Grand Bayou Bass Fishing Reports

Moose · June 29, 2004, 01:56:09 PM

I must have a bad reputation! That makes the 4th time this year I was checked on GB. You left before he arrived after lunch Saturday. The wardens are always friendly, and don't search real hard to find something to write up. I normally show my license, life jackets, and they ask about my fish. I had one get in the boat with me once to check the length but after he was splashed real good he quit his checking!

I had released a 17" bass Saturday and told GW I was afraid the fish would shrink in the live well and he'd fine me. He said if I had one that close to 17 he'd just release it without fining me but it was best to not keep them that close.

The bass (jack fish & grental) bit top water all day long. We caught them with chug-bugs, pop-Rs, tiny torpedos, and a couple on white spinner baits until we left at 3pm.

Gabby · June 30, 2004, 09:46:53 AM

Hey Moose, where are you catching those bowfin, and what are they biting. Never caught one, but would love to.

Sears - are you a daddy yet, or what?

Gabby

Mike Cork · June 30, 2004, 01:51:36 PM

Catching bow fin is fun but after the first one you never really want to put another one in the boat! Has anyone been night fishing on the grand yet this year?

Sears · June 30, 2004, 03:19:26 PM

Haven't been night fishing yet. I am hoping to go soon. In fact, it will be my first time bass fishing at night. Any tips for GB at night? I was going to hit the same places that I catch them in early morning. I know the basics of night are a 10" texas rigged worm, colorado blade spinner bait and a buzzbait---ALL BLACK.

Moose · July 01, 2004, 10:43:54 AM

Gabby,
Grental are fun to catch and fight really well although I'd prefer not catch them! They'll tear-up and steal baits. They are slimmy and bleed easily so your boat can become a mess real fast. Realize also they have a mouthful of extremely sharp teeth, so don't try to lip one! I've never cleaned or tried to eat one, always considered it a trash fish. I hear they carry more mercury than the average fish also.

I caught the first one on a chug-bug and the sencond on a white 1/8 oz spinner bait. Both came along the bank by vegetation - specifically beside small size lilly pads. The place is about halfway on the upper end (under the bridge) and along the left bank. I really don't fish for grental, they just bite sometimes like the jack-fish do while bass fishing. A friend several years ago caught a 13lb one in Arkansas. He thought he had a trophy largemouth until I netted him! Another guy I occassionally fish with caught one about 10lbs on Barksdale's Flagg Lake this year.

Gabby · July 03, 2004, 09:21:27 PM

Fished Grand Bayou Friday July 2nd from 5 pm til about 1:30 am, and had some pretty good luck.

Only caught one during light hours, and it came on a watermelon red lizard. Lost a couple, but it was pretty slow. Saw a couple of guys hammering some small fish with flukes out in the stickup flats in the middle of the lake, and we had a bites when following suit. We were hog-hunting with the Carolina Rig & Crankbaits with no results.

Finally nightfall came and we hit the docks (our favorite). Brantley called his shot on the 2nd cast. He said, "watch me catch one off this brushpile," and by God - he landed a nice fish that was 4-5 pounds. We got an ovation from a few people who were having a party on the next pier - so we trolled over and hung with them for a little while - then back to business.

BRANTLEY'S CALLED SHOT

When we made our second round at the docks, I cast my worm to the left of our friends dock - and one of them threw something in the water (to tease us) and at the same time, I stuck a nice fish. It was cool and we were congratulated with a cold beer.

All in all, we caught around 15-20, and they were all 2 pounds or better. I caught every single one of my night fish on a Junebug 11' Ole Monster. It was a blast, but my thumb is torn up.

Mike Noble · July 04, 2004, 07:21:26 AM

Thats a good night fishing trip. Calling your shot is always fun.

Mike Cork · July 04, 2004, 07:25:49 AM

I love Grand Bayou at night and it usually turns on pretty good this time of year. Sounds like a great trip. Once it got dark did you all try and spinner baits? How about top water? Just curious, grand has been known to have a very furosious reaction bite after dark!!!!!

Gabby · July 04, 2004, 12:36:04 PM

Mike,

Our game plan was to use the spinner and worms. I just stuck with the worm because it was working - plus, I think it is more fun to catch a fish on a worm than anything else. A close second is topwater, and we were throwing buzzbaits and chugbugs before dark, but the fish were not biting.

Usually, they school like crazy - but I think all of this rain and cooler temps kinda messed that up. I am sure it will get back to normal later in the summer when the heat sets in. I do think Brantley caught 1 or 2 on the blade, but I never really picked up my blade rod because the worm was working so well. It was such a good bite, that my arm (I have tennis elbow as we speak) was really hurtin towards the end. Setting that hook took something out of me!

