Marsh & Bayou’s
Fishing Forecast
Venice
Inshore
Capt. Ron Price
Fish Intimidator
( 504)416-6731
www.fishintimidator.com
Fishing in Venice in January can be
a very tough month depending on
river stage and temperatures. With the
river high like it is this year, you really
have to play the tides and the winds
more than usual. Personally, I hate fishing very muddy water and usually
spend a fair amount of time looking for
the best water I can find. I like falling
tides and also the last two hours of an
incoming tide as that is when the water
is usually at its best for being greener
and saltier…. and I use those terms
loosely)! Trout can be very hard to
come by, but there are days when they
show up, and they are big, beautiful fish.
I like the pockets in Blind Bay , Northshore Bay, and Redfish Bay as they
keep cleaner with north winds than most of the other Venice spots. If I'm fishing trout, I focus on that or spend my days up in Buras where the river water is
less of a nuisance. In Buras, everything from the bays in front of Joshua's Marina all the way to Yellow Cotton Bay hold trout in the deeper channels, on
their ledges, and on warmer days, over the oyster reefs. Usually there is no
need to go much further out than sight distance of the Hwy 23 levee. Again,
the secret is finding water with little river water. Some days you will even have
to pay attention to your prop wash as the river water will only be on the surface, but that will be misleading! My lures of choice are 3/8 ounce jigheads
with three-inch soft plastic cocahoes on the bottom; or if it's warmer outside, I
like the new shrimp imitations under a popping cork. Live shrimp or minnows
are hard to beat if you can get them and want odds in your favor!
The redfish aren't going to be near as picky as the trout. They will be on
any lee shoreline on the outskirts of the whole perimeter of Venice. Dead
shrimp or stinky plastics work best, either 18 inches under a cork or tight lined
if it's really cold. Falling tides are certainly best, just find an area of decent
water. Many days, patience is name of the game. Buras tends to have cleaner
water on the west side of the river, but there are some d