Captain Mike Daigle with Cast-It Charters (985-331-8548) doesn’t expect to find too many trout in Lake Salvador during the winter because they are usually gone before it gets too cold. However, things are different this year, and he’s been finding pockets of trout throughout the lake. “They’re not biting all the time,” said Daigle, “but they’re still there, and if you’re there when they’re biting, you’ll catch plenty. There are a few on the east side from the south end to the north end where people come in from Perot. Just fish down the shoreline and around the rock edge. The Christmas Tree area is also holding a few. It’s the same thing coming from the Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands side too.”
Both ends of The Pen are also holding fish. There isn’t too much going on in the middle according to Daigle. He’s been catching fish on the north side on a north wind and on the south side on a south wind.
“We’ve actually fishing the trout under a cork,” he said. “It’s been working even with the wind and dirty water. They seem to be suspended because of the water temperature and the water clarity, so we’re going about 12 to 18 inches under the cork. Anything chartreuse is working well right now.”
Daigle reported most of the trout are running anywhere from 14 to 16 inches with an occasional 17 to 18 inch fish. The throwbacks are biting early, and then the better fish start biting later in the day.
Daigle said that the diversions are running and that the water is up against both shorelines. This is changing things on a daily basis. The key is to stay on the move to find the pogie and mullet, which will usually have pockets of fish nearby.
“We’re also banging a few reds in The Pen,” said Daigle. “There are some in Salvador, too. Most of them are oversize, but they sure are fun to catch and turn loose. We’re finding loose schools of 15 to 20 at a time. Check the shoreline on the north and south depending on which side you come in on. They’re eating the same chartreuse baits as the specks. If the water clears up any, I’d suggest going to a glow/chartreuse. We’re not corking the reds, though.”
Daigle said the key to catching the specks or reds is being patient when fishing between these fronts. You’re likely to catch one day but not get a bite the next day fishing the same place and doing the same thing.