About Grand Bayou's night bite - I swear to you, all we catch are quality fish after dark. Not sure what it is, but you can count on the fish at least being in the slot.

danisfish · July 04, 2004, 04:28:14 PM

Gabby I think I saw you on Grand friday. I was out there with a friend of mine. We did not do as well as you and your buddy did. I think we started about four and caught around four or five before it got dark. I thought we were really going to do well, but we only caught a few after dark. We both fished plastics and top waters, we had good numbers of fish but not the quality you guys had. I might go back tonight and try to find some of the big boys. Daniel

Gabby · July 04, 2004, 05:58:18 PM

Dan,

We were in a big white/grey Nitro. I was wearing a "Panama Jack" hat until night. Then I threw on my Gamakatsu hat and started catching fish. Try the dark worms along the docks at night when the moon is up!

Gabby

Sears · July 06, 2004, 09:09:52 AM

Fished GB early Saturday morning. Caught 3 on rattle trap. All of them around 12 inches. Just one jack fish on top water.

Also fished Sunday evening/night. Caught my biggest fish yet.(I have been bass fishing for 13 months now) It was about 19 inches (off of my scale) on a rattle trap about 15 mins before sundown. My fishing buddy and I hooked into 3 more with the rattle trap before dark. We didn't get a bite after dark. Boredom and fatigue set in before the moon came up so we headed to the house with no more bites.

Gabby, we will have to hook up soon so you can show me the GB night fishing technique.

Chris · July 06, 2004, 05:19:31 PM

Yeah Gabby , when you get ready to take sears please allow some trail boats so the rest of us can get in on the action. I cant find my own fish...ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT!

Red Ranger · July 27, 2004, 07:33:54 PM

Thinking about doing some night fishing on GB this weekend with my son. Anyone have any tips they want to share?

BIG PAPA · July 27, 2004, 11:04:45 PM

Ranger I have a friend that fishes around the swimming area at night and seems to really do well.

papa

Red Ranger · July 31, 2004, 01:06:57 PM

We whiffed last night. Fished around the swimming area and docks, until about 1:00 with no luck. Tried big worms, black spinner bait, hula poppers, jitter bug, banna boat, torpedo, flippin tube, carolina rig, black/red flake senko, etc....... There were several boats on the lake and most were moving a good bit.

Mike Cork · August 01, 2004, 12:23:01 PM

Looks like it was tough every where last night.

Mike Cork · August 23, 2004, 01:08:32 PM

Allright I know there was a tournament their this weekend, so how did it go? Couldn't have been that bad.

Mike Noble · August 23, 2004, 01:20:27 PM

I was driving up I-49 on Saturday evening and passed thru the general area about 8:15 p.m, and I can tell you that there was plenty of rain and lightening/thunder. It could have been tricky out there.

Mike Cork · August 23, 2004, 01:22:01 PM

I figure they got hit with a storm I hope it didn't put anyone into harms way.....

dave the dope man · August 23, 2004, 04:37:27 PM

The fishing itself wasn't bad however, We spent about an hour and a half sitting under the marina by the swiming area. We took back off about 9:30 and fished till 3. Doug and I missed a limit by one fish that I lost at about 0245. I forgot what our weight was but we came in 3rd.............Dave

ʇuǝɹq™ · August 23, 2004, 10:35:15 PM

I caught three. One in the slot, one over, and one under. I had two break me off on the same dock. This was the first time I'd been to this lake, but I liked it!

Mike Noble · August 26, 2004, 07:16:55 AM

KTBS was "live and on the scene" this morning at the Grand Bayou Resort. They showed film footage taken this week of the area and talked a great deal about the lake and the resort. There are 8 "luxury" cabins that sleep 10 people and 52 camp sites for motor homes/camper trailers. And they have playground equipment on its way.

MotherNature · August 26, 2004, 11:00:51 AM

Grand Bayou has some of the nicest cabins I have ever rented! They are townhouse style with bedrooms up and down and a very nice community room and the one we were in had a big screen and very comfy beds...

Laurie

dave the dope man · August 26, 2004, 07:37:29 PM

BIG SCREEN?

? We have stayed in cabins 1&2, 5&6, and have never had a big screen, BTW they don't have satalite TV or cable, just local open air. Now don't get me wrong, we have loved each time we have been there, the cabins are nice and big plenty of hot water and you don't have to bring cooking utensils. I just want to know which ones have the BIG SCREEN. We have already reserved our cabins for next June........Dave