Fishing Report for November 5, 2009

• By JOE MACALUSO
• Advocate Outdoors writer
• Published: Nov 5, 2009 - Page: 10C

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For the first time in a month, the weekend comes without rain — but with lots of east and southeast wind.

That hasn’t stopped the action east of the Mississippi River in the past month, but you’ll have to contend with high water and water in parking lots at most landings on the east side and in the Lake Pontchartrain area.

For the most past, rain and high rivers have put freshwater catches on hold.

Weather

Moderating with lows in the 50s and highs in the mid-70s with a rising barometer. Rain is in Monday’s forecast. Expect east and southeast winds building from 10 knots Friday to 15-to-25 knots Sunday with 4-to-5 foot-seas nearshore and 6-to-8-footers offshore.

Freshwater

With the major rivers so high, we can disregard the usually productive fall places and concentrate on “small” waters. Clear water and spots where clear water is mixing with muddy water have been productive. With east and southeast winds in the forecast, those areas are going to be tough to find.

In the coastal areas, ponds hold the clearest water and with water levels rising, concentrate on grassbeds in the ponds and use spinnerbaits, soft-plastic and hard-plastic jerkbaits and, when the water warms, topwaters.

The coast

No use in talking about excellent tuna and wahoo catches in this forecast of  heavy seas.

Lake Pontchartrain is hot: Find calmer water (one side or another of the lake) and work the bridges with a blue moon/chartreuse Deadly Dudley Trout Mauler or BayChovey, camo color in the Gulp! Jerk Shad and Natural Shrimp and the lemon drop-colored Hybrid. They continue to lure speckled trout, flounder and drum.

The run on black drum has continued: The Lake and nearby waters in Lake Borgne and Lake St. Catherine have lots of “puppy” drum. Gulp!, the Dudleys and fresh shrimp on a Carolina rig are taking limits (five per day, 16-inch minimum size; only one can exceed 27 inches.)

St. Catherine is loaded with smaller trout (10-to-15 inches) and they’re taking the purple/chartreuse and purple/white cocahoe minnows and Gulp! Shrimp on quarter-ounce jigheads.