According to scientists at the National Weather Service, large El Nino events create colder-than-normal weather in the months of February and March. If that prediction holds true, it’s good news for “rainbeaux trout” anglers.
The cold-water species has been stocked in municipal ponds in Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Walker, Hammond, Lafayette, and Chalmette.
By now they should’ve acclimated to a diet of bugs. The trout will be feeding off the edges of pond banks in the afternoon on hatches of craneflies and midges. Any dry fly that roughly matches the size and color will work.
This also is prime time for crappie. On most days, casting and stripping a weighted fly like a Fluff Butt, Crappie Candy, Clouser Minnow, or small Charlie will work. If not, add a strike indicator and work the fly close to docks, trees and brushpiles. Remember to twitch it slow.
Striper action kicks off this month on False River, Lake St. John, Concordia, Indian Creek and Claiborne. Best action is late in the afternoon on clousers and weighted deceivers. Look for the surface activity as they bust into schools of shad, and then cast, strip fast and hold on.
Fly anglers looking for pre-spawn bass should choose large flies that can be worked slowly over possible bedding areas. A few of my favorites include Seaducers, Near-Nuff Crawfish, Magnum Woolybuggers, Fleeing Crawfish and Pat Cohen’s Creature.
On the coast, algae and grass are setting up in ponds — and that means clear water. Pick a calm and sunny day and look for bait. Once you find bait, you’ll spot the “pumpkins” — bright orange-colored redfish. Try dark-colored spoon flies, Tiger Toads, black Charlies and Whitlock Baitfish.
