Thread: When the crappie starts to bite around new orleans

Last year, I almost missed first 2/3 season. I started in mid Mar. I am thinking about whether I should start right now this year. Does anyone know when is the best time to start? Maybe I should try several times a week from the mid January?

if i were you i would fish every day till next year at this time. carry you a book and log what you catch them on where you catch them and how deep temp water. this is the best way to keep up with a lake local to you. also follow a Jon boat normally they know where the fish are. Just don't follows shadows Jon boat he will lead you on a wild goose chase.

Thank you very much, Saline Lake Jigs. I think I definitely need to keep the record of each year although it''s headache for a scientist who already had a lot lab note. HaHa!

Originally Posted by qiyanfeng

Last year, I almost missed first 2/3 season. I started in mid Mar. I am thinking about whether I should start right now this year. Does anyone know when is the best time to start? Maybe I should try several times a week from the mid January?

Man, I don't know how to pronounce that name, much less what it means. So since you are from New Orleans, you're a "yat" even if you ain't one. So...
Beginning in mid-February you can start catching some nice ones in the Twin Canals in the Barataria State Park below Harvey - not many, but good quality. About the same time - maybe a bit later - the I-55 canals heat up around Ruddock. At least, both spots did before K. You might check with W&F to see what any recent sampling has shown. Whatever, you gotta be quick at both places or you'll miss it, since both of those sites were spawn-settings for me (I can't catch a deep crappie on a dare! ).
Good luck Yat, and if you are gonna stick around here, you might consider
changing that handle. These Cajun-ized rednecks (And vise-versa) would surely appreciate it!
One of 'em anyway! :D
Pete

They have already started in some areas. I talked to a couple of guys Saturday that were catching a few in the canals around Houma. They were fishing from the bank. Any warming weather between the cold front are usually good.

"gene"

Originally Posted by qiyanfeng

Last year, I almost missed first 2/3 season. I started in mid Mar. I am thinking about whether I should start right now this year. Does anyone know when is the best time to start? Maybe I should try several times a week from the mid January?

Where are you fishing?
The Lac Des Allemands, Lake Salvador and Lake Cataouatche.The rivers on the north shore of Lake P are all area's I fish.
Water temp is what will trigger fish to go shallow.
HTH
Jig Rig

Down south I used to fish Lac Des Allemands, Lake Salvador (Bayou Gauche), and Lake Cataouatche. In every case I would go lite, really lite with a beetle spin 1/32 oz with a gold Hilderbrant spinner (size 0). Dark grub, SMALL. I used to clip a purple worm tail and stick it on the jig head and have really good luck with it. Fish it just fast enough to turn the spinner. No faster. I also would tip the jig head with a very small piece of worm on even better shrimp. Another meathod is to fish lite under a cork. Same jig setup. Patience is the key. Fish this rig s-l-o-w and look for very lite strikes if you can call it a strike. On the spin, it feels like you picked up a small branch. Thats the strike. Find the clear water areas and fish this way and you may be getting some fish fry on the way home. Launch at Pier 90 on hwy 90 between Avondale and Boutte. This is probably as good a place as anywhere in sola. Launch and go south towards Lake Cataouatche. The canal goes right to the lake but if the water between the launch and the lake is pretty, stop and fish it. The canals off of Bayou Gauche before it enters Lake Salvador are good areas that can be reached from this same launch. Google this area and you can plot a trip. These canals as well as the ones off of Lake Des Allemands are usually clear and are prime WP spots in the winter through the spawn. Hope this helps. Lake Cat. is the best bass lake in the state and maybe the south. During the spawn last spring I have friends from the area that caught several between 8-10 pounds as well as other very impressive numbers of 4-6 pound bass. They will be building a huge boat launch in this area soon in hopes to have some of the big time tournaments there. This area is in the middle of an area from Venice to the Atchafalaya Delta that can easily be reached. Good Luck

a lot of people forget where the state (world)record came from.one of my favorite places in bayou segnette,westwego canal.althouugh no one has caught a six pounder since old lettie robertson,this area still makes for some good sac a lait fishing.you should start fishing this area now,ditto for bass.i know this because i am originally a new orleans native.so call us yats or what ever you may we can catch slabs with the best of em.

qiyanfeng,
I'm not quite sure how far South of me you are, but I live in Pearl River, just outside of Slidell. I work in N.O. east 3 or 4 days of the week usually. While I don't fish the area and not real familiar with how you are fishing, I will say that Irish Bayou (close to the twin spans) has a launch that I've been told ...many many times by the old timers that has multiple gravel pits off the east side of I10 west that has produced (for them) SLABS forever. That's word-of-mouth, since I've never gone.
I fish the lower, middle pearl areas mostly and some gravel pits here in Pearl River that are really starting to produce as the river drops. I fish out of a small boat w/ trolling motor that I launch in various places. I can give you all the information I have if you message me and are willing to make the drive. I can show you or tell you of some areas that are bank accessible if you are fishing that way, when I have the time.
take care,
Adam

Thank you so much,guys. People here are really warmheart. I don't have a lot of post here but I visit here almost everyday. You all are not stranger to me. I will think about to change my ID, Pete. I think it's too difficult to pronounce. I've tried both twins canal and I-55 canal last year. Only caught 1 fish there. What a pity! Hope this year will be better. I don't own a boat. So, I think there's not a lot of choice available for me. I will send you a message Micropterus salmoides.
Thanks again for all the reply. I will try and update here.