Current
Conditions
This should be a great summer for
Lake Borgne. Mississippi River levels are
low, salinity levels in the lake are increasing, bait is present, and already
some great catches are coming in from
all sides. Forecasters say the River will
continue to drop. If Mother Nature
gives us a little break on the wind and
rain, we should see a really good month
of fishing in this area.
Fish Patterns
May is normally the month when
the transition of fish from the marsh to
coastal waters completes itself. Breeding speckled trout search out salinity
levels needed to support their spawning and that usually means moving seaward. However, on those years when
the salinity has a chance to get into our
lakes and bays, we often see less of a
migration to open water. That condition
is likely setting up this year, and we
should see spawning trout thick in Lake
Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne.
State of the Bait
Pogies are schooling up, mullet are
moving, and current shrimp estimates
appear to be on track for a normal or
better than normal year.
Most of the marinas are holding live
shrimp consistently, and croakers can’t
be far off as this month begins.
My personal experience is that in May,
when the water is clear, live bait is essential. The fish know what they’re looking for; and while plastics will certainly
catch fish, this month, in particular, is
one that I rarely, if ever, see artificial
keeping up with the real thing. I fish artificial as much as most, but I highly recommend a bucket of live bait (shrimp,
croakers, mullet, pogies) on board
when you make your first stop.