It’s rainbeaux trout time in Louisiana. Each winter, East Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes stock selected ponds with this coldwater species. In addition, LDWF now stocks ponds as part of their Get Out and Fish! community fishing program.
For 2016, stocked ponds include Girard Park in Lafayette, Zemurray Park in Hammond and Torres Park in Chalmette.
It takes a week or so for the fish to discover that aquatic bugs and minnows provide a lot more nutrition than marshmallows. When they do, try a 5-weight rod and woolybuggers or wet flies. Also, beadhead flies like prince nymphs and hares ears under a small strike indicator will do well.
For those looking for trout in a mountain-type setting, the Mountain Fork near Broken Bow, Okla., and Little Missouri near Murfreesboro, Ark., are less than three hours from Shreveport. And winter is prime stocking season. While wading these frigid waters isn’t easy, the reward can be 30-plus-fish days.
Louisiana’s native trout — the saltwater variety — will be active on warm, sunny afternoons along shallow flats. Cast poppers along the edges of drop-offs for bigger fish.
On colder days, use dark-colored Clousers and Whitlock baitfish in deeper areas. It pays to have an intermediate or sink-tip line to get the fly down to holding fish.
Darker flies also are the ticket for putting reds in the box this month. Toss a black charlie, rootbeer spoonfly or purple Haleys Comets to a cruising red tail, and that fish could well be a bull red.
The “redzillas” love to overwinter our marsh.
