Cooler weather has spurred a huge increase in fishing boat traffic this weekend.

Yesterday there were bass tournaments on Deer Park, Old River-Vidalia and Lakes Concordia, St. John and Bruin.

It looks a lot like spring. Late summer and early fall fishing is a lot like spring.

Surface water temperatures have dropped from 95 degrees to a high of 83 degrees. That’s still hot, but much better than the steamy waters we were fishing.

Anything below 72 degrees is best for big bass, sac-a-lait and even the bream will be more active and taste better.

Fish from hot water just don’t fry up as well as fish from cooler water. Hot water fish have a lot of parasites called angle worms.

Fillet a fish and hold it up to the light. If you see these small yellowish circles in the fillet that’s an angle worm.

Years ago I checked to see if it was safe to eat these parasites. I found that hot grease kills any danger for human consumption. I am still not crazy about eating fried parasites.

I had a recent call from a veteran fisherman that has fished our area lakes for all species for many years. His neighbor was cleaning some catfish that came from one of the area land-locked oxbow lakes. Some of the fish were so full of parasites they were being eaten up from the inside out.

He was so concerned he contacted our local biologist who picked the fish up and took them to LSU for studies. I am still waiting for the results but I feel sure it was angle worms.

Hot water and low water levels create a perfect breeding ground for parasites. You will see fewer fish with parasites come from the river systems and Old Rivers simply because the water fluctuates and river water with current is a bit cooler.

The mornings have really felt nice this week.

As water temperatures continue to drop we should see the fall shad spawn by the first of October. When this spawn kicks off think shallow, and you’ll find the bass and perch.

On the Old Rivers the bite will depend on the Mississippi River level. Two weeks ago the river level dropped to 23 feet at Natchez but that fall was followed by a rise this week.

A rise will not necessarily turn the fish off but they will relocate. Again, think shallow and if you’re after bass it’s hard to beat a Mr. Hooty spinner bait and Bandit and Bomber crank baits in shad and bream patterns.

Both lure types will allow you to fish any depths and cover a lot of water.

Once you locate some bass just slow down and show them some bottom lures like a Paca or Elk River jig or anyone of the many soft plastic creations on the market.

The river stage at Natchez Friday was 25.6 feet, and it should crest today. A sharp fall is coming down river that will probably land lock the live oxbow lakes in a couple of weeks.

On Wednesday the forecast predicts a level of 23 feet, and the fall coming downriver will continue.

The Old Rivers land lock from the big river at a stage of about 14 feet.