A long standing “rule of
thumb” for speckled trout
anglers is the breeding season or spawn begins on the
first full moon of April. It’s a
good general rule. It’s also a
rule that, most years, is challenged by river levels, water
temperatures, and other conditions; however, that rule will
likely be golden this year, as
everything seems to be coming together nicely.
Forecast
Mississippi River forecasts predict
dropping levels all month. Certainly,
that can change; but, outside of a major
weather event, we could see river levels
as low as seven or eight feet by the end
of the month. The lower the river, the
better the fishing; the warmer the water,
the better the fishing; the larger the
bait supply, the better the fishing. Are
you beginning to see a trend here?
A long standing “rule of thumb”
for speckled trout anglers is the breeding season or spawn begins on the first
full moon of April. It’s a good general
rule. It’s also a rule that, most years, is
challenged by river levels, water tem-
peratures, and other conditions; however, that rule will likely be golden this
year, as everything seems to be coming
together nicely.
Shrimp will be the key, and they’re
already moving. While finfish may be
the favored diet of most species of fish
targeted by anglers, there is no doubt
they eat shrimp. Shrimp are more predictable in their patterns, and shrimp
tend to move seaward in large schools
this time of year. Tidal currents can have
as much influence on their movement
as anything else. I believe the migration
of shrimp are one of the key triggers
that set speckled trout into their spring
pattern. Once the shrimp begin moving, everything coastal seems to come
to life, and this year appears to be
ahead of the seasonal curve.
Generalities
Speckled trout are already staging
for the spawn. Food (bait) and elevated
salinity will affect locations. In the spring
and during the spawn, mature trout will
look for higher salinities. On the east
side of the Mississippi River, birds are
already feeding over schools of bait and
fish from Baptiste Collette to the Biloxi
Marsh. Breton Island held schools of
trout nearly all of March and the larger
islands north of Breton are starting to
produce as well. Our coastal lakes
and bays will hold good catches early
this year.