http://www.LouisianaSportsman.com April 2015 | Louisiana Sportsman 245
insurance to provoke the bite. Lake Catherine,
Rigolets Pass, the ICWW and the Wall area
are all good choices to try. Try tightlining jigs
along the ledges in deeper water, and in shal-
low water snap on a popping cork.”
Gallo said for redfish he’ll head to the Biloxi
Marsh or the marsh along the ICWW and fish
ponds and small bays with spinners, spoons,
jerkbaits, chatter-baits and shrimp under a cork.
“Cast up close to the grass along the edge of
ponds or bayous for the reds, and fish wher-
ever you see mullet,” he said.Lake Pontchartrain
Capt. Andy “Wicked Fish” Jones (985-750-
0670) said April is usually smack-dab in the
middle of the annual spring run of speck-
led trout along the bridges crossing Lake
Pontchartrain.
“I’ll fish the Causeway as often as possible
when the trout start showing up along it, and
we both troll and jig,” he said. “Generally troll-
ing is more productive in the fall months and
jigging in the spring, but every year is different
and you have to go with what works.”
Jones also fishes the reefs in Lake
Pontchartrain and the bridges on the east side
as the water warms. He also likes to target bull
shark and alligator gar this month.
“We’re part of the tag and release program for the
shark, and they are a lot of fun to catch,” he said.Golden Meadow/Larose
Capt. T-Man Cheramie (985-677-6294) said
it’s time to head out to the bigger lakes and
bays and do some exploring.
“I like to check out what’s left of the islands
around Timbalier, Lake Raccourci, Lake Chein,
Catfish Lake and also around the Sulphur
Mine,” he said. “I’ll fish with live minnows
under a cork, Vudu shrimp or other imitation
shrimp lures, and also market bait. It’s also
time to toss those topwater baits for big explo-
sions from both trout and
redfish either early mornings
or late evenings, or on those
cloudy, overcast days.”
Cheramie said the various
shallow diving baits are also
good choices in April.Fourchon/
Leeville/Grand
Isle
Capt. Herk Bergeron (985-
860-7855) said April is thestart of the great summer action in Grand Isle.
“This is when the fish start their transition
toward the bigger bays like Barataria Bay and
Caminada Bay, and then they make their way
to the beaches out front,” he said. “Look for
large groups of birds chasing bait jumping out
the water from fish feeding below the surface.
Ninety percent of the time it will be speckled
trout feeding on shrimp. The fish follow the
bait, so schools of baitfish and shrimp are
attracting those fish to the surface. The best
way to catch these trout is position your boat
up wind or up current from the birds and drift
into them with no engine running, and fish 2
feet under a cork with any plastic that resem-
bles a shrimp. My favorite colors are opening
night and blue moon, and both of those colors
with a chartreuse tail works extremely well.”
Herk said anglers who approach the feeding
seagulls the right way should have no trouble
finding big schools of trout.
Offshore, Capt. Lance “The Fish Commander”
Walker (225-445-1005), now fishing almost
exclusively out of Bridgeside Marina in Grand
Isle, said the Midnight Lump should still
produce some tuna and wahoo before it gets
hot, but the bigger yellowfin are moving out
toward the floating platforms.
“Cobia are making their annual appearance
as they sweep along the coast and rigs 10-20
miles out of Grand Isle should hold plenty of
them,” Walker said. “Mangrove snapper should
show up this month as the water warms up a
bit and amberjack will hit jigs and live baits
around platforms in 200 to 400 feet of water.
I like April because the fish have had no pres-
sure on them for months now, so they’re not as
wary as they become later in the season.” ■Fishing Charter Includes
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