Bass fishing best in deep water on Grand Bayou
Automobile dealer Jerry Hester of Red River Parish lives near and fishes Grand Bayou regularly.
“The lake is in fine shape, with some water flowing over the spillway — although it may be back to normal by June,” Hester said. “I like to bass fish here, and I’ve caught some good ones up to 10 pounds on the lake.
“In June, look for the bass to be bunched up on the humps and deeper points, and I’ll throw a Carolina rig or a crankbait. You can also pick up some good fish early and late in the day on topwater lures.
“Crappie fishing should be pretty good here in June, with gray jigs and shiners working best around the deeper tops where the fish will be suspended.
“The bream will be bedded, and you can catch plenty of them in the shallows on crickets and worms.
Red River North
Bandit Lures pro staff member Russ McVey said the early summertime patterns will start to come into play on the river in June.
“Try these techniques in the timber between the oxbows and the main river,” McVey said. “Bass will likely go for a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce white or white chartreuse spinnerbait or buzzbait, which will be a good producer around the shallow cover early and late in the day.
“Remember to look for the grass and pad mixtures when fishing this pattern.”
After sunrise, the pattern will likely change, and McVey likes to fish a Bandit chartreuse/black back or chartreuse/blue back Flat Maxx crankbait.
“These baits should produce some action in the timber,” he said. “If the main river is not too muddy, I might try a Bandit 100 series or the Bandit Flat Maxx (fire-tiger pattern) around the jetties in the river. You can also do well with a Texas-rigged plastic worm or creature bait; I like something in a watermelon and chartreuse combination.
“If you want to give the crappie a try, fish the standing timber on the ridges in the oxbows with shiners or jigs in 7 to 12 foot of water. Bream fishing will be going strong on the beds, with worms and crickets picking up plenty of bluegills.”
To read more fishing reports from across the state, pick up a copy of the June issue of Louisiana Sportsman today. Digital editions can also be downloaded right to your computer or smartphone.