Salinity levels improving
 Keith Lusher Jr
Let’s face it; this summer has been a bust for Lake
Pontchartrain fisherman. A cold spring followed by high river levels in the
pearl and adjacent rivers has put the kybosh on what is normally known as a
great time to catch speckled trout. It
just goes to show how things can change from year to year. It was just last
year that I can recall a certain trip where I “only” caught 12 trout in the mouth
of the Tchefuncte River. A double digit trout trip these days would be
considered a successful trip and have me heading back out as soon as I saved up
another sick leave day. Things are changing for the better however. Salinity
levels are ticking up and anglers are starting to see a more active scene on
the water’s surface. Baitfish running and shrimp popping are some really good
signs that we are in store for a great fall speckled trout run this year. Jeff
Cook of Covington is an avid Lake Pontchartrain speckled trout angler and he
has been noticing a change lately. “I am seeing more bait around as the month
progresses. Mullet are everywhere as well as small schools of glass minnows.
Small crabs are all over the place. I’ve even had a shrimp jump into my kayak. I
finally started catching ladyfish west of the Causeway this weekend and last.
They supposedly only like salt in their drink so maybe good times are near!” Jeff
said.
One thing that has been consistent this summer is the redfish bite. Anglers are routinely limiting out on redfish along the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Duck-ponds, small cuts, and sandy shorelines are proving to hold high numbers of reds and should be targeted. Below are some hotspots that could help you on your next trip. Treasure Island Shoreline
 Austin Veillette and his keeper redfish
The shoreline that runs in between the Hwy 90 Bridge and
Treasure Island subdivision is producing good numbers of redfish and is a
perfect stretch of water to escape the west winds we have been having lately.
Sight fishing has been the preferred way to catch redfish here. Anglers are wedging the nose of their boats
into the marsh and fishing away from the bank. Look for redfish cruising the
shoreline approximately 20 yards out. Throw Matrix Shad Ultraviolet on a 1/4 oz.
jig head. Gold spoons have also been a favorite as of late. This is a great
afternoon fishing spot when the west winds are howling due to the fact that the
clean water attracts the fish as the day progresses.
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Goose Point
Located two miles west of Bayou Lacombe, Goose Point offers anglers a hard sandy bottom which often equates to cleaner water. Redfish cruise this stretch routinely in search for small crabs, mullet, and cocahoe minnows. Fish the edge of the sandbar where the water drops from 4-6 feet to 12-14 feet. Anglers are finding success with live mullet, cracked crab, and live shrimp under a popping cork.
Bayou Bonfouca
On a high tide, there’s nothing better than easing into a duck pond and sight fishing for reds. Bayou Bonfouca is peppered with small cuts and ditches that lead into shallow duck ponds that provide anglers solitude away from the crowds. Look for grass growing in these ponds. With the grass come cleaner water and a sanctuary for smaller bait fish and crabs. Redfish scower these grass beds in search of food and you’ll be able to spot them “tailing.” In these shallow ponds it’s important to fish with lighter lures. Toss the jig heads to the side and rig your lures weightless. Throw Matrix Shad in the Shrimp Creole color on a bare hook accompanied by a gold clip-on spinner and hang on!
Shallow duck ponds like these can be productive on a high tide
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Lake Pontchartrain speckled trout may be in survival mode.
Speckled trout season off to slow start on Northshore
Beat the crowds, find less stressed waters!
Got your backup plan?
Finally some stability on the Northshore!
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