Fishing Report for Nov. 6, 2008

• By JOE MACALUSO
• Advocate Outdoors writer
• Published: Nov 6, 2008 - Page: 12C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Another cold front is moving into south Louisiana for the weekend. North winds from recent cold fronts have shoved water from the marshes, and we can expect west-northwest winds to further lower water levels.

That will make larger bayous, canals and lakes prime targets for coastal action.

Weather
Northwest and north winds at 5-to-10 knots inshore and 15-to-20 knots along the coast will put a chop on inside waters (Lake Pontchartrain included) and will push Saturday’s seas into the 2-to-5 foot range. By Sunday, winds will calm and seas will diminish.

Rain is in Friday’s forecast and more rain is expected Tuesday with morning temps near 50 with highs near 70 Saturday through Tuesday. Look to one-tenth foot rises in the already low Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers.

Saltwater
Lake Pontchartrain is a hot spot from the Causeway down the lake’s north shore to the bridges at The Rigolets. There’s a wide range of patterns: Soft-plastic lures in salt-and-pepper and blue moon colors — make sure both have a chartreuse-colored tail (you can color them with dye dips) — and work them around the pilings of all four bridges.

Live shrimp on a Carolina rig work, and Rigolets Marina (U.S. 90) has had them.

Most of the trout are running 2-to-4 pounds with some hitting five pounds.

With shrimp lingering in the lake, birds are working and the soft plastics are working under the birds. As usual, speckled trout are smaller under the birds.

Now for the best part: Redfish, black drum, sheepshead and a few flounder are in the area, too. Fresh shrimp rigged on a jighead or on a Carolina rig are working for these species.

The trick will be to find where on the pilings the fish are feeding. Establishing this pattern is the most difficult part of the fishing day. Once you find where these species are “hanging,” repeating the pattern on other pilings should produce enough strikes to make a solid trip.

Low water levels are slowing catches in the Lafitte area. Bass action is up in that area (grass lines in canals off Lake Salvador and other large lakes are the best places), and redfish are making up most of the action. Speckled trout are in the deeper waters.

Otherwise, the large lakes and deeper canals in the Delacroix, Golden Meadow, Leeville, Cocodrie, Dulac and Theriot areas are holding fish, too.

Freshwater
Clear water in False River has slowed catches. At Old River, sac-a-lait are moving to shallower water around cypress trees on the south end and to the piers on the north end.