Red River Bass Fishing Reports

[dave the dope man]

Pool 4 again today.......Rain in the AM. Ended up with 6 fish, 5 biggest went about 8 and 1/2 lbs. 1 on a spinnerbait and the rest on a jig. The spinner was my "Bisteneau Special" however, after a BIG gar came by it was gone.....Idiot fish!!!    . The Jig was a 3/8 oz same as yesterday in color and trailer. All fish were still shallow very shallow. I believe the deepest fish caught was in 2 foot of water. I locked down on one oxbow for the whole day and remained commited to the bite and site. I believe it was the right decision because I basically eliminated pool 4 for the Federation Tournament. I think that the Tournament will be won in pool 5.
     Here's one for ya, I saw 3 grass carp today that would make a bull red look like a guppie. At least 60+ lbs each. All three were about 4 and 1/2 feet long.............I found a snake tree today as well............Dave

[docwaldo]

me and the dope man went to pool 5 and man--it was not pretty.  caught abouit 15 fish, and the biggest 15 would have maybe weight 10 pounds.  had trouble catching any size.  lots of 9 inchers.  caught some on c-rig and some on senkos and some onplastics.  all in all me and the dopester had a good time.  saw a new form of ignernt (ignorant) and caught some sunshine.  dope caught a huge sac-a-lait on a crank bait and did not get bit on a spinner bait. 

i can tell ya that if me and dope spend much time together, there will be trouble involved.  that i can assure you.

doc 

[Mike Cork]

I figure you two might get along a little too well this could be dangerous if they team up.....

[Marty]

Dave, I am pretty stubborn, therefore I am still planning to devote at least a little of my practice time for the federation tournament to a specific place in pool 4. I haven't fished this spot as early as September, but I have fished it in mid October & it was good, so hopefully it will be worth a run south.  Of course, I would much rather be on some good ones in pool 5 so I could spend less time running & more time with a hook in the water.  Did you fish the Feb tournament?

Marty

[dave the dope man]

Marty, I didn't fish the Feb. Tournament (didn't get my entry form in on time), and I agree pool 4 is not my 1st choice but with what I have found so far it may be my only choice. Your'e not fishing the oxbow witht the metal poles in it are you? I don't want to crowd you if I can help it............
     As far as today, read Doc's post. the fishing wasn't awe inspiring however the company was fan-freakin-tastic. For those of you thinking that Doc and I may be too much alike,,,,,,Your'e absolutley right....Next time I want to tube while fishing    Doc man did I enjoy today!!!! We need to do it again soon. I did like the Bumble Bee, Nice ride.......Dave

[Marty]

Nope Dave, no poles that I can remember.  I fished as a non-boater in the Feb tournament, and didn't do all that well so I'm not really in the running for the state team or anything, but a friend of mine is in pretty good standing & if he can do well on this one he has a good chance.  There are 6 guys from my club fishing the Sept. event.  This is my 1st year fishing the fed, next year I will know what to expect.  I guess you know the 1st tournament is on Darbonne. 

Marty

[BIG PAPA]

Hey Dave or Doc, how about a little more info on that new kind of " ignernt" thing, I for one am dying of curiosity

papa

[docwaldo]

we were fishing in the "cut" right off the river just north of the lock #5.  you know the one that homer always throws a c-rig?  anyway--about 30 minutes before we left, we see a big old deck boat come screaming down the river pulling a big old tube with two kids on it.  they got right ouit ni the river in front of the cut and turned in to the cut.  they never really slowed down.  they dragged that tube with kids on it right thru the cut.  man--that is a special kind of dumb (or ignernt).  anyway--that was the highlite of ouir trip.  it makes me feel a little better about myself and my kin folk when i see someone else do something like that.

drop it deep and yank it hard and you better not fall off the tube.  .  .

doc   

[Mike V]

I got a tournament on the river tommorrow. Does anybody got a fishing report???

