburger at Midway Marina. Best thing I caught all day. Wished I'd have read ur post before we went because I would have tried your strategy. After a few years of not being on the water, my inexperience is showing but I'm gonna stay patient and keep fishing. Keep me informed and I'll do my best to let you know what they aren't biting lol! Thanks!

[Bass_Fanatic]

Yeah it can be tough right now. Dont get discouraged, in a few months (September or so) the fishing will pick back up and get hot agian!

[WookieeJedi]

It is pretty slow on Lake Claiborne right now too. There are some wipers that can be caught right off the main lake, but bass are not doing much. I did catch a 2lb. crappie on a Speed Craw this week. That is always nice. I'm going to resort to the float 'n fly this week, and maybe some night fishing, it was 99 today. The birds were walking around.

[WookieeJedi]

Anybody down in CENLA know if the stripers are schooling down on the lower Cane River down by the dam? My brother usually tips me off, but he hasn't been out there in a while.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I havent heard much from Cane River this entire year. Im sure they will shut the river down for a week or so here in the next few days for the 4th of July and blame low water or some bull. They always shut that place down to keep people off the water. I will start fishing up there in a couple weeks. My August club tournament is a night tournament there. If you go, let me know what they are doing...I love getting on some good schooling stripers!

[fishnla]

Can anyone tell me anything about the Sabine River. I am fishing a buddy's club tournament later this month, but gonna try to go take a look at it next weekend. I've never been there before so any info would be appriciated.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Never been there before, but my buddy grew up on the Sabine. He said they used to catch all their fish shallow in tops on spinnerbaits. Not much help, but thats all I got lol.

I fished the Red River out of Red River South Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th and caught a bunch of shorts Friday morning on jerbaits. Moved to a point around 11 and caught a 6.5 and a 5lber in 3 cast. Left em for my club tourny saturday. Saturday I sat on that point from daylight to 1 and only got 7 bites, but they were all good fish. Caught a 6.75lber and a few 3's. Weighed in 17.5lbs for the win! Caught 2 on a crankbait and the other 3 on a carolina rigged fluke.

[WdyCrankbait]

Anyone know anything about Lk. Buhlow? I'm going to try and hit that up this week sometime.

Thanks,