Avid bass angler Johnny Watkins loves spending fall days fishing cuts in the central and northern portions of the Calcasieu River.
During a recent fishing trip, he concentrated his efforts near cuts north and south of White Oak Park.
“I like what I am seeing,” Watkins said of the schools of small pogies working along the banks, cuts and tributary bays.
His main approach was to work small natural perch- and shad-colored Storm Chug Bugs in the interior of the cuts and up to 20 yards into the river.
After taking three bass in a couple of the cuts, Watkins started casting a Stanley Ball Buster Buzzbait.
“I really enjoy casting topwaters and buzzbaits,” he said. “They’re very productive in the river in the fall.
Watkins also found schools of baitfish that were under attack by bass and ladyfish in Burnett Bay, Goss Bay and Old Town Bay. The baitfish were hurtling out of the water as bass cut through the schools of fish.
The angler threw the aforementioned Chug Bugs and small baby bass-colored Bandit crankbaits into the fray, catching at least a couple of bass in every location.
“It’s mainly about the cuts,” Watkins said. “The bass become conditioned to the fronts blowing all the water and bait out of the marsh cuts and swamps. Fish the cuts, and key on large structures such as cypress trees and laydowns on the edges.
“The first 20 yards or so on either side of a cut can also be productive. In this area I would throw crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters and jigs.”
Topsy’s Shane Cormier takes a slightly different approach to bass fishing in October and November.
“In October, I would fish it slow with plastics and jigs,” Cormier said. “I would use a Sweet Beaver, and punch this and jigs in and around the grass. I will also use Chug Bugs for bass working baitfish.”
Cormier focuses on the stretch of river from White Oak Park upward toward the Hecker area.
“I fish laydowns and patches of grass in this area,” he said. “I would use the Chug Bug in the cuts, especially when black water is pouring out after rain and frontal systems pass.”
Many of his best bass have been taken on the Chug Bug, Cormier said.
While he prefers targeting vegetation, Cormier keeps his eyes open for other options.
“I’ll also find them schooling up on baitfish in the middle of various sections of the river,” he said. “And I would certainly not pass up offshore structure in 30 feet of water both south and north of White Oak. Cast a Chug Bug on the eddy side of the structures and you can be really surprised about the bass you can catch.
“In the West Fork area, work any structures such as bridge pilings, and there should be bass there.”