Fishing Forecast

Bayou Cane has been known for it's great bass bite in December and January. The lack of boat pressure and kayak crowd makes for a really enjoyable fishing trip if you can bear the cold weather. Fish Rat-L-Traps near the launch in the wooded section and switch over to Texas-rigged Mighty Mud Bugs in the Blue Saphire color or Baby Brush-Hogs in the black color and target drains! In January it's all about finding that one bite in the marsh. Stop where you catch one and usually they'll be more stacked in the same spot.

January has been tough on anglers fishing Bayou Castine. The bayou is relatively shallow making water temperatures colder mid-winter. The shallow water also makes for muddy water after the rain comes through. Target days before a new front when things have settled down from the first front. For those targeting bass, focus on itersections on Bayou Castine where two major channels connect. These intersections will be the top spots for finding schooling bass on the bottom. Throw jigs on the bottom or deep-running crankbaits. Anglers might have more luck targeting catfish this month with rod-n-reel or lines. Also pay attention to sun-soaked objects that protrude down into the water. The water temperatures around those wood and rock structures can warm the water from 3 to 5 degrees making it attractive to baitfish.

January is normally a tough month, but the bridge did post good numbers of specks caught in November and early December so you may be able to put one or two in the box. Salinity levels are there this month but the water temperatures are cold and those trout have all but pushed east.

Daniel Sicssac, Roger Sissac

January has arrived, and there are more stretches of consistent cooler weather as a result. I mention this specifically because Bonfouca is a tremendous, fish-producing system in cold weather. The pattern that should emerge is going to be this: fish the banks on the cold mornings, and somewhere around eleven or noon, the fish will move off the bank into water roughly five to ten feet deep. I usually gauge when to stop fishing the bank using the jacket method- when I get too warm and have to take off my jacket, I stop throwing to the bank and will move my focus to outside grass lines and offshore structure. Once I figured out this pattern, I’ve had trips where I would have a limit by noon! Plastic worms and flukes work really well for the early morning bass; suspending jerk-baits (this includes weightless flukes) are the top producers when thrown parallel to the bank once the fish move out. One last mention for bass- on the cold mornings, once the sun has risen (literally once you can see it), look for rip-rap and broken concrete that are littering the bank, because they will warm faster and transfer some of their heat to the water, which is why the bass are on the bank on cold mornings. Next, bream are biting, and now is the time to start seeing red-ears appearing in your catches. They love crickets, as do most bream and sunfish, but they all will also fall prey to a Sexee Shad tight-lined or fished under a float. Oh, catfish are a pretty regular bycatch while “perching” so make sure your drags are set and hold on!

Ronald Pierre

January on the Tangipahoa River system usually means cold weather, and muddy water. During this time I cannot think of a better a better way to catch bass with anything other than jigs. Bass on this river system will stay relatively shallow throughout the year. They will either be buried up in heavy cover or staging along drop offs on the river. Flipping, and bladed jigs get the call for the task at hand during this time of year.
   Bladed jigs are what I like to get started off with early in the mornings. I will alternate between a Shad colored bladed jig and a Bluegill colored bladed jig. I will start off shallow and work my way to the deeper drop offs. Concentrate on wash outs, outside river bends, and points along any intersections in this river system. These areas will hold bass all year and is a great area for bass to push shallow to feed then back out deep to stage. One of the key things to concentrate on when using bladed jigs during this time of year is your retrieve. Vary your retrieve, and feather the jig along deep and shallow cover. Pay close attention to every bite and let the bass tell you exactly what they want.
   Flipping jigs are a staple on this river system in January. My go-to jig color for January is the RP3 Old Faithful craw color with a CB colored craw trailer. Once the sun is high and shallow cover is being warmed by the sunlight bass will bury up in the heaviest cover possible. They will take advantage of any feeding opportunity that is presented. I’ll pitch the jig into small openings in the cover and let it punch through straight to the bottom. Most of the time bass will hit the jig on the first initial fall, but pay attention to every bite. Sometimes they will be positioned directly on the bottom, sometimes they will be positioned just under the cover, and sometimes they will suspend midway from the surface and bottom. Bass will let you know exactly how they want it and if you pay attention to the smallest details you will be able to maximize your time and opportunity while on the water.
   Manchac in January can hold some of the earliest spawning fish on the Northshore. I have seen bass on beds as early as mid January, given the right weather conditions. If I am traveling to the Tangipahoa River, or other Northshore waterways in January I will always have the Manchac early spawners in the back of my mind. Lures to use on this system are jerkbaits, slow rolling spinnerbaits, and soft plastic finesse worms. Bass will begin early stages of spawning in this area. Male bass will be shallow cruising areas looking for places where they intend on making beds. Female bass will be along the drop offs waiting on the new and full moons to push shallow to spawn. Look for backwater areas, away from the main canal for early spawners. Throw slow rolling spinnerbaits to cover water. Once you find a few fish in a certain area utilize jerkbaits, and finesse worms both shallow and deep to pick off any bass that are concentrated in that area. Look for water that is protected from north winds, and cleaner water. These areas are more stable for spawning and will warm faster than muddy main river waters. Bass will congregate here to kick off their spawning rituals.

