Fish deep, fish slow in February
Capt. Scott Poche’ (504-915-0392) said February is, without a doubt, the toughest month of the year for Lafitte anglers.
“It’s cold, it’s, windy and the water is low and dirty,” Poche’ said. “It makes for tough, but not impossible, fishing conditions.
“The problem is the cold fronts blow through about every three days in February. Those brisk, northerly winds blow the water out of the marsh, so you’re faced with low, dirty water conditions — and its cold.”
That doesn’t mean fish can’t be caught, however.
“I’ll target a few areas where we can usually find some redfish,” Poche’ said. “The Texaco Canal system will hold reds, but many of the canals have silted in at the mouths, so be careful. You’ll have to focus on the deeper ones with enough water for access.
“The northern shorelines of Three Bayou Bay, Bay Long and Bay Round will be more protected from the north winds, and you should also be able to catch some reds along the rocks and the wall in Bayou Rigolets.”
Poche’ said he’ll use market shrimp or Gulps (pearl, natural and molting colors) under corks in the pearl, or he’ll drag them slowly off the bottom.
“If we get a break from the fronts and we go a few days without one, the water in the marsh will come up, the weather will moderate a bit and the trout will show up in some of the bays,” he said. “I’ll hunt them in the Pen, in Bayou Rigolets, Bay L’Ours and Brussels, and I’ll fish them mostly under a popping cork.
“Just remember: The fish are also cold, and that makes them lethargic, so don’t be in a hurry this month. Slow down. Fish slower, fish deeper and don’t be in a hurry to move.”
Poche’ said he’ll toss H&H beetles in glow or any light colors — or lemonhead Matrix Shads — for the trout.
