Falling river good news for anglers
Redfish have been the star of the Buras stage throughout the summer, but this month should add speckled trout to the mix for anglers heading to the fishing village south of New Orleans.
“I think September will be off the chart,” veteran fishing guide Capt. Ryan Lambert said. “As soon as the (Mississippi) river hits the 3-foot range, the water will clean up and the fishing will turn on on both sides (of the river).”
The owner of Cajun Fishing Adventures said his crew has been pounding redfish that have crowded the marshes on both sides of Highway 23.
“Trout (have been) very limited,” Lambert said in early August. “The wind has been horrendous.”
Redfish, on the other hand, have been prowling tight to the banks of the larger bays.
“You have to be on your toes on an incoming tide,” Lambert said. “(Redfish) are on the bank, and if you’re not (casting right) on the bank, you’re not going to catch them.”
That will continue this month, with clearing water as the Mississippi River falls opening up the possibility of sight-fishing, he said.
“Bull reds will be off the chain until the full moon — then they’ll head out to spawn,” the guide said. “One day they’ll be gone for a week, and then they’ll show back up.”
Dead shrimp are always deadly on redfish, but you should also be able to catch them on artificials.
“Topwaters and ChatterBaits have been killer,” Lambert reported.
Adding to that action should be a wave of speckled trout — especially if the wind lays down.
Plenty of specks should gang up around rigs in 15 to 18 feet of water, and along the beaches on the edges of the marshes.
“If you get the mullet on the beaches with this river going down, it should be good,” Lambert said.
Live bait will definitely produce, but it’s not necessary. Lambert said plastics either tight-lined or under corks will put plenty of fish in the boat.
“I have schooled them with that (Z-Man) Trout Trick,” Lambert said.
Productive colors include shrimp po-boy and iquana daiquiri.
