Challenge MRGO & Mother Nature

TEAM JO-JO:

It’s been (7) long days since me last danced on the water, and I could feel the itch deep in my bones. Team Jo-Jo’s Fishing Session this past Saturday helped scratch the surface—plenty of fishing, catching, and, of course, sharing some legendary tales. Some were true, some maybe stretched a tad, but all were good for a laugh. Still, the pull of the water only grew stronger.

Then, as if fate itself wanted to test my patience, we got hit with a SNOWSTORM! A rare sight down here, but one that completely froze any chance of wetting a line. For someone like me, who lives for the feel of a tight line and the smell of saltwater, it was torture.

Thankfully, Big Rudy, my co-host for Team Jo-Jo’s Fishing Curriculum Session and fellow water addict, was feeling the same pull. We couldn’t let too much time pass without a trip, so we penciled on Thursday to get back on the water. But Mother Nature wasn’t ready to make it easy. The weather wasn’t quite right—too windy, too cold, or just plain stubborn—so we called an audible and shifted our sights to Friday.

With plans set and hearts racing, we locked in a trip to the MRGO aboard the trusty Bay Flat Jr. Friday, January 24, 2025, would be the day we’d finally get back to what we love most—chasing Silverwonders, telling tall tales, and feeding the fire of our shared obsession. The water calls, and we’re more than ready to answer.

SIGNS:                            

·         Long week being off water.

·         Monday card game me no fish at table, up 1.47 “C” note.

·         Crazy weather, snow, snow, and snow we had 10-12 “ Grand Champions.

·         Took advantage in down time, worked on rods & getting them ready for future endeavors.

·         Hot to trot for Friday trip, great anticipation 30t & 8r, fish had no pressure for the last 7 days they should be on, on, on,