Even with the spillway bays now closed, you're probably wondering exactly what effect the filthy, fresh, river water has had these last two months on the fisheries—and the fishing!—in Lake Pontchartrain.

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Frank says despite the spillway water, the fishing is still fine near the trestle in Lake Pontchartrain.

Right?  Am I right?

Well, I got  that answer for you for once and for all Thursday when my fishing team and I, in the midst of horrendously rough seas and gusting winds that actually blew the white caps off the top of the waves, pulled enough bragging-size trout out from under the trestle for a family fish fry.

Apparently--and fortunately--the Bonnet Carre flow-through did minimal damage to the lake so far because trout and a few other species are still holed up in the dirty river water close to the South Shore end. 

“If you ask me to explain precisely why they’re still there,” Capt. Kenny Kreeger, my Thursday Pontchartrain fishing guide told me, “at best I’d have to guess.  In actuality, the whole scenario—scientifically—turns  out to be logically unexplainable.

“Some of the other guides and me thought it might be because not as many spillway bays were opened this time. . .or the spillway didn’t run into the lake as long as it did last time. . .or maybe, even, the dirty freshwater on the surface, being lighter than saltwater, is covering over the saltwater that’s down on the bottom. . .with the fish still in it!

“How does that sound to you?  Believable?”

Let me suggest that you take this approach:  Be thankful that the needles are back in place, that the river has crested, that river-water flow has stopped going into the lake, and that whatever fishing trips you schedule in the weeks ahead will, at least, not be washouts!

Obviously, conditions will change from week to week until the lake once again stabilizes (it’s all cockeyed right now).  So you’ll have to be willing and able to change fishing locations, techniques, procedures, times, and baits from day to day. 

“In other words, on Monday you might have to head to South Shore and fish dead slow against the tide to pick up any fish, “Capt. Kreeger went on.  “Then on Tuesday the place to fish might be middle-lake on the east side of the I-10 Twin Spans, using market shrimp on a Carolina rig.  And then come Wednesday it’s not totally out of the question to have to invest in a load of live Cocahoe minnows and fish them on a plain jighead in Rigolets Pass.  Get the drift?  The only thing for certain is that nothing’s for certain!  Not now, at least.  And not for some time to come!”

But the good news is. . .the lake ain’t dead!  Oh, it might spawn a passle of aggravating algae blooms come this summer, but at this point in time it’s still offering survivable habitat for finfish species with a strong enough constitution to handle the adversity.  For that we should give thanks for small favors!

Oh—I nearly forgot.  In case you just got to know, the best plastic baits in Pontchartrain right now are the ”Blue Moon” and  “ Smoke Flake” Deadly Dudleys.  Capt. Kreeger and I both agree that they should be rigged on an unpainted, round, 3/8 or 1/2 ounce leadhead jig and popped “hard” off the bottom when fished, pausing a few seconds between each pop. 

Finally, during the next couple of months you’re going to have to be a true “fisherman!”  Smart!  Decisive!  Alert!  Proficient!  And exceptionally talented.  Whatever you do, just don’t get your heart set on catchin’ full limits for a while—it ain’t gonna happen, dude.

But ‘ya know what?  It is still worth fishing Pontchartrain.  I’ll be out there.  Look me up!

Frank Davis

P.S.  Next week I head back down to Delacroix Island to wet a line with Capt. Ahab.  And if you decide that you really would like to fish Pontchartrain with Capt. Kenny, feel free to call him at 985-643-2944.