Geoghegan trout game plan

When it gets cold enough, trout stack up in Geoghegan Canal.

Increase your chances of speckled trout success at this renowned winter fishing spot

As winter drudges on, anglers are shrugging off the cold and heading to a canal that has been producing wintertime speckled trout for decades — Geoghegan Canal. Located in Slidell, Geoghegan Canal stretches two miles, starting in the Rigolets and dead-ending near Hwy 90. But it’s not its length that makes the canal a speck magnet; it’s the depth! The canal is man-made, meaning it contains holes upwards of 30 feet deep.

In winter, still water equals warmer water! Another bonus that makes the canal a wintertime producer is that it’s a one-way canal, meaning there’s no water flowing from one body of water to another since it is landlocked at the eastern end.

Find the holes

When fishing Geoghegan Canal in February, it’s all about fishing deep water. The canal has a variety of depths that can take time to learn, but once you know where the deeper sections are, it’s game on! While there are numerous deep areas, Double Bayou Lagoon, which connects the Geoghegan Canal to West Double Bayou and East Double Bayou, has a ledge that drops from 10 to 30 feet. The ledge is located along the northeastern shoreline of the lagoon and has been producing quality trout this month.

No need for shrimp

With the water being cold and clear, there’s no need to waste time with live shrimp. The hot bait this month has been a Limbo Slice Matrix Shad on a 3/8 or 1/4-ounce jighead. Another technique that has been gaining steam in Southeast Louisiana is the drop-shot rig. It seems more and more people are trying it, and it’s for one reason — it works! The popular drop-shot rig this month has been any Fluke Jr-style plastic, nose-hooked on an in-line hook with a 1-ounce sinker.

Vary your retrieve

While the standard “pop-pop and drop” has been producing fish this month, it’s important to change things up if that technique comes up empty. A common theme among anglers all winter has been “when I changed my retrieve, I started catching fish.” A slow, tight line retrieve — reeling up fast and letting the lure drop — and barely dragging it along the bottom are all techniques that are working.

Beware of the birds

No need for live shrimp this month. Geoghegan Canal is loaded with big trout biting on plastic!

Diving birds often serve as an indicator that there are fish underneath. But this month, anglers have been reporting smaller trout underneath the birds. Don’t let that action take you away from what you came for — big trout! Geoghegan is producing some of the biggest specks we’ve seen since 2016 with the average angler boxing trout ranging from 16-20 inches with a few fish over 21 inches long.

Cover water

When fishing Geoghegan this month, electronics will be your best friend. If there’s nothing on the screen, keep moving. Nothing is spread out right now, making it harder to find the fish, but when you do, you can load the box. Look for bait balls on the bottom — the brighter, the better!

You’ve still got a month to fish Geoghegan before the weather begins to warm up, after that, these trout will start to spread out and move into the Rigolet’s. Follow this game plan for February, and maximize your chances of success on this legendary winter fishing spot.