Wether to go before the front or after is always a common question we receive through DockSide’s contact forum. This time of year as we enter our favorite month playing the front is the key. Once the trout station themselves in there late fall and winter time pattern after transitioning from the hot winter, Louisiana cold fronts should dictate when, where and what you fish for. What we like to do before an approaching front when its hot enough to still where shorts is focus on trout. If it is still early and the school trout are pushed up in the marsh like in our latest DockSide TV video, we like to break out the popping corks and use the Purple Haze Vortex and Magneto Matrix Shad under the cork. We generally try and find grassy, deep and curving bayous with good currents. Put the wind or tide to our stern and flow down the bayou popping the corks as it sounds like a shrimp popping the surface. Don’t be surprised if a green trout or a nice red is on the end of your line after your cork goes under. The corks we use are maid by “Boat Monkey Floats” and have been very effective. While going down a small bayou or a ditch if you approach a flat area or a duck pond make sure to float in there with eyes peeled for floating redfish. When the big trout move into the lake on the bridge structure that is the time our mouths start to water and playing the fronts is key. If yo can find sections on the bridge holding nice fish on normal days make sure to go the day before the front as the fish tend to go into a frenzy. The problem fishing the big lake the day of the front is tuff weather so be careful but if you brave it big pay offs generally follow. If forced to fish after the front we usually like to wait at least 36 hrs for wind to settle from north and west before we get back out there. Depending on how much west or north wind came with the front tells us where do go. If winds stay up out of the west for several days after a front which blows all the water out and makes the lake look like the Mississippi River we head straight for the marshes off the chef or the Great Wall off the ICW. When fishing the marsh or ICW you have the luxury of finding clean water and multiple species of fish. Bass, trout, reds and flounder can be found all over the Alligator Point marsh or around the pipeline near the wall or simply fish the wall itself. If the front is more of a weak front and winds quickly shift back to the NE we try to get back on the bridges as soon as possible if the mule trout are hanging around there. Look for the south end of the lake to be filthy at first though as it takes the longest to clear after a front but as soon as the winds circle the wagons and begin to have a southerly flow back to the south shore we go. November is the best time of year hands down so make sure to get some days in. Hot colors for the big lake trout will be the “Pink Champagne” Matrix Shad on a 3/8oz Golden Eye. If you plan to stay in the marsh this November the”Purple Haze” Vortex Shad is a great choice on a 5/16 oz Golden Eye Head. Check out our latest video on fishing around the fronts at www.DockSideLA.com and pick up your Matrix Shad at your local retailer or at www.MatrixShad.com. Until Next Time: “Good Fishing” 
