Fishing After Lots Of Rain

[William Snee]

I fish in South Louisiana. One of the lakes I fish is Lake Verret. It is a fairly shallow lake with the average depth of 10 ft or less depending on the amount of rainfall. It has numerous canals and bayous plus it is a fairly large body of water. It has steadily rained since last Monday. Will the bass fishing be decent or am I wasting my time? If it won't be worth a durn, how long should I wait before making a trip?

[Sam]

First, before you go out be sure to wear your purple and gold.

 

It is also imperative that you scream "Geaux Tigers" when you set the hook. 

 

Remind me again, can you get from Verret to Palourde via Grassy Lake?

 

Fishing after a cold front moves through can be tough. But you can still catch them. Especially in Louisiana when they bite all the time!!!

 

Here is a Bass Resource article on fishing after cold fronts. Very interesting read: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/cold_front.html

 

Wish I could give you better advice. Personally, I like to throw a silver with blue back #5 Shad Rap after a cold front up here in Virginia. Don't know if it will work in the Sportsman's Paradise.

 

The guys will give you all types of tips so read them all and good luck. Let us know how you do.

 

Geaux Tigers! Even down in Morgan City.

[a1712]

www.vastoutdoors.info check out my new site, still under construction

He'll catch fish for sure now. That was really helpfull. Brian.

[bostonsox2904]

My major consideration after a lot of rain, is how cloudy and muddy is the water? Brighter colors will be seen easier if it is muddy, but I tend to avoid fishing until the water has settled a bit.

[Sam]

So how do bass find things to eat?

1.  Sight.

2.  Sound.

3.  Vibrations

 

When fishing dirty water they:

1. Can't see.

2. Can hear.

3. Can feel.

 

Sometimes the water is clear after a rain and other times the runoff from the bank and creeks stains the water.

 

Shallow places get stained water; deeper water stays cleaner.

 

Therefore, a "yellow" color; rattles; and good vibration will attract the bass to your baits in heavily stained or dirty water.

 

Please go to Google Earth and look at your lake for creeks and mud banks/points. Fish through these muddy areas and around them, too.

 

If the water has risen and is covering places that were dry before the rains, then fish those places as the bass will go into those areas seeking new food sources.

 

Don't let the rains stop you from fishing. The best times will be as the front approaches. But after the front has passed and you have bluebird skies you need to go out there and give it a try.

 

You may have to fish s-l-o-w but it sure beats sitting at home watch TV or doing homework.

 

Good luck.

[papajoe222]

Generally speaking, if all that rain has increased the lake's level you should find active fish up in the newly flooded brush and grass once the weather stabilizes for a couple of days.  If you plan on getting out before that time, I'd stick with the same locations you'd find them using under frontal conditions.  The biggest problem you're likely to encounter then is murky or even muddy water. Big baits that move a lot of water fished tight to cover should get you some action and you can always add color and sound to the mix.

All this is providing that there isn't any current.  With the canals you mention, I would assume there would be some incoming or outgoing current.  In that case, the areas where current is washing into the lake could be productive, especially if there is a defined area where the water clears up substantially.

[Ozark_Basser]

I'm sure you can find some bass held up in shallow cover, especially if the water is stained up, but post frontal fishing seems to be harder regardless. I'd break out the flipping stick.

[Catt]

Ok guys Lake Verret is part of the Atchafalaya Swamp!

1. Crackerhead canals

2. Canals & bayous near Pierre Part

Look for water coming out of the swamp

Lake Verret, fish cyprees trees

[Oregon Native]

As they say...."a day on the water beats work"...get out ... enjoy what our good Lord has created ... tomorrow is an unknown.

[Sam]

As they say...."a day on the water beats work"...get out ... enjoy what our good Lord has created ... tomorrow is an unknown.

 

Amen

[Sam]

Ok guys Lake Verret is part of the Atchafalaya Swamp!

1. Crackerhead canals

2. Canals & bayous near Pierre Part

Look for water coming out of the swamp

Lake Verret, fish cyprees trees

 

Hey Catt, look for moccasins and alligators, too.

[ColdSVT]

Find that spot where a small creek or brook runs into the lake...trust me

[Catt]

Hey Catt, look for moccasins and alligators, too.

Look for moccasins in trees

[Patrick Morrow]

Fishing after rain has usually considered to be a good habit. I don´t know much "science" behind it, but judging from my own experience and what I have seen over the years - big boys like to feed at that time. Rain should make the whole ecosystem more active and along with baitfish bass runs into more shallow levels especially when these levels are dirty from run off. Try topwaters or if water is more dirty then spinnerbaits work too.

[jcdogfish]

Heavy rains can do two things in Verret.  1, they muddy some places and 2 they create clear black water areas depending on the level.  After rains I usually opt for the spillway side(but I tend to favor that side anyway) If the water dirtys up I would wear the blades off a Humdinger spinnerbait or if its slow, a black/blue jig.  In the clear water i would go with a Rogue or redfin.  If its slow in the clear water a texas rigged lizard with a light weight or weightless.  Someone mentioned Craighead Canals.  Good start and don't pass up the main drags.

[Catt]

I forgot jc fishes that area & so does bearonthewater!