Trout aplenty and redfish galore
The word from Capt. Nick “Fishaholic” Rando (504-281-8287) is that the fishing is fantastic and there’s action to be found all over the inside waters of Delacroix Island.
“December forces us to fish according to what the fronts give us,” he said. “They blow through with some frequency, and we adjust accordingly. December is generally a mixture of moderate days and some cold ones, so fish the bottom on the colder mornings in deeper water like Oak River and False River, and any of the deeper water choke points where the water funnels in and out of larger bodies of water. The key to success on those days is two-fold: One, make sure you get your bait all the way to the bottom. Use a heavier sinker or jighead than usual, and remember this: If you don’t get to the bottom, you won’t catch fish — period. And two, once you get to the bottom, fish even slower than you think necessary. Don’t reel in, don’t do huge hops off the bottom with big lifts of your rod, just make small lifts and then let the bait settle to the bottom again. Slow down and catch fish. And a free tip: Braided line and a sensitive rod will really help you feel the softer, cold water trout bite.
“Then, on moderate weather days or as the cold morning warms, move to shallower bays and nearby ledges and flats. This is when you want to fish areas like Pointe Fienne, Bay Jack Nevette, Bakers Bay and Little Crevasse; areas that hold 3 to 5 feet of water. Now you switch to a Four-Horsemen cork rig and hang a live shrimp, or try a Matrix plastic in either shrimp creole or the lemonhead color. I’ve also had great success with the double-rigged H&H Glass Minnows in clear or white.
Warm December fishing
“If we get a warm December, you’ll be able to catch fish closer to the dock in Little Lake, Bayou Long, Alligator Pass and Grand Lake. I like to fish 50 to 100 feet off the bank with the wind to my back and just cast and drift or troll, with those same baits under a cork. You should bump into some trout and possibly reds, as well. Stick your anchor and try to sit on the action when you find it, and resume your drift when the action dies.”
Capt. Nick said reds are plentiful along the shorelines in those same lakes and bays, and also in areas like Lake Batola and Lost Lake.
“The key to finding reds this month is to let them find you,” he said. “You’ll catch some trolling and casting, but you’ll catch more fish and you’ll catch them more consistently when you park at a cut or cove or point and soak a live or dead shrimp under a cork. Give it 15 minutes to pay off. If you catch reds, stay longer. If not, move. Keep at it and you’ll have a successful day.”
