Bass-fishing tournament proves the Mississippi River is restocking area.
It is hard to think of catchy line to announce the news about Venice: Bass fishing is making a comeback. Several club tournaments and reporters are beginning to see an upswing on Venice bass.
Hurricane Isaac did a number on the lower Mississippi Delta, but Mother Nature has a way of repopulating an area. Immediately after the storm, reports were dismal to total devastation. But never underestimate the power of the mighty Mississippi and the amount of sediment, food and fish she moves in a few short months.
The Ascension Area Anglers Bass Club is well-known around the state as a talent-loaded club; members’ accolades include Federation Nation team members, Classic participants and B.A.S.S. Club Championship winners.
So instead of backing away from Venice due to all the negative reports, the club kept their tournament on the schedule to finally put to rest the question that Venice bass fishing was totally gone for the next few year.
Members Gerald Spohrer and Levitt Hamilton brought over 15 pounds of Mississippi Delta bass to the scales recently for a win.
Spohrer, recent winner of the Pro Bass Challenge Shoot Out in the Atchafalaya Basin, reported the fishing day as a pleasant surprise. With all the negative reports the past few months, many anglers expected 10 pounds to win. But, although fishing was not as great as before the storm, club members brought in limits of bass during the event.
Each angler could weigh in three fish for a total of six fish per boat. A solid 2 ½-pound average is below Venice standards, but great news for future spawning classes. Anglers reported catching an average of 20 bass per boat.
For anglers who love to chase the green fish, this is big news.
Spohrer and Hamilton combined Missile D Bomb plastics and Delta Lures spinnerbaits to find the winning fish. Although tightlipped about exact location, main-river canes and cuts produced the best.
Spohrer, who will compete as a non-boater in next year’s Federation National Championship, flipped plastics into canes and worked the spinnerbaits around points with current. Ponds seemed to be devoid of cover and fish due to the storm’s surge.
Anglers also reported that bass were scattered — but several would be landed in quick succession.
It appears the Mississippi is pushing fish from up river or deeper water into lower stretches in a natural restocking program.
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