This weekend I made my first solo trip to Lake Pontchatrain to fish for red fish and speckled trout. Years ago I fished offshore in blue water but have never fished in-shore for saltwater fish. As compared to the black bass that I have chased most of my life is one thing I quickly realized these fish are dumb. The tackle is simple and locating the speckled trout and red fish is easy. Now I understand why so many people have converted from bass fishermen to red and speck fishermen.

We fished the south end of the causeway just minutes from New Orleans with artificial grubs on lead jig heads, spoons and dead shrimp. If the bite is tough you can catch them on shrimp fished just off the bottom around the bridge pilings. It’s just like tight lining for catfish. Never mind the feeding periods. The tide overrules the weather and the feeding periods. When the tide is high and starts to fall the fish turn on. Some of the locals told me that once I get salt in my veins that I would give up the bass. I can assure that will never happen.

Back home the fish are in the summer patterns. We go out early and catch a few on topwaters and once the sun rises above the treetops and the temperatures climb we load up and head home. That is unless we’re fishing a tournament. I find nothing enjoyable about fishing in 95-degree air temperatures. Late evening and night fishing is fair on Concordia, Bruin and St. John for bass. Most night fishermen target the lighted piers but you can do just as well or better fishing the cypress trees and the piers with no lights.

The Mississippi River level at Natchez is on a very slow rise that should help the fishing on the Old Rivers at Deer Park, Yucatan and Vidalia. Over the past few weeks the crappie have pulled off the visible cover and moved offshore to feed on the shad. The slight rise should push some of the crappie toward shallow cover and tight to the standing timber. The river stage at Natchez today is 27.8 feet. By Tuesday the forecast calls for a stage of 28 feet. 28 feet is the very best stage for the crappie and bream on the Old Rivers.

Our lakes will once again be crowded with pleasure boaters and fishing boats so please be careful, wear your life jacket and kill switch and help us make this an accident free summer

Eddie Roberts writes a weekly fishing column for The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached by e-mail at fishingwitheddie@highsteam.net.