News

Sep 04, 2023

Tips for summertime fishing

The weather has started to heat up here in the middle of July and for the bass fisherman, he knows that some of the day’s most exciting and often best action occurs at the break of day. There is

The weather has started to heat up here in the middle of July and for the bass fisherman, he knows that some of the day’s most exciting and often best action occurs at the break of day.

There is something about being on the water this time of year while all is quiet with a growing glow in the east as he casts a topwater lure next to the trunk of a cypress or willow.

Contributed by

Glynn Harris

Glynn Harris is a long-time outdoor writer from North Louisiana. He writes weekly outdoor columns for several north Louisiana newspapers, and has won more than 50 writing and broadcasting awards during his 47 year career.

When the twitch of the lure results in an explosive strike, it just about doesn’t get anybetter than this. Once the day brightens, the early morning action usually slows and the average bass angler heads home for the air conditioning once old Sol peaks over the cypresses.

For anglers who want to extend their bass fishing experience longer, the search is on for one lure to keep the bites coming, even after daytime temperatures rise. The Wobblehead meets all the characteristics of just such a lure.

This rather non-descript device features a slender curved slab of metal with a single hook onto which is attached a plain straight tail six inch plastic worm. Incidentally, there is no lure easier to retrieve than a Wobblehead; you simply cast it out and bring it back in a rather boring straight retrieve. However, there is nothing boring when a big bass gulps down the bait.

The curved metal body of the Wobblehead gives the lure its name; it wobbles side to side and gives the plastic worm tail an enticing swimming motion which resembles a favorite food for a foraging bass, a small swimming snake. Remember the last time you saw a snake swimming across the water? That’s the exact image you get when you reel in a Wobblehead.

These lures are especially effective when fished next to moss beds, where bass lurk out of the glare of the scorching sun waiting for something good to eat to pass by. A small snake slowly wagging overhead is often too much to pass up.

Cast out a Wobblehead in the heat this summer next to a patch of weeds and hang on. The results could leave you feeling “cool”.

Bream fishermen can still do their thing with these fighters even in the heat of summer.

Both bluegills and chinquapins can be caught even though the spawn is over and they have moved from their shallow spawning beds.

One of the most productive bream fishing forays I ever experienced was one sweltering day several years ago when Eddie Halbrook took me to Grand Bayou lake near Coushatta where

we caught at least 50 big chinquapins fishing cold worms on the bottom on an 8 foot deep flat.

If you’re a crappie fishermen, here’s something you may want to try to improve your summertime catch of tasty slabs.

If you want the best service from your waiter at a favorite restaurant, let it be known that you’re a generous “tipper”. You’re more than likely to find him eager and willing to be at your service. Keep this truth in mind the next time you head for the lake after summertime crappie. If you’re a good “tipper”, the crappie just might be much more cooperative.

Tipping explained means that you add something to your crappie jig to make it more enticing. Some anglers regularly tip their jigs with small shiners while others prefer commercial pea-sized niblets, grass shrimp or wax worms.

One of the best times to go for crappie during the heat of summer is to say indoors during the hottest part of the day and head for the lake at night. A bucket of shiners dangled beneath the lights around a pier or off the side of the boat will attract shiners or shad which attracts the crappie. It can be a bunch of fun and you won’t even need sunscreen.

Whether it’s bass, bream or crappie, you can still get your string stretched even in the middle of summer.

FISHING REPORT

BLACK BAYOU – Bream and crappie have both been biting. Crickets and worms for bream; shiners for crappie. Bass best on spinners. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.

BUSSEY BRAKE –Bass fishing continues to be good. Spinners with trailers and flipping jigs around the brush have both been working. The crappie are scattered around the brush. Bream have slowed. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.

OUACHITA RIVER – Bass are best fishing in the cuts where there is a bit of current. Topwater lures, crank baits and spinners best. Crappie are best fishing shiners or jigs in the river lakes as well as around sunken tops in the river. Bream are fair. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE D’ARBONNE – Crappie fishing has been best fishing the flats fishing 6 feet deep in 8-12 foot water especially around Terrill Island and around the Hwy 33 bridge in 12-14 foot water on jigs and shiners. Bass fishing has been good early mornings fishing topwater lures around the grass. Later in the day, look for them in deeper water where Carolina-rigs, crank baits and spinners are working best. Bream are on starting to slow down off the beds on hitting worms and crickets. Catfish continue to be caught fishing cold worms and night crawlers off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE CLAIBORNE – Night fishing has been best for crappie fishing shiners under the lights around the piers and boat houses. The Majestic Big Bass Tournament is scheduled for July 21-22. Bass fishing has been best fishing around the docks and grass lines with swim baits and soft plastics or spinners. Some stripers are beginning to show up in the coves and hitting shad imitation lures. Bream are fair. Some nice catfish have been caught on noodles baited with live bream. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.

CANEY LAKE – Bass fishing has been best at night with Carolina rigs and deep diving crank baits along with soft plastics picking up some nice sized fish. Wobbleheads are taking some fish around the grass during the days. Crappie are fair around the deep brush on shiners or jigs. The bream bite is slowing as the spawn is about over and they’ve moving from the shallow spawning areas. No report on catfish. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish and bream are biting. Bass are slow to fair. Crappie are best on the south end on shiners or jigs. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.

For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.

LAKE YUCATAN – The water is on a rise with lots of catfish and some slab crappie being caught. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.