-
Well, you’re already winning because you took time to post a plan. This is key because there are things that you would’ve learned the hard way and other things that you would’ve had no idea about if we weren’t here to tell you.
So now you know. Good things. Now, let me give you some thoughts on your plan and what I would do instead.
*** Feedback On Your Planning ***
You have a thoughtful plan and are accounting for most of the conditions. I really love how you tell us what tackle you’re going to use. Very key.
A minor detail that I see being left out here are water levels. Is the water unusually higher or lower inside Lake P? That will affect how water moves on the day of your trip regardless of what the tide is mathematically predicted to do. Spoiler alert: water levels are even. You’re good.
Next thing, if you’re going to fish a neap tide, why are you fishing spots where water doesn’t move first?
If I were fishing a neap tide tomorrow, I’d be looking hard at Seabrook, L&N bridge, Chef Pass and the south shore of the Trestles or Hwy 11. Not spots like Spot 1, Spot 2, Spot 3.
*** IMO Too Early for Lake P ***
But I think you’re planning for the wrong area. In my opinion, I think fishing the bridges in Lake Pontchartrain is not a good idea. Not yet. It’s just too early. The grass beds of Lake Pontchartrain can be good, but I think it’s too early by a week or two.
Also, the tide prediction is crap. It’s a neap tide.
Now, quick sidebar: if it weren’t for the garbage tide, I’d tell you to go to Martello Castle and fish it when the tide is absolutely ripping out. But it’s not.
And this is a problem for your original plan or any modification to it, because a lot of these places are otherwise good to fish under a better tide, but you won’t know because the tide will be crap when you’re casting a line. You won’t be very confident fishing those spots again in the future because you fished them at their worst. Nor will you be learning anything more useful than what I can already tell you right now: fishing Lake Pontchartrain this early in the fall season on a neap tide is a useless grind and exercise in futility.
There you go. I just saved your fishing trip. Take it from the guy who does this for a living and beat the video game. Or, go ahead and do it. You’ll find some throwbacks, look at slack water and maybe luck out with a couple slot redfish. Whoopty doo.
*** But If You Absolutely Must Fish Lake Pontchartrain ***
Then I would concentrate on grass beds. Get on GED and identify grass beds on the south and north shores of Lake Pontchartrain. They are painfully obvious, or reference the Grass Mats folder in the IF101 Student .KML
Fish a light double rig (1/8 oz jigheads) or Mirridone (17MR) suspending bait over the top of them. Topwater is great first thing in the morning or if it’s hard overcast.
You can do that and that will probably be your best shot at speckled trout in Lake Pontchartrain. You’ll get to learn what the grass looks like in person and where it is actually located for when more speckled trout move in.
But, IMO, it’s nothing so great that it’s worth committing that much time and energy to. That’s why I have this next suggestion:
*** Or Maybe Just Consider This Wild Idea ***
So where is the water definitely still moving? This is the beauty of fishing the River, because she’s always moving. So even when the tide is slacked out, there’s still moving water in the river and one reason why I am encouraging you to take a ride and begin learning that.
In comparison, Lake Pontchartrain sucks. It’s not even close.
When fall fully kicks off, you will want to be fishing Pointe a la Hache on down to Venice. Screw Lake Catherine, Borgne, Pontchartrain, etc.
If you’ve never launched out of Venice or Empire or whatever, then this is your chance. Go explore on a day the tide sucks and then fish Lake P when the tide is better. This way you can get your GPS tracks and put in your TOW for a fishery that is far more rewarding than Lake Pontchartrain.
