The lowdown on Lafitte specks

Small-trout rep bucked this month

Lafitte is a popular destination for anglers across the coast because it’s so close for many fishermen, particularly for those who reside in New Orleans.

However, one of the major pitfalls of the area is the size of the speckled trout: It has a reputation for housing specks that go back into the water rather than in the grease.

But the area doesn’t deserve that mark this month, Capt. Lane Zimmer said.

“Usually in October, the bigger trout from offshore move in, and the first group of trout that come in are some really nice fish — 18 to 22 inches,” the veteran guide said.

Having said that, the wave of fish doesn’t last forever, particularly if you’re fishing a pressured part of Lafitte, according to Zimmer.

“After a while, they get caught and people pick through them, and then the (average) fish is going to be 12 to 14 inches,” he said.

In October, he often fishes Little Lake and some of the northern bays in Lafitte. In those places, he lets the water depth determine the technique he uses.

“On some of the deeper parts in Little Lake, we’re going to do a lot of tight-lining,” Zimmer said. “When we go up on the reefs, we do a lot of fishing with corks.”

He favors Ghost Minnows threaded on jigheads, and he finds the fat Tuesday color to work best this time of year.

October sees its fair share of fronts, and Zimmer said it’s imperative to change your location after a front.

“Right before a front, when everything is calm, you can fish wherever you want, but once the front blows through with winds out of the north, you have to fish the north side of bays, lakes, ponds or wherever you’re fishing because that’s where the clean water is,” he said.

Zimmer spends more time targeting trout than reds in October, but that doesn’t mean he can’t bump into the occasional red.

Because of this, he uses gear that is sufficient for redfish: a Duckett Ghost medium-heavy rod and 30-pound braid.

“The medium-heavy isn’t so much for the trout, but it’s for when you run into a redfish,” Zimmer said. “The Ducketts aren’t a very stiff rod. There’s still a lot of action to it.”

About Joel Masson 177 Articles
Joel Masson is an avid angler who has fished South Louisiana his whole life. He lives in Mandeville and can be reached at Joel.masson19@gmail.com.