http://www.LouisianaSportsman.com April 2015 | Louisiana Sportsman 135
Watching for baitfish flipping on the surface, current lines and
generally fishy water is the staple for fishing shallow water sur-
rounding the islands and reefs in most any Louisiana locale. This
area is no different.
A good trolling motor is not essential in plying the waters when
a nice breeze is present to set up a drift, but that little motor can
be a difference-maker in adjusting one’s path when a school of
bait or a striking fish is spotted.
Topwater baits, especially in the early morning or on cloudy
days, are outstanding producers in the area, although like many
charter captains Rodrigue is loathe to lose multiple treble-hook
setups aboard his vessel with inexperienced users.
Topwaters are, of course, great fun and tend to separate the
sub-legal trout from the solid keepers — but they do also very
often require a learning curve for novices.
“When someone gets hooked in the ear with a topwater, that
trip is probably going to get cut short,” Rodrigue said.
Options for the premium live bait much of Louisiana is known
for become iffy when Terrebonne trout prove finicky. To say Coc-
odrie, Chauvin and Dulac anglers have been unreceptive to live
shrimp is to suggest that there has been a history of the industry
at all.
Not until the last 10 or so years has live shrimp or croakers even
been available in any consistency. And that largely depends on
your definition of consistency.
What has been a central-coast mainstay is minnows. Known
colloquially as larch or cocahoes, the Gulf killifish is a marsh
dweller that can be an absolutely dynamite producer in late
spring/early summer.
Suspended under cork or allowed to wiggle on the bottom
attached to Carolina rigs, minnows produce.
And they’re readily available and define low maintenance, espe-
cially when compared to shrimp and baby croakers.
“It’s hard to know what kind of mood the fish will be in. So I
bring minnows along on almost every charter trip,” said Rodrigue,
adding that they offer beginners a very short learning curve.
As much as he’d like to stay away from shrimp and croaker, it
doesn’t take long to make him a believer.
“I’m pretty hardheaded, but all it really takes is one trip where
a boat next to me is wearing them out on shrimp or croakers to
convince me,” Rodrigue said. “If some of the shops on Highway
56 (from Houma to Cocodrie) don’t carry them, that means hav-
ing to visit the bait boat first thing in the morning.
That takes up a good chunk of quality fishing time, but they can
make or break a trip.”
The Tracie Macey live bait vessel has been providing live bait
to anglers since live shrimp came in vogue in lower Terrebonne.
Unfortunately for eastsiders, it frequently sets up shop in Caillou
Boca, a location far to the west toward the end of the western-
most Isles Denieres chain. That makes it unfeasible.
Rodrigue said there’s no reason to panic when this takes place.
“Plenty of fish were caught before there was ever any live
shrimp sold down here,” he said. “And it can make you open your
eyes to other options.” ■FACING PAGE: Shrimp are a mainstay in
a trout’s spring diet, but minnow imita-
tions score, as well.