Keith Lusher 11.08.24
There’s simply one thing about fishing in November that brings out one of the best in Jim Bates of Lacombe, LA. Bates fishes for crappie within the rivers and bayous that pepper the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain.
Recently, nonetheless, he has honed in on one particular tributary that has been producing loads of crappie – Bayou Lacombe. Bates fishes for crappie year-round however mentioned November is his favourite time to fish the bayou. “The chilly mornings with the low-flying geese buzzing by is de facto one thing to expertise,” he mentioned. “It’s my little piece of heaven.”
In November, Bates makes an adjustment when fishing for crappie as he strikes out of the dead-end canals and into the principle river with deeper water.
The crappie fisherman mentioned he’s beginning to see fish unfold out proper now with November being a transitional month for crappie on the bayou. “There are nonetheless fish within the canals, however because the month goes by and the climate will get colder, I’m anticipating them to begin grouping up in the principle bayou,” he mentioned. The fish can be in 15-20 toes of water and be holding to construction resembling tree tops and brush on the underside.
Bates makes use of Garmin Livescope to find his fish and mentioned he’s seeing crappie in bigger and extra outlined teams. the tighter groupings make it simpler to catch extra fish in a single spot as an alternative of getting to run everywhere in the bayou selecting up fish.
In early November, Bates recommends fishing the intersections the place smaller feeder creeks join with the principle bayou.
“I begin to see them group up extra round submerged brush piles and close to creeks or subdivision canals that run into to the principle bayou,” he mentioned.
It’s usually mentioned that the place you discover the bait, you’ll discover the fish. Bates mentioned he’s seeing a plethora of shad within the bayou this month. “The fish are following their meals supply, and on Bayou Lacombe, their meals supply is massive balls of shad,” Bates mentioned. “Discover the shad and discover the crappie.”
Bates fishes with a 9-foot Lew’s Wally Marshall Basic Collection jig pole.
“I discover that the Med-light motion is delicate sufficient to really feel the thump but additionally has sufficient spine to provide a superb hook-set,” he mentioned. Bates pairs the rod with a Daiwa Underspin XD Reel and masses it with 8-pound fluorocarbon line.
In November, his favourite jig to make the most of is a 2-inch Child Shad made by Panfish Murderer. His favourite colours are Salt & Pepper and Crystal Shad.
He threads them on a 1/64 Arkie Minnow jighead. Then he provides a break up shot.
“I pinch the slit-shot a few foot above the jig to assist get the lure all the way down to the fish faster and to have the ability to acknowledge my jig on the electronics,” he mentioned.
As November turns to December, Bates will flip to the principle bayou for all of his fish as they are going to be coming into their winter haunts and stocking up for the spawn within the spring.
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