In Louisiana we're fortunate to be able to begin (or continue) our fishing season earlier than our northern fishing friends. In south Louisiana the fishing season never really ends, only a few interuptions by one or two days of cold (in the 40's) weather. So, by the 1st of March "it's time" to catch fish. From south to north La., the fishing is great with big spawning bass and white perch being caught in the inland lakes and rivers and speckled trout and redfish in marshes and bays of the gulf coast.

With low water conditions in almost all the lakes and rivers and marshes, many of the old reliable "spots" are high and dry this year. So, "ITS TIME" to use the ole hat holder and think about what the fish may be doing as the spawning season is already here!

When considering how to fish a body of water the first major consideration should be the water temperature. Since the north end of a lake gets the least amount of exposure to north winds and the west side of the lake gets the most sunlight, I would start at the northwest end of the lake. Also, warm spring rains warm the north end of the lake and bring in nutrients that stimulate the food chain.

Next, I would find the migration routes which fish use to travel to the spawning flats. These will be creek channels from the main lake and in the small inlets these could be minor ditches and drains. Early, the fish congregate on the ledges of the creeks or humps adjacent to deep water and to the flats. These areas are also good place to search during a cold front or high pressure day.

As the water warms the fish begin to move shallow looking for hard or sandy bottoms or any cover(stumps/logs/brushtops etc.) to spawn on.(Depending onthe water clarity this can be from 6 ft to 6 in) Because of the low water conditions this reduces the places available for spawning and makes it easier to locate spawning fish.

When the water temperature is in the 60's I would begin my search in shallow water working any available cover working from shallow to deep water til contact with a fish is made. At that point I would make a mental note on how the fish took the bait, depth and clarity of the water, how the bait was presented, etc. then try to duplicate the scenario. With the low water conditions and much of the usual banks with hard bottoms, rocks, etc. on dry ground, consider fishing the stumps with root systems or cypress trees with large root systems. Begin with a bait that causes a reaction strike such as a Stanley 3/8 oz. spinner bait or a Rattle Trap to cover lots of water and locate the fish. Then slow down and saturate the cover with a soft plastic bait such as a ReAction Lures Gator Dog, Zoom lizard or a jig 'n pig. Also its a good idea to go back and fish the same areas over with a different type of lure such as a Smithwick Rogue that might cause a strike from a fish that wasn't aggitated enough on the first pass to strike.

Remember, if you're looking for a BIG fish "IT'S TIME". Big spawning females are the most vulnerable to fishermen, and your chances of catching a lunker greatly increases in the spawning season. (Remember to take a picture and release spawning fish to the same areas they were caught.)

...Also "IT'S TIME" to take a child fishing in the nice weather of the spring while a kid can hang in there and fish all day.

Visit Danny at www.huntnfishla.com for more great info.