drains coming into the MRGO, trout, reds, and
some bass have been spread throughout the area.
You may not find them stacked up in one spot, but
if you put in the work, you can definitely fill the
fryer.
Hopedale Lagoon is always a wintertime hot spot
for the kayaking community, and this winter is no
different. If you like to jig, work the banks for reds,
or troll, this is an area you have to learn. There are
some points that are covered in oyster shells were
the lagoon meets with Ameda, and also directly
across the lagoon. An easy way to learn where the
shells are is to troll. With a quarter or eighth
ounce jighead and paddle tail thrown out behind
you, keep your kayak at a speed of 1.8 to 2.1 MPH
and in time, you will come
across some trout. As you
land the first fish, you can
either choose to troll back
over the same area time
and time again; or you can
turn around and get back
to where that strike happened using a jighead and
paddle tail, and it’s highly
likely there is a small pile
of shells that the trout
were sitting on, you should
feel the shells during the
jigging process. If you can
find it, it’s likely you can
pull 5 or 6 by jigging and
then move on to trolling
again in search of another
shell pile or school waiting
to inhale your lure.
Always remember to wear
your PFD and dress accordingly. Even if the air
temp is a nice 75 degrees, the water this month is
getting colder with every front that passes and the
last thing you want is to have a two-mile paddle
home while freezing in soaking wet clothes.
Good luck and until next time,
Stay Safe & Catch1