Hitting the Wall
by Jeff Bruhl

Captain Matt McCabe (on right) finds white and speckle trout along the Wall during the late fall and winter months.

As cold weather grips the New Orleans area, speckle trout congregate around the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier, better known in local fishing circles as the "The Wall." Anglers may speculate the reasons so many trout hang near the wall; heat retention of the massive cement barrier or a stopper in the migration path of wintering trout. No matter the reason, the Wall is in New Orleans’ backyard and fun to fish.

Captain Matt McCabe took my two sons, Matthew and Jeremy, and me for a quick afternoon trip to the Wall. The usually crowded Wall only had a few boats anchored along the big cement structure due to a recent stretch of warm weather.

"During the week, the word gets out and the weekend anglers line up along both north and south sides. The schools come through in waves so anglers catch fish even on crowded weekends" begins Captain Matt, owner of Pro Edge Fishing Charters.

It only took a few cast for the Captain and his crew to add a fish to the box. Captain Matt uses Matrix Shad tails with 3/8 ounce jig heads. Live shrimp are available for most trip but we chose to bounce a few jig heads off the bottom. Live shrimp on a drop shot is an easy setup for anglers to haul in a few trout. However, there are a few techniques that will produce fish for the artificial lure guys.

Add a 3/8 ounce jig head and your favorite plastic to a rod spooled with 10-12 pound test Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon. Matrix Shad, Egret Wedgetail, and Berkley Gulp Jerkshad are a few choices I recommend for deep water jigging.

"Bites are very light to almost undetectable" adds Captain Matt, who uses his bass fishing skills and knowledge of sonar to find sweet spots along the Wall. "Keep a tight line when the lure falls and when you bounce it. A strike is just a different feeling than a free swimming lure."

Captain Matt uses his Lowrance HDS 9 unit to find the drop offs along the Wall and other spots in the area. He knows the fish hang on drop offs on cold winter days. Also, the fish may be on the top of the ridge on certain days so boat position and casting direction is another tip the guide recommends anglers pay attention to.

"Cast the lure directly towards the wall and let it fall down the drop off" continues Captain Matt. "Other days throw it parallel to the wall and work it back to the boat. It all depends on boat traffic, tide and weather but those presentation usually work the best."

Another tactic that will produce fish at the Wall is a slow reel presentation. Anglers should change to a quarter-ounce head but other sizes work well, too. Begin with a long cast and allow the bait to hit the bottom. Next, use a very slow return and add a pause or two on the way back to the boat. Trout are along the bottom but some suspend above the drop-offs. A slow presentation catch fish other anglers miss.

If the Wall is a destination in mind, a few bits of information are needed. First, anglers can launch in several places. Chef Pass has a few launches but most are crowded and difficult to drop a boat into the water. Boaters should bring a big dose of patience for the Chef Pass area launches. Bayou Bienvenue is a good launch but the locks may not open and may prevent you from reaching your destination. Hopedale area is another option but fishing is just as good locally so it is not worth leaving fish.

The "Wall" is a great winter time destination. Cold weather pushes speckle trout and white trout into the deep water of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO). Add in the marshes surrounding the Wall that hold bass and redfish which makes the trip with many options for the angler. From November till late February, the cold water hot spot is a must do for anglers from the Northshore to New Orleans.

About the author: Jeff Bruhl is a member of the Louisiana Outdoors Writer Association, pro angler, and a pharmacist. His website, www.marshbass.com, covers freshwater fishing across Louisiana and the gulf coast. Each Saturday morning between 5-7 am CST, a bass fishing report can be heard on the Outdoors with Don Dubuc Radio Show (www.dontheoutdoorsguy.com) on 870 AM from the New Orleans station. Jeff has made numerous television and radio appearances on shows like Paradise Louisiana, The Big Fish, and ABC26.com. From tips on youtube.com to weekly reports on his website, his articles and reports provide tips and tactics for bass anglers in the sportsman paradise. Jeff’s sponsors include Abu Garcia, Xpoint hooks, Bud Light, Louisiana Fish Fry Products, Power Pole, Stanley Jigs and Spinnerbaits, Skeeter, Dockside Marine, Rat-L-Trap, and Berkley. For more information about fishing in Louisiana, drop Jeff an email at bruhljeff@hotmail.com.