Capt. Chris Danos’ fall fishing tactics are simple.
• “First and foremost, fish the falling tide. In the summer months the tide is generally rising in the morning and falling in the afternoon. That’ll all switch around in the fall and it’ll be falling every morning and rising in the afternoon.
“You want to fish the falling tide in the morning if you want to catch fish fast. You can still catch fish on a rising tide, but it’ll be a much slower bite.”
• “Second, you want to drift. Unless you know a spot that is a definite producer, I suggest you drift until you bump into some fish, and then put down the Power Pole or Cajun anchor. I get off a point within a long cast from shore and then I just drift with the wind or tide.
“Use your trolling motor just enough to control your direction, and have everyone cast on all sides of the boat. When you catch some trout, stick there and see if you can put some numbers in the boat.”
• “Third, don’t be as eager to move in the fall as you are in the summer. In the summer I give a spot a few minutes to produce and then I move. In the fall, I try not to be as antsy, especially when I’ve just caught a couple fish in a spot. If you put a few in the boat and the action slows or stops, give it five or 10 more minutes to start up again. I find that in the fall, it often does, and the second flurry of activity can add a bunch of fish to your box.”
• “I do have a couple other words of advice for fall success at the Pointe. Look for birds, look for signs of bait in the water, and take off your cork and try tight-lining plastic in the deeper passes, especially the pass between 2nd and 3rd bays, where you’re liable to find some nice-sized white trout in the 15- to 20-foot depths. And if you want to catch redfish, just park at a point in any of those same bays and soak a shrimp under a cork. It couldn’t be any easier.”
For information on Capt. Chris Danos’ guide trips, call (504) 606-6223.
