Lake Martin

Went to Lake Martin today, got there late. 11 am.. Set up on the cypress with minnows under plain 1/8th ounce juigheads with floaters set at 1 ft in 3ft of water. Lost a nice bass at the boat, then hooked into a monster that I never got to the top of the water. He straightened the hook out. Drag was set too tight. Lost 3 nice crappie at the boat and then finally landed a 10 incher. Bite quit so we moved to another spot. Lost 2 more at the boat and then landed a 12 1/2 in. crappie and a smaller one. Bite quit again. Couldn't locate any more but had a great day on the water and my jinx is finally off my back. Been down here almost 2 years and thats the first keepers I have caught. I thought I knew how to fish till I moved to Louisianna..lol

Hey Hick tomorrow (Sunday) they have a demo day at Lake Martin by Pack and Paddle from 10am - 3pm. You can try all kinds of paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, etc for free. Pretty sure members of the Laf kayak club will be there, you could ask them about fishing Lake Martin. Its a nice event, highly recommended, and usually well attended. They will be set up near the boat landing.

sounds like you need to get a net!

hickshh, welcome to Louisiana. Glad that you got to catch a few and practice a little long distance catch and release, ha. I hope you get to enjoy a lot more of Louisiana fishing. There are so many species and so many places that I don't know how we ever get anything done.
"gene"

OH NO, watch out now your messing around in Sneaky Pete's waters....LOL. I tell you though in the spring get out there in the middle of the lake on a windy day and drift with a jig about 2' deep you will be surprised at the pretty sac-a-lait you will pick up. In the middle of the summer with crickets or worms fish the duck blinds, throw way back up under them where you would put the boat when duck hunting and you will load the boat with with some big old hand size and bigger bream. How was the grass in the lake, is there still enough to make a Preacher go to cussing?

Nope no grass but the lillypads were floating around and making it hard not to catch them instead of fish. My boss fishes there alot so he gives me pointers on where to go. Only problem know is that I moved from Broussard to Kaplan and the drive really sucks to do any freshwater fishing. Me and the brackish water and saltwater don't seem to get along. All I catch is small black drum and 30 lb freshwater drum. I like crappie when I can get them, but am really a diehard catfisherman.. So I try for both when on the water. I was used to catching 20 and 30 lb blues every weekend up north but can't even find small ones down here. I'm going to try some of the rivers and see what happens. But the trip last weekend kinda spoiled me. I have 5 days off next weekend so will be on the water most of it. I do it to relax so catching something just adds to the trip.

Harrummph! Buncha carpetbaggers hit my spot and then on their first trip there show me how to do it!
Congrats, hickshh, glad someone knows how it's done! And ol BeauB. has a good plan about drifting open water, though all I've been able to catch like that is bass. Keep an eye out on your sonar unit when you are out there, because there are a lot of dilapidated duck blinds that are no longer visible above the water.
Bon chance.
Pete

Hey Beaubayou, those idiot neighbors of mine have been bringing home sacs from Benoit like they are running hoop nets out there! Black and pink jigs three to four feet under a float.
Pete

Hick check out the article in the recent La Sportsman about Harold Schoefler catching big cats in Verm River around Intracoastal City. Thats not that far from you. Different environment, but certainly productive !

Hey Pete, they just might be, in the Basin you never know. I might have to drag my little boat back home. Thanks for the information Pete.

Yeah, I heard at work today that the cats turned on big time last weekend. Can't remember the names of the places though cause you damn cajuns keep naming things with names I can't pronounce..lol. Next trip out I will have a trolling motor on the old barge and see if it helps me get into more trouble out there. Now that I got my feet wet and my confidence level back up there with the big head I will get alot better.. I will be on the water Sat, Sun, and Mon. I get a nice long weekend off work for Mardi Gras and plane on getting enough to have a decent fishfry. A few nice cats to go along with 50 or 60 Sacs would be real nice. My girlfriend even cleans my fish for me. Now I do like that about the cajuns down here.. hehehe