You might be surprised to discover what deer are eating on your property.
If you’re looking for a spot to fish this coming weekend, you need to be aware of what’s happening in Lake Borgne. Capt. John Falterman with Therapy Charters says the rigs in Borgne are on fire, and they’ve been giving up huge numbers of speckled trout with some big trout to boot.
“Just to let you know how good the Lake Borgne rigs can get,” Falterman began, “I did 26 full (guide trips) this month last year, and I sat at one rig the entire time. All our fish for 26 days came off one rig.”
Don’t think Falterman and his customers weren’t catching a lot of fish because that’s definitely not the case. We’re talking limits or near-limits of trout with some up to and over five pounds.
“All the rigs are producing right now,” Falterman continued. “Carolina rigged live shrimp have been working well early in the morning, but you can catch fish from sunup to sundown, although my bite has been dwindling off as the day goes on. But if you get out there early, you may hit a 30 minute stretch that produces most of your fish for the day.”
Although he’s been fishing live shrimp most days, Falterman says a Gulp! plastics fished on a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jighead has also been working. He recommended throwing it out by itself and letting it fall down toward the bottom, and then bump it like you would if you were fishing the bridges.
“We’ve also been picking up some fish on a purple Marsh Works Killa Squilla rigged on their jigheads that have the big 4/0 hook in them,” Falterman continued. “Just throw it out, and before it falls within one or two feet, the trout are already eating it.”
Falterman has discovered that the rigs are holding white trout and speckled trout. However, they’ve been holding either all specks or all whites. And when you get on the speck rigs, be prepared to hammer some fish.
“We caught 100 fish just the other day, and out of that, 13 were over 3 1/2 pounds. The biggest was five,” Falterman revealed. “The following day we had 137 trout with the biggest one being a five pound fish. We had 75 just a few days ago, and 83 the Friday before.”
If you’re fishing the rigs and missing a lot of bites on Carolina rigged live shrimp, Falterman said to check your shrimp legs after a missed strike. Croaker will nibble off a shrimp’s legs, and it feels much like a trout bite. If you’re reeling in legless shrimp, change spots because a little change can make a big difference.
“Another thing I like to do if I’m casting into the current is to hook my shrimp in the tail so it looks like a natural shrimp popping with the current,” Falterman concluded. “And if I’m casting down current, I hook my shrimp under the horn to make it look like they’re struggling to swim into the current.
Contact Captain John Falterman at 985-649-FISH or visit www.therapycharters.net.