Anglers should always put safety first when fishing collides with afternoon thunderstorms
It’s so easy to forget about watching the sky for thunderstorms when fishermen are on the prowl.
Most will stay on top of fish rather than run for shelter when an afternoon storm erupts. And that was our dilemma last week while angling in Lake Cataouatche.
Word of mouth claimed that the redfish were schooling at the mouth of the Gulf Canal.
So, Hunter McDonald, Gerard Danos, and myself made the short run across Lake Cataouatche, through Bayou Couba, to the old Oak Tree at the mouth of the canal.
The water was a translucent green with light winds out of the southwest.
With cloud cover to protect us from the sun, we fished around the island throwing ¼-ounce ratttletraps in chrome, glow sparkle beetles, and a Topdawg without catching a fish.
We then moved into the body of the canal and struck out at that location, too.
By this time, I could see thunderstorms brewing in the horizon south of Lake Salvador, but I estimated that we had time to move onto the Louisiana Cypress Canal before the thunderstorms arrived.
The short run to the second canal cooled us off, and it was a pleasant ride.
Before we left to go fishing that day, I checked the Davis Pond Diversion flow and it was running at 3,000 feet per second. And I knew the fish were going to be good to us.
When we arrived at the mouth of the canal, the water was moving slowly. I threw the watermelon baby brush hog, Hunter, threw the red/green/chartreuse mini jig, and Gerard threw the mini Rapala.
Although the action wasn’t as hot a springtime angling, we all caught fish. Bream, bass, and goggle-eyes are still schooling in the clear water, so look for lucid areas.
As the three of us were enjoying our fishing trip, the loud sound of thunder and flashes of lightening stole our attention from the task at hand.
The thunderstorms had moved in on us quickly. So without hesitation, we put on rain suits and headed for the nearest camp, which was located halfway back to Pier 90.
The raindrops were falling only 50 yards behind the boat when we crossed Lake Cataouatche, but we managed to reach the Cajun Ponderosa in time.
Chris Falgout, a fishing friend and former student, greeted us and invited my group to ride out the weather at his camp.
The winds were strong enough to form whitecaps in the bayou. Lightening hit around the camp and rain caused a white-out situation.
Chris asked us, “How would you like to be in the middle of the lake right now?”
We counted our blessings and were glad that we ran for shelter from the big thunderstorm.
After the rain passed, we set out back towards the Louisiana Cypress Canal and caught more fish.
The water in the lake was smooth as glass, and the fish were even more active than before the weather interrupted our outing.
Remember, at this time of year, get off the water and find shelter when a storm is headed your way. And it’s always safer to fish another day.
Redfish in Little Lake
Mike Brassett, an old college buddy, called to inform me that redfish were plentiful in Little Lake.
He had launched in Lafitte and traveled by boat through Bayou Perrot to get to Little Lake.
Mike used the ¼ ounce gold spoon, black and chartreuse sparkle beetle with a gold spinner, and the queen chartreuse sparkle beetle under a cork to catch his limit last week. He also managed to reel in a few speckled trout, but Mike’s excitement was focused on the redfish.
When entering Little Lake, stay to the left shoreline along the rocks starting at Point Legard to the small oilrigs.
To the westside is Bay L’Ours. Here you should fish the points heading south.
At Plum Point, kill your engine 200 yards before the point and drift in along the point to John the Fool Bayou.
A few reds were caught on market shrimp and a jig head on the bottom – and you should bring plenty of jig heads, there are a lot of stumps.
Also watch the birds. Speckled trout chased some shrimp to the surface and they caught three before one was legal and a keeper.
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