Hunters getting ready for final showdown

Ethan Allemand of Larose with a good kill of poule d'eau on opening weekend of the 2nd split.

With deer and duck season running out of days, many hunters are hitting the woods and duck leases for the final showdown.

Duck hunters who hunt in the West Zone have until Sunday, Jan. 23.  The East Zone will stay open another week, until Jan. 30.

Many hunters that have ventured into the Salvador Management Area have had plenty of success. 

"Most hunters killed their limits of ducks, poule d'eau, and coots this season,” according to Pier 90’s harbor master. “The Limited Access Area held huge number of ducks. The LAA worked to its potential.”

Deer hunters,  on the other hand, either hit it big or missed out.  Many hunters braved the cold weather last week in hopes of hunting during the rut. 

"We missed the rut this year or it did not occur,” Jake Noel, a Hahnville High School student and athlete, said. “I'm still waiting for that big boy to walk out.  We will take a picture."

Deer hunters have until Sunday, Jan. 23 to hunt with firearms. Primitive arms last from Jan. 24 until Jan. 30.
Bow hunters will continue, either sex, until Feb.15.

 

Catfish

As for this Crazy Cajun, I received a report last week that catfish were biting in Lake Cataouatche. So, I hooked-up the Bass Tracker and bought a box of worms.  Launching out of Pier 90, I made my way to the cut on the northern side of Lake Cataouatche before the La. Cypress Canal.

I fished on the bottom, 50 yards down current of the deep hole. 

I had rigged a live bait style #3 hook with a ¾ ounce egg weight.  I baited each of the three lines  with earthworms and casted them out. The key to fishing the current is to anchor your boat forward and aft. The boat cannot sway in the current. 

This allows your line to stay tight. 

I have seen some fishermen use their push-poles. They turn them around and stick them in the mud, duckbill up, to hold the boat rock steady. Within an hour, I caught 17 big catfish. 

The largest measured 28 inches. 

This time of year, big catfish move into shallow water to start feeding in preparation of the warmer water of the spring to spawn. Make sure to use a good hook with some backbone.

 

Sac-a-lait

Lake Des Allemands  and the Salvador Management Area have been producing good catches of sac-a-lait. The Gulf Canal to the North Canal has been hit or miss due to the cold weather and low water conditions. To have success, the water has to be up in the canals and you need to find clear water.

The best colors have been black/chartreuse, blue/white, & black/ white, red/white/chartreuse mini-jigs under a cork.