WWL-TV

Frank Davis says the lunker trout are back in Lafitte.

Here’s the latest word straight out of Lafitte:

Lafitte fishermen are currently remembering Lafitte like Lafitte used to be before the hurricanes made their visits (er, assaults).  In other words, they're remembering when they used to catch some really nice size trout there.   Well, that's happening again.

The entire area of Little Lake all the way back to The Pen is holding specks averaging anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds.  And every single one of them is hungry!  Even for artificials!.  

“Frank, every size and shape of trout are holed up in this Barataria watershed right now,” Capt. Phil Robichaux explained as we videotaped one fish after another coming aboard his boat this morning.  “According to what my guys (guides) and I are seeing, weekend anglers would be wise to tie on either a smoke-glitter or plain white beetle and fish it on a quarter-ounce unpainted leadhead jig under a popping or chugging cork. 

“It’s not hardcore science, but we’re noticing that early morning and late evening seem to be the best fishing times.  Of course, I’m certain that as we move deeper and deeper into the fall patterns that may very well change to include all day fishin’.”

Robichaux also stressed that “under the birds” right now might not be THE place to fish.  And the logic is easily understood.

“In late fall, the biology indicates that when trout are schooling and the birds find them, the size of individual fish inside the school is most often very small.  Not always, mind you, but for most of the time.  To stay under the flocks and work over the schools of juveniles will serve only to prematurely kill a lot of young fish, since at that size catch-and-release is usually always detrimental. . .fatal is the word I’m looking for!

“So if you find yourself in a school under a flock, and you make four or five nice casts, and you catch four or five little ol’ fish, then for God’s sake abandon that location and head out to find bigger fish elsewhere.  You really need to leave the little guys undisturbed and give them time to grow up to frying size.  Which usually takes only about a month or so.”

In the meantime, however, the Barataria watershed is large enough—no, make that immense enough—to find loads of other places to fish, ,  .and for bigger keeper trout.  Oh, yeah, and if you’re looking for the ultimate trip, once you work your way through the trout, shift gears and move in close to the shoreline and collect yo’sef a mess (a full 5-fish limit) of reds.

All you need to do is drift about 20 yards off the bank, change over to a popping rig over a hefty 5/0 hook, bait up with market shrimp (or even, once again, your favorite chartreuse or glow-in-the-dark plastic bait on a jighead) and pop it inches off the shoreline following a long but quiet cast.

With even just a little luck, you ought to have no problem adding a limit of reds to your limit of trout!

Just a quick reminder here: There’s a Boy Scout Fishing Rodeo scheduled for this weekend at C-Way Marina in Lower Lafitte.  If you need more information on it, you might want to give the marina staff a call. 

And…

If you’d like to have Capt. Phil take you out to the “hotspots” so you can tear ‘em up right from the get-go, you can call him at 504-689-8828 to book a charter.  But as always, it’s always first come first served.

Meanwhile, this weekend go catch a bunch but be sure to play by the rules.  And be safe and courteous out there!

Frank Davis

Editor’s Note:   Next Thursday Frank will be on special assignment, so if you want up-to-the-minute information feel free to call the various marinas across southeast Louisiana.