Features
Old-school jetty trout-fishing tactic
It’s no secret that jetties attract speckled trout, which hide in the rocks and feed on bait washing by. Here’s how you can find fishing spots on the rocks. […]
Articles by John McQueen
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Rock candy — How to fish jetties and load up on trout
It wasn’t the size of the white caps nor the impact they had on the 24-foot bay boat. Both were negligible in the comfort of the ride as we traversed the open water that solid land dominated only 20 years ago — maybe less.
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Last stop — How to fish east of Cocodrie in a small boat
Let’s start with a confession: I have an issue with hard-headedness. It spans well beyond fishing, but for this purpose we’ll focus on fishing — specifically the lifelong pursuit of all things speckled trout.
Inshore Fishing
How to use crankbaits for Pointe a la Hache trout
Chris Danos is a dyed-in-the-wool cork fisherman when throwing artificial baits. And his results in putting fish on the cleaning table more than offset any thoughts that he should radically change his approach.
Offshore Fishing
Don’t forget a bait rod
Collecting live bait is an important element of offshore success. And, while the relatively stiff spinning rods used to horse hefty mangroves out of underwater steel jungles can be rigged with sabikis, they’re not always the best choices.
Offshore Fishing
Pelligrin’s go-to weapon
If there ever was an irreplaceable go-to weapon for Pellegrin in plying the vast Gulf waters off Terrebonne Parish, you’d probably never guess it in a hundred tries.
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Short-hop specks
Tucked cozily near the end of the inhabited east bank of Plaquemines Parish is Pointe a la Hache. And, largely forgotten by many, Beschel’s Marina is the gateway to incredibly fertile speckled trout fishing grounds virtually year round.
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Offshore options
Offshore fishing to the west of Venice is a different game altogether. Variety is the name of the game in Southeast Louisiana ports such as Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and Cocodrie, where runs to the storied yellowfin tuna grounds are seen as untenably long.
Inshore Fishing
Deep trout-fishing option
As endless as the shallow-water trout fishing options are to the east of the Houma Navigation Canal are, those choosing to fish bigger — though just as accessible — water in the same general area shouldn’t feel left out.
Inshore Fishing
Best baits for Cocodrie’s spring specks
Finding healthy numbers of late-spring speckled trout in the eastern Terrebonne estuary is one thing. Tempting them to bite is quite another — something that tends to change seemingly day by day.
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Small-boat Cocodrie — How to catch trout without a big boat
Summertime speckled trout fishing in lower Terrebonne parish has long been lauded as some of the most-consistent action in terms of sheer numbers of fish.
Inshore Fishing
Poe’s personal best fly-caught speck
Capt. Jeff Poe doesn’t hesitate when naming his most memorable fly-caught speckled trout of his life.
Inshore Fishing
Old-school flies are best for trout, Poe says
When it comes to flies, Capt. Jeff Poe is decidedly old school.
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Fly lessons — Tips for catching lunker Big Lake trout with flies
It’s no secret that the cool-weather months are one of the best times to fish for trophy speckled trout because fish roam the shallows and there’s less boat pressure than the busy summer months.
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Offshore STARs —How to win the tournament’s offshore categories
A staple in the summertime plans of many Louisiana saltwater anglers has been CCA Louisiana’s Statewide Tournament and Anglers Rodeo, a summer-long, multi-weigh station event stretching from the Texas state line all the way to Mississippi.
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Wading Wonderland — Wade-fishing tips for Big Lake, Sabine Lake specks
You won’t find too many speckled trout anglers who like wind. Wind muddies the water. Wind makes even simple things more difficult.