A couple of quick pointers:

1 - Since most of the trout coming out of Black Bay right now are certified “keepers,” you shouldn’t have to do much measuring.  But if there is ever any doubt, haul out the ruler.  Better safe than sorry. And now with other inside areas recently opened by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, you can probably find a lot of braggin' size reds up in the marsh.  They'll take almost anything you throw at 'em.

2 - I know they're scarce right now because of the BP thing, but bring live shrimp with you on every trip whenever you can find them.  And if you think 50 will be enough—buy 75.  If you think 75 will be enough—buy 100.  It’s really frustrating to get into feeding trout and find you’re running out of bait!

3 - While almost 90 percent of the trout you catch right now will want live shrimp, there’s certainly nothing wrong with bringing along your favorite plastics.  It’s quite possible that after pitching “live” most of the morning you might could get them to “switch up” and strike artificial lures under the right circumstances.

4 - Again--don’t pass up the reds!  General Rule of Thumb is. . .once you either get your limit of specks or generally get tired fishing specks, make sure you change spots and procedure and hit the shorelines for the channel bass!   Catching reds after a morning of catching trout is like getting lagniappe: 25 trout + 5 nice bonus reds = 1 great day of fishing!  Once again, the best place to pursue redfish is along grassy shorelines at all the inside islands. 

5 - While you could get some sort of action all day long, your best bet is to be in place on the water for the so-called “sunrise bite.”  Since time immemorial, fish have always gotten up early.  They like to eat early.  You should be there to fish for them when they feel like eating. 

If you want to get out into Black Bay (and its environs) to fish for some of the ones I’ve mentioned throughout this manuscript, but you don’t have the right boat or the right gear or the talents to pull off a fishing trip like that, feel free to contact Capt. Ahab and book a charter for you and your friends with him.  Just remember, bookings are handled “first come first served,” so you might want to get on the horn pretty quick.  Ahab’s number is 504-914-6063.

Because of the oil situation, I’m now limited to the number of places I can fish for my TV show, so the destination schedule changes weekly.  Next Thursday I’m slated to fish. . .hell, I don't know where I'm gonna be fishing!  You just gonna have to watch the show! 

In the meantime, be courteous and cautious out there. 

Tight lines and good times to ya,

Frank D