[dave the dope man]

Mike, go back over the posts from the last few weeks. It doesn't look like it has changed much lately. If you want a secret hint try this. check in tommrow, then have someone drive the truck and trailer to Coushatta. Load up and drive to Grand Bayou, Catch some GOOD fish, drive back to the river and reverse sequence.............Dave 

[Mike Noble]

Is that legal?  And what if you catch only slot fish at Grand Bayou...I guess you keep them because you are really fishing the River? 

[dave the dope man]

Yeah, there you go..I'll have to try that sometime........Dave

[Mike V]

Boy that sounds like a good idea, but I have never in my life fished Grand Bayou. I would be lost

[Trey]

Grand Bayou is either feast or famine.  When the bite is on, it's like fishing in an aquarium.  But when it's not, you might as well be on lake cast-a-lot!

Trey 

[Marty]

I fished the river today out of Clark's.  Caught 8 fish, but only 4 were keepers, and none were really big.  The best one went a little over 2 lbs.  A few bit on a crank bait, some on a worm & one or two on a brush hog.  Never did get a bite on the c-rig.  I tried it in a few places that have worked for me in the past, but no-go today.  Anybody got any helpfull info for the river?  I want to try it again on Sunday.  Think I'll catch up on the honey do's tomorrow.   Even though today's fishing was tough and I didn't catch an impressive sack, it was STILL BETTER THAN GOING TO WORK!!!!!!!

[Sears]

Has anyone been fishing the river lately?  I was wondering how the fishing was since it has been so clear.  I wonder if the rain will turn the bite on this weekend.

[dave the dope man]

Sears, The state Federation tournament is being held this weekend out of clarks, so I wouldn't expect alot of information till after sunday afternoon. Most people will be fairly tight-lipped for now, sorrry, ..........Dave

[Sears]

Thanks for the info.  I will want to avoid the river if there is a major tourney there. 

Last time I fished the river it was during the media tourney.  We locked up right below clarks with about 100 other bass boats that had missed or were about to miss their weigh-in.  By the time our boat got to the end of the "no-wake" zone, there was a 5 ft chop and boats going airborne.  Idling out of the lock kind of made me feel like there was a war and I was in a bass boat armada or something.

[dave the dope man]

     Okay here is the break down of the State Federation Tournament.

     Day One: I drew a guy from Slidell  by the name of Barry Fallon, he was going into this tournament in 8th for the state team and only wanted 5 fish for points. We took his boat, an '03 20 ft G3 w/ 150 V-Max. Anyhow, I took him up to the barge turn around and he was culling at 1100 am, with about 7 and 3/4 lbs. Ihad 4 at that time and had lost 2 over 2. stayed there till 1 pm, and then ran north to the sweage treatment plant and missed one there, other than that, nothing more. AM it was raining off and on with winds out of the NE, gusts to about 15 mph. Water was still clear however and I didn't get a water temp, he never turned any electronics on. before weighin we hit some rock walls, but he noticed that his fish were beginning to "roll over" somewhat. We added ice and stirred the water and kept all but one alive, his weight with 5 was 7.52 with the penalty, Mine was 5.54 with only 4 to weigh in. An added note: Mike Echols was day one leader with 13+ lbs. Day two, I don't know what happened to him because he didn't even cut a check and they paid out 15 places.

