September’s best kayaking bets

The goal of this new feature is to provide the best available information for monthly hotspots for kayak-friendly fresh and saltwater areas across the region. Due to the lag time from information to print, weather conditions can change the bite so check in regularly with LouisianaSportsman.com for the latest updates.

Freshwater

Harbuck Outdoor Sports is the go-to spot for kayak fishermen in North Louisiana and the entire Ark-La-Tex region. Based in Shreveport, owner Adam Harbuck has his finger on the pulse of the area’s kayak fishing gathered from personal trips and information from his many customers.

What: Bass

Where: Caddo Lake

How: Fish jigs, soft plastics and topwater lures around the biggest, deepest, lone cypress trees you can find. The fish are holding on the larger, solitary trees, so don’t waste time throwing to the groves of smaller trees. Pedal kayaks are a big help to silently move from big tree to big tree. Bass are chasing shad in the open water and bayous. Shad colored jerk baits and top waters will produce, as will a Rat-L-Trap.

Launch: Drift-Inn Landing in Mooringsport on the lower end of the lake. Bait, tackle, snacks and food. $5 ‘yak launch fee.

Shady Rest Landing at the end of Shady Rest Road off of LA-1 just north of Oil City. Crude launch with a grass parking lot. No services, but don’t forget to drop the $5 launch fee in the honor box hung on a tree.

Insider tip: Drift-Inn Landing has the best cheeseburgers on the lake.

Saltwater

When it comes to coastal kayak fishing in Louisiana, Grand Isle reigns as king. With the part-timers and vacationers mostly gone, fishing pressure at the island drops off significantly after the Labor Day weekend. Now’s the time for the ‘yak trip of a lifetime.

What: Bull reds and Jack Crevalle

Where: Grand Isle. Caminada Pass on the west end and Barataria Pass on the east end.

How: Bulls and Jacks are voracious eaters and hit a wide variety of artificial, live and natural baits. Use large topwater plugs with good hooks for heart-stopping explosions. Carolina-rigged cracked crab, chunks of cut mullet, ladyfish and white trout all do the trick. Freeline a live croaker or white trout into the current or cast to fish busting the surface. Large curly tail plastics, especially Gulp, rigged on heavy jigheads are great for casting to schooling fish or deep dropping to fish spotted on the fishfinder. Look for bait showers and diving birds to give up their whereabouts if there are no visual sightings. Fishfinders are invaluable for locating schools of deep fish that otherwise go unnoticed. Medium to medium-heavy rods with 40- to 50-pound braid help get these fish to the yak in a reasonable, but still long amount, of time. If conditions allow, fight the fish from an unanchored kayak for an exciting ride and quicker landing.

Launch: For Caminada Pass, launch at Bridge Side Marina to your right as soon as you come off the bridge. For Barataria Pass, travel across the island to the east end and launch at Sand Dollar Marina. Both marinas have supplies, food, bait and room rentals. $5 kayak launch fees at both.

Insider tip: Obey all speed and traffic laws while traversing the island and particularly in Golden Meadow on the way their band back. If the passes are too rough to fish, launch at the Kristen & Danny Wray Kayak Launch, located mid-island at the end of Ludwig Road. Fish the rocks, reef, and around Fifi Island.

About Chris Holmes 252 Articles
Chris Holmes has kayak fished in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and many places in between.