SURVIVE THE COLD

It’s no big secret – it’s been cold here in the Houma-Thibodaux area.

Those low temperatures don’t necessarily mean that it’s impossible to catch fish, though it does probably mean that the places anglers have to look will need to change.

The colder than normal winter of 2017 is providing challenges for anglers, because fish, too, change their swimming patterns when temperatures drop near or below freezing.

Fishermen around the area said they’ve reported decent catches lately, but added that the territory they’re having to fish changes day by day because of the heavily fluctuating weather.

“Every day is different,” said Pete Guidry, of Golden Meadow. “You can wake up some days with frost on your lawn and some days, it’s 60 degrees and feels like spring. It’s all a challenge because fish are like people. They like to stay warm, too, so the trick really is knowing how to find them when the weather is cold and honestly, some days, it’s so cold that you’d probably be better off just not going out at all.”

A lot of this process is about having a good feel for the environment and area as it changes on a day-by-day basis.

In southern Lafourche Parish and close to Grand Isle, anglers have reported nice redfish catches in recent weeks, especially in the marshes and along La. Highway 1.

Cut Off angler Loulan Williams said the key to a successful day is having a good sense for where fish may be located, which is obviously challenging because conditions vary from day-to-day.

Williams, who has fished in the area for more than 30 years, said on colder days, fish will almost always be scarce in shallow areas, which means that success can be had in the deeper holes in the marsh or along the highway.

“They swim in the deep waters to stay warm when it’s really cold,” Williams said. “On those days, you’ll find your big reds, your sheepshead and everything else. My rule of thumb usually is if it’s cold enough that when you breathe, smoke comes out of your mouth, you might as well not even try in the shallow waters because nothing will be there. It will be nothing short of a waste of time.”

Guidry agreed. But he quickly added that because the weather changes in Louisiana so frequently, anglers should always be aware of their surroundings and quick to pull the trigger on an area if something changes.

“In the morning, it’s been in the 30s, but by the time the sun comes all the way out and the skies clear, it can get to the upper 50s or even into the 60s. By the time you take the boat out, the fish will be one place. By the time you’re in the water and the weather is different, they’ll be somewhere else. It’s hit or miss.”

In Terrebonne Parish, anglers have had similar stories as those in Lafourche, with several reports of redfish and trout having been reported in Dularge and other hotspots.

Houma native Reese Dupont said he caught some massive trout last week – the day after it snowed.

He said a good time to fish is often right after an extreme weather event – much like hunters say about deer hunting.

“Right after a cold front is when hunters say is the best time to bag a deer because while the front is passing, the deer are laid up and after it passes, they come out and are hungry,” Dupont said. “Fishing is the same way. When it’s really cold, fish are out of their normal schooling pattern and sometimes have difficulty finding food. When it warms back up, they’ll get into more familiar waters and will be prime to bite.”

That’s why anglers say that the key to surviving the winter months is patience and picking and choosing the best times to go out.

“If it’s so cold that it will be torture to be out there, just stay in,” Dupont said. “Odds are, you can wait 24 hours, have temperatures 15-20 degrees warmer and have four times as many fish. It’s a chess match. Make smart moves and stay ahead of the fish and the weather.”

The Borne family in Golden Meadow had a field day recently, catching trout and redfish in droves. With the temperatures dipping, anglers gave cold weather fishing tips.

COURTESY