Lawerence Lemoine

The dead of winter is upon us. A slower fishing technique will prove more successful. Bedico Creek is known for having bass blowing up on top-water shad during the winter months. Target open water intersections where cuts spill out into the main creek. Fish the S-curve in the creek all the way to the last small canal before the camps. Toups' Tackle Mighty Mud Bug in the Blue Saphire color and shallow running shad colored crankbaits are hot right now. Baby bass colored Rat-L-Traps are worth a try also.

Ronald Pierre

January on the Amite River can be a great time to get out on the river to chase bass. So far we have kicked off the New Year with high muddy conditions. With recent rains we have cold muddy run off flowing from as far north as Bude, MS. Once conditions get stable bass will be hungry and combing the shallows for easy meal before heading back into the wintering holes. Look for shallow targets such as rocks, docks, wood, etc. early and slow roll a heavy thumping spinnerbait early. Bass will use these areas to ambush baitfish as its swept by from river currents. Once fronts push through the area and you are left with high blue bird skies, look for deeper wintering holes for bunched up bass. These areas will hold big concentrations of baitfish as well as hungry bass. Use lipless crankbaits, deep running crankbaits and slow moving jigs in these areas.
January is also a great time of year to be on the search for Sac au Lait and bream. The River Side bait shop in Port Vincent always keeps a good supply of live shiners. Look for vertical structure such as dock pilings, and bridges early in January. Sac au lait will use these areas to move vertical to feed and stage between fronts to feed. Bream will be staging along deeper drops on the main river and adjacent back waters. Look for deep cover such as brush piles or rocks when in the hunt for bluegill. Use worm tipped jigs in about 6 to 8 ft of water when fishing for bream. Small beetle spins or road runners work well when targeting both Sac au lait, and bluegill.
January on the Amite River might take a little more patience when fishing during the winter, but once you locate fish they are usually stacked up in bunches. Always keep this in mind when on this river system. Bits might be few and far between but the mother load just might be waiting around the corner.

All the hot spots for the lucky folks that can pick and choose the perfect weather and tide patterns, nice fish are being harvested (L&N Train Bridge, Hwy 90 car bridge, point at Treasure Isle, 4X Bayou and drop-offs at Sawmill Pass). In Lake Catherine fish the deep water in the main passes at St. Catherine Pass, Millers Ditch, and Unknown Pass at the mouth and at the trestles that cross each are easy fishing and hold fish tight on the bottom. There is a drop off from 312 ft, at the mouth of St. Catherines Pass, in Lake Catherine, on both sides, that is fun to fish.

