The trick to September success is to narrow the search for areas where trout will congregate, ignoring the rest of the vast stretches of water in the area, Capt. Sean Cady said.
If you’re not heading out to the Black Bay community holes, you can start the search for trout on the edges of the marsh.
“When these fish begin their transition towards the inside, the first place they’ll show up is the big fringe bays: Lake Campo, Bay Lafourche and Oak River Bay are some of my favorite target areas,” Cady said. “I especially like to fish around the Oak River Bay area islands: Jessie’s Island, Gallega Island, and over to Belle Island — anywhere I know where there are some points with a good shell bottom.”
But even along this fringe there are particular hotspots, he said.
“You find current moving around those points, that’s where the fish will be,” Cady explained.
Shrimp is the way to go to begin building your box.
“Live shrimp is a no-brainer, but I also like to use plastics once I find the fish,” he said. “DOAs and other shrimp imitations are good fished under a cork, and topwater baits can be excellent in the early mornings if the water isn’t rough.”
The other areas you definitely want to remember in September are the passes. Any of the deeper passes where trout transition from the outside to the inside is a good bet because they are the interstate highways migrating trout will travel.
And if you dangle a bait in front of them as they pass by it’s like a McDonald’s sign on the side of the road — irresistible to kids and adults, especially when they’re hungry.