     Day two: I drew a guy from (where else) Slidell, again he only wanted 5 fish for points. Again run to Barge turn around, this time however I was culling at 1000. He wanted to run his boat today, so away in the ZX 225 we went. Side Note: He had bought Roger Bolers team boat, and man will that damnnn thing fly. Back to business, Today was blue bird with North winds at 8-15. For the first time in two days we got on some schoolers in Barge turn around.  He only had 3 fish when we left at 1130. I tried to help.. We got ready to run and .....dead starting battery. switched over to a trolling batt and off we go on to spot #2. I missed on and he picked up his last two in about 15 minutes there. We fished afew other spots  and finally ended up on the grass ridge south of clarks and that is where he missed a solid 4lb'er on a brushHawg. That sealed the deal. He weighed in a little over 6 and I weighed in 7.54, for a total two day weight of 13.06, not enough for a check, but I did win a gallon of oil in the door prize and got a T-shirt. Not too bad,,,,was it?
     On to next year, spring qualifier is at D'arbone in Feb, and the Fall qualifier is at Morgan city-the basin in Sept.
     I got the opportunity to fish with two professional guys who not only didn't front-end me but also helped me out and we shared baits. I have a red fish trip when I am ready by both guys. Oh I didn't tell you day two boaters name,,,,Billy Hoezell. both great guys and I mad sure I promoted the site to both and anyone else who would listen.
     Marty, Man be glad you didn't make day two. It was TOUGH. The guys that on day one had a 5 fish limit of 9 and 10 lbs, on day two struggled to get 2 or 3 fish. everyone's pattern had changed,,,,but mine.
     I apoligize for the long post, I just wanted to pass along the results. look in the paper I think they got a shot of me pulling my fish out of the livewell today..............Dave

[dave the dope man]

OhOhOh I forgot, these were the most productive baits.... wtaermelon seed cinko's weightless very slow to almost a deadstick. lighter colored crankbaits along the rocks, anywhere from the surface to about 8 foot divers. watermeoln brushhawgs. C-rig a Yum Hoodini shad VERY FAST.  And of course a buzzbait. Dave

[Marty]

Dave, congrats on doing so well   It was great to meet you. Hahaha.....I won't try to make any excuses.....EXCEPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....lemmmeeeseeehere: boat broke...back hurt...elbow hurt...allergy killin' me, what else, uhhh....OK, like I said, no excuses!  Maybe you & me can get together for a white perch trip in a few weeks.  I should have my BROKE Yamaha back by then!  Again, congratulations on a good tournament.  And I'll be ready for Darbonne !


Marty

[dave the dope man]

Good deal Marty. So whats the verdict on the yamaha?  Dave

[Marty]

It's sittiing in my garage right now, won't go to the shop till Tuesday or Wednesday.  My day 1 partner, who had a Yam on the back of his ZX225 (yep, I got to ride in one of those fast botes too ) told me a story about how his motor was running kind of like mine was on Friday.  He said for me to remove the high-pressure fuel pump & check a very fine screened filter on the bottom of that.  I haven't looked at it yet, but will do that before I take the boat in to the mechanics.  Keep in mind, my motor is still under warranty since the new powerhead was installed a couple months ago, so I really want to make sure the dealer can't blame it on me when (IF) it should go KABOOM before the warranty expires.  If the filter isn't very obviously clogged up, then it's going to the dealer's for sure.

Marty

[dave the dope man]

Hopefully that will be it. Good luck and keep us up to date....dave

[Marty]

Oh yeah, I forgot to state that I DID catch some fish in the federation tournament, just not as many or as big as Dave's!  The guy I fished with wanted to stay on the main river all day, and since I didn't have a better plan, and he was in 5th place going into this last tournament, I let him do what he wanted.  I wasn't in contention for anything, so I just went with his plan & went fishing.  We did hit a couple of small pockets where I caught a few in practice, but I don't think we caught any keepers there.  Most of our fish came on buzzbaits fished close to the hyacints & scattered pepper grass on either side of the main river channel.....both north & south of Clark's.  The pepper grass seemed to be the main key.  He only wieghed in 3 keepers for day 1, for around 5 1/2 lbs or so.  I only had one keeper, so I didn't bother sacking it up, just tossed it over the side at the dock.  I knew I wouldn't be fishing day 2, so I saw no point in putting the single fish through the trouble.  I caught plenty of fish, just too small.  I did miss a big'un on a buzzbait.  Caught a few on a junebug worm, as well.

Marty