Looks like the specks are all over in the Biloxi marsh. With the warm water the lagoons should be good choice for popping cork and plastics. Fact is the lagoons have been a tough fish , for me, so far, the deep canals falling into shallow bays and lakes have had the best bite. tightlineing plastics has worked well. The water temp has held in the 50-60 and the fish bunch up in the turns in deep water locations . With the cooler weather from the latest fronts, the trout should bunch up at intersections and drains into main bayous, then move to the lagoons when sun shines on them, look for tide lines at drains and canals with water moving into shallow water. Reds are still plentiful in the broken marsh off the main passes.Deep, slow moving water is good now. The bite will be Light to non-existent some times and vicious later the same day. Try the ICW at drains and drop offs, L&N train bridge, hwy 90 car Bridge, Geohagen canal (when you can get a boat in there) try all the way at the back, lots of deep water and snags, try the lagoon, but follow the shore and cast out in deep water with slow sinking mirror lures. Be patient, by the time word gets out about limits, the regulars have been in there for weeks and the limits by 9am are hard to come by.
Deep water around Lake Catherine should be good when the tide is slow (neap or changing tide) Sawmill pass, St Catherine pass, millers Ditch and unknown.
Byu Biloxi is full of small trout(11-3/4”), but the keepers are there also. Fish deep water early and lagoons later if the sun is warming the water. 50+deg water is best but low 40’s will allow catching too, just fish slow. Plastics will work unless you feel the need for live and can find them.(purple beetle and shrimp creole matrix worked last week)

Patrick Engerran

With the deep freeze conditions we have been having to look for bass in areas out of the current in January as the water will be warmer as well as providing a more stable spawning area. The colder temps will slow all species of fish down as their metabolism is dictated by the water temp. Adjust to this by slooowwing down. Using a bigger bait during this time should draw strikes as fish can eat a large meal and it will last them for a longer time period thanks to the slower metabolism. My Tangi Fishing rods will have jigs such as C4 Jigs in their flipping and punching models with my fav Toups’ Tackle Mighty Mudbug or Boss Beaver for a chunk. The skirt explodes at rest like nothing I’ve seen and gives a large profile and the Mighty Mudbug is the perfect trailer with its full profile and pinchers to present a big meal for a bass. Try some of Toups’ new mudbugs with highlights on the outside pinchers and life like antennas to give it extra pop. Think of it as an ice cream sundae. The jig is the ice cream and Mighty Mudbug is the topping that makes it irresistible. Suspending jerk baits are a cold weather staple and a rattle trap for warmer days or a C4 swim jig around grass. Shallow mats will hold heat on sunny days and big bass will be sitting with their backs right against them. My Tangi Fishing Rod punching set up will always be on my deck.
Enjoy the warm weather days and the aggressive bites from fat bass that are feeding up for the spawn with growing bellies of eggs. Head to one of the many ramps along the Pearl system and fish will be feeding somewhere and you might even boat your all-time best in the next couple of months. Never will happen while you’re on the couch watching football playoff games so get the boat wet and have some fun.

Lemo's Reef hasn't produced in a few years. A slow December will translate into an even slower January at the reef. As the month goes on the bite should die out and you'll have to wait for that incredible spring run that the reef is known for. Jig Matrix Shad in Lemonhead color on a 3/8 oz jig head and try and locate schooling shad. Don't be surprised if you hook onto one of those monster blue cats that roam the reef in January

January on Ponchatoula Creek can be challenging but it's not impossible to find a good bass bite. The perch and goggle bite that the creek is known for has dissipated leaving you with two viable options, bass or catfish. When targeting bass on the creek, try and find drop-offs and deep holes. Fish spinner-baits as slow as possible in order to get the lure deeper. Anglers should be able to locate catfish in January and catch good numbers whether by pole or trot-lines. Basically any bait will work. Stick to the deep channels and be patient. Always keep an eye on the rainfall around the creek as the water will muddy in a hurry!

Todd Oalman

Weekly cold fronts that are dropping water temperatures will begin to slow the catches. Anglers will need to try to fish a couple days before or after the fronts when conditions stabilize. The metabolism of the fish slows during colder weather. They feed less often and move slower. Smart anglers will adjust accordingly. Try using lighter line and smaller baits that sink slower and work your baits very slowly. Fish the deeper areas for fresh and saltwater fish. Jigs and wacky worms fished on the bottom will work best for bass. Shiners and tube jigs will put a few sac-au- lait, bass and freshwater catfish in the boat. On the saltwater side dead shrimp, cut mullet and cracked crab on the bottom will produce decent catches of drum, redfish, sheepshead and flounder along with the occasional trout. Fish will be near structure that will hold heat, look for concrete rip rap, wooden pilings and docks to produce the best.

