While it requires some effort, experiencing turkey hunting success on small properties can be a reality if birds visit the property on a regular basis in response to good habitat management.
Anglers heading out to fish the Hopedale area in the next few days will find that the redfish bite is really strong. Captain Charlie Thomason with Bayou Charters (504-278-FISH) said, “They’re not in super shallow water, but it seems like it because the tide is so low right now.”
Thomason pointed out Lake Ameda, Hopedale Lagoon and Lake Robin as being three of the best places to fish. However, he added that the fish seem really stacked in Lake Robin, and that they were congregating along the calm banks all around the lake.
“If the wind has been flowing out of the same direction for more than a day, the reds are stacking up on the leeward shorelines in Lake Robin,” Thomason said. “And all they’re doing when the wind changes directions is moving to the new leeward shore. Just circle around Lake Robin to find the calm water, and you should find some reds.”
Anglers should also try fishing close to the openings of Bayou Robin, Bayou Batola and Bottle Lagoon. Thomason explained that reds have been congregating around these openings within 100 yards in either direction.
“Look for the slicks and you’ll find the schooling reds,” Thomason continued. “They’re not true slicks because they’re made more from all the milling reds pushing water toward the surface. It kind of boils up and makes small slicks on the surface. You can see them pushing a little bit, but it’s been so cold there’s not a lot of that going on.”
Thomason recommended anglers fish with the larger 1/2-, 5/8- and 3/4-ounce gold spoons. Other than that, it doesn’t take much more than fishing a live minnow under a cork.
“The trout are big time right now on the MirrOlure Catch 5 and MirrOdine XL,” Thomason said. “We’ve even been catching some on topwaters. It just seems like the bite is best on the hard baits, but you’re going to have to do a lot of drifting because the trout are scattered… you’ve got to get off the anchor.”
If you’re willing to put in the time to fish for quality trout rather than numbers, Thomason said to go about 45 feet off the southwest shoreline of Lake Amedee. Also try drifting Bay Cochon, which is the bay that goes back toward the Reggio Canal at the top of Amadee.
