Keith Lusher 02.08.24
I’ve to confess, there are months aside from February that I want to fish for bass. Between the chilly fronts blowing via and the frigid temperatures, this month has confirmed itself to not be a simple month in terms of placing bass within the boat. However via the years I’ve realized that my journeys in February have typically been my finest journeys in terms of discovering bass stacked up in a single location. I lately made a visit with my daughter Kasey to fish a shallow bayou simply north of Lake Pontchartrain known as Bayou Cane. This “Child Bayou” stretches a little bit over a mile from it’s inception, to the purpose the place it empties into the Lake.
At first look the considered fishing this bayou in 30-degree temperatures could seem nonsensical, however after trial and error I’ve realized to key in on the deep holes within the bayou. As a result of Cane is so shallow averaging 7 toes, the bass are pressured to seek out the deepest water that’s obtainable.
Because the bayou winds south there are quite a few cuts that spill out of the marsh. The french phrase for these cuts is Trenasse which implies a ditch dug within the marsh. What makes these ditches so particular is their means to create deep holes in the principle bayou over years of marsh drain. Whereas the typical depth of Bayou Cane is 7 toes, the holes created by these trenasse’s are over 12 toes which makes it a magnet for bass searching for deeper water.
We began out day on the mouth of considered one of these trenasses utilizing black and blue Rattling Soccer Jigs made by Delta Lures. We each had been fishing with out freshwater spinning reel set-ups which has 8 lb. take a look at loaded on the spool. The water in Bayou Cane was extraordinarily clear on today so I made positive that each Kasey and I had been utilizing skinny line so it wound’t be simply seen by the fish.
The day began out a bit gradual and after Kasey missed three fish, I made a decision to I made a decision to make a transfer down the bayou to discover a higher chew. Kasey argued that we should always keep put as a result of she was getting bites so she advised I let her out to fish from land. Bayou Cane is often absolutely inundated with alligators however with it being winter, the gators had been nonetheless hibernating so I made a decision to let her out within the marsh in order that she may proceed to fish the deep gap. I noticed a matted down part of marsh grass alongside the shoreline and determined to let her on the market. The ironic factor about this spot is that I used to be a bedding space for alligators over the summer time however with the gators gone, it made for the right spot for her to fish with out being bothered by marsh grass.
After dropping her off on land I made my means south to the subsequent trenasse the place I discovered an 11-foot gap in the principle bayou. I began casting my jig and on the third solid felt a bump and set the hook on a 14-inch wholesome marsh bass. On my very subsequent solid I repeated the efficiency and I then remembered why I cherished fishing this shallow bayou within the winter. The bass so so stacked up within the gap that I used to be in a position to put a restrict of 10 bass within the ice chest inside an hour.
After the tenth bass hit the ice I circled again to verify on Kasey. My plan was to select her up and produce her again to my spot in order that she may catch her 10 however the plan was ruined when as I approached I watched as she put three bass on the financial institution. As I obtained nearer I used to be a complete of 5 on the financial institution. She instructed me to carry again so I wouldn’t disturb the spot and it didn’t take her lengthy to complete of her restrict. On our journey again to the launch Kasey defined that she began catching fish when she slowed down her retrieve. “Typically the bass would choose it up when It was nonetheless and simply mendacity on the underside,” she mentioned. After the small adjustment Kasey mentioned it was non cease motion. “I principally slowed the whole lot down and watched my line for motion. When that line began transferring left or proper, I set the hook and introduced him ashore,” she mentioned.
It’s true that bass fishing in February has it’s challenges, however utilizing the freezing temperatures to your benefit pays dividends if you will discover deep holes in a comparatively shallow tributary like Bayou Cane. A couple of further toes of water can present these bass with hotter water on the underside and it’s this water that may make a chilly uncooked day in February considered one of your most memorable journeys!