George Seibert

As we come into the New Year Lake Borne is not productive due to the increasing cold fronts one after another this time of year. The rigs and gas wells don’t hold fish at this time of year. All the surrounding marshes near Lake Borne will hold fish. Fish can be caught in the Biloxi Marsh, ICW, at Mrgo Wall and Pearl River. All of these places have deep water. The edges of the grass line has been holding reds. Low to mid 50's, fish the deep areas and as the water warms up, mid 50's and up fish the rising shelf from the deeper water or a light bounce from the ledge to the deeper water. This time of year plastic is the favorite over live, but take a few for security. The bite will be subtle, if you feel drag on the line, set the hook! Start with light colors and then dark, adjust between the two and find the combination. The cold fronts have been mild but windy. So be careful of the water level.
Good luck and Happy New Year!

Jigging the Trestles train bridge in January is going to be tough. Water temperatures are in the lower 50's pushing the trout out to deeper water. This is not to say that there won't be any trout hanging out at the bridge. The trout that are there will be spread out so putting together a nice box with be a grind. Trolling the bridge will be your best option this month. Rat-L-Traps with B2 Squid trailers work best. Vary your colors to see which ones they are biting on.

John Farley

Water temperature is down and the Bass will be in more of a winter pattern. Rain and north winds will affect the water quality but it will get it moving a bit more setting up chances for Bass to school up. The main bayou will still be productive but when it gets cold start looking at the end of dead end canals where the water is a little bit warmer. Crankbaits, spinner baits and plastic worms are all productive but don’t be scared to throw a large profile jig. The big females are starting to grow their eggs and they need to eat! Sac-au-lait are very active trying to fatten up for their spawn in the spring. The easiest place to find them is at the Trace Bridge, but if you want to find them else ware look for sharp drop offs, boat docks and lay downs with deep water by them. The best water depths are between 10 and 15 feet deep. Fish live shiners or you favorite Cappie Jig; black, chartreuse and pink are some of the best colors.

Chris Basey

Fishing is good right now on Bayou Liberty. The weather has the fish moving, but they are moving between two different easy to fish patterns. When the temps drop, and the cold fronts come through the fish are setting up in the ditches of the smaller bayous off of the main bayou. Then when it warms back up they move out to the main bayou, as if it was summertime. The lures to use for the cold weather are jerk baits along grass lines by the ditches. You want to slowly work the jerk bait when the water temps go down. Slow short pops. Slow rolling a spinner bait, dragging a swim jig, or rip a rattle trap through the grass. If those don't work try a straight tail worm by the drops of the ditches. When the temps climb back up you want to fish for them like its summer.

Fishing has been as good as we've seen in over 7 years in Eden Isles and it's all ue to the salinity in Lake P. Speckled trout, redfish, bass, and catfish have been plentiful with a surprise harvest of white trout last month. But with the cold air moving in expect the bite to tail off slightly with the speckled trout and favor the bass and catfish.
This month is shaping up to be an incredible month to target blue catfish in these canals. Fishing on the bottom is the ticket as market shrimp will serve to put plenty of catfish in the box.

Luke O'Neal

The Tchefuncte has been painfully slow these days. In the most recent tournament, anglers have struggles to even bring fish into the scales. The best fishing seems to occur between fronts when the weather wars up. Patterns have been hard to establish with constant changing temperatures. Anglers have been having success by fishing the thermocline. Deep diving crankbaits and slow rolling heavier spinnerbaits are two tactics to fish the thermocline. After a cold front passes, a slow presentation will most likely work best. The Tchefuncte river is known for holding monster catfish in January. Target the main channel and intersections to smaller bayous and canals. T-Rivers and the low bridge are popular hot-spots for catfishing in January.
The sac-a-lait bite is a great alternative to bass fishing. Stay in the main river and target fallen tree-tops. the crappie will be deep from 13' - 18'.