Many anglers lock different holes into their memory banks for certain times of the year. Others work the same sweet spots over and over through the course of the year. The secret to success lies in the foresight to give the fish what they want, when they want it.
No one understands that theory better than Slidell angler Todd Knight. Having raised his family in Slidell, he has invested many years in learning the Pearl River waterway system. With fall upon us, he targets the West Pearl and Middle River for a consistent bite waged by largemouth bass.
Having survived the oppressive heat, Knight welcomes the cooler temperatures, making fishing more manageable and the bite better. He knows every inch of the West and Middle rivers, and each opportunity of cover and structure remains embedded in his mind like waypoints in a GPS.
Makes him grin
A sparkle in his eye accompanies a mysterious grin when talking bass fishing with Knight, making it known he has no poker face. Undoubtedly, he knows where the bass reside, but is careful not to divulge what he calls his “honey holes.”
However, he quickly offers advice on what anglers should concentrate on. Some target locations might seem difficult to access, but it only proves his theory that one does not need to command a glitter bomb bass boat to find and catch the bass or any other species of fish that call the Pearl system home.
Knight’s recipe for success relies heavily on getting back to the basics, and that includes the boat of choice. His 15-foot G3 flatboat, equipped with a bow mount trolling motor and a 25-horsepower Yamaha outboard, allows him to slip into water that might not seem available to more giant crafts.
While some rely heavily on electronics and an array of gadgets, Knight continues his loyalty to the basics with an early morning start and zeroing in on what he has traditionally identified as prime bass habitat.
“I like to start at daybreak no matter what, but a falling tide is ideal,” Knight said. “I concentrate on casting at the bank, but mouths of the canals hold fish as well.”
Try eight feet
While capturing biting bass sometimes demands a specific bait, Knight lists multiple options to bag a typical catch of four to eight keepers ranging from two to three pounds in size. While swimbaits produce, Knight favors Strike King’s Red Eyed Shad crankbait.
“You want to target about eight feet of water,” Knight said.
When traversing deeper water ranging from 12 to 20 feet, Knight suggests a watermelon-colored worm on a Shaky head with a ¾-ounce weight. This selection, however, can bring challenges.
“It’s hard to feel the bottom, so you have to pay attention to the bite,” he said.
Knight favors fall fishing on the Pearl’s waterways. He feels the cooler temperatures are more enjoyable to experience and increase the bite.
“I like this time of year because the fish are more active,” he said. “That doesn’t mean it will always be easy pickings. You have to slow down and be patient, and then you should enjoy big rewards.”
