Speckled trout are thick along this popular bridge.
One of the worst kept secrets in Southeast Louisiana is that the bridges across Lake Pontchartrain have turned on early this year.
Most people know about trolling the Causeway, but if that’s not your cup of tea, head to the train trestle over on the eastern side of the lake. Some anglers have already landed trout over 5 pounds off this community hole.
“It looks like we’re going to have a great spring,” said trestle regular John Kendrick who goes by LSU1again on the LouisianaSportsman.com reports forums. Kendrick has already landed two trout around 5 1/2 pounds, and he says when the temperature is warm and the sun comes and stays out the fish have been biting.
I hopped in the boat with Kendrick and fellow forum user Travis Miller, a.k.a. tmiller20, on Monday (March 7). The post cold front conditions made the bite a little sporadic, but we still found 31 fish – a combination of speckled trout, flounder and redfish – willing to bite.
Most fish were caught on lemon drop and avocado glow Hybrid Flurry minnows rigged on 3/8-ounce lead-head jigs. No one particular retrieve worked best. Kendrick and Miller got bit swimming their baits just off the bottom and hopping them off bottom. My son even landed a trout swimming his bait just under the surface.
“I will vary to try to locate them,” Kendrick concluded. “I will pop it high off the bottom just to see if the fish are suspended, but they’ve been still kind of lethargic. They’re still laying on the bottom. I like to swim it this time of year rather than pop it a whole lot.”
Check out our Inshore Fishing reports forum for up-to-date user fishing reports, and be sure and post pictures and details from each of your trips. If you aren’t already a registered user, just sign up to get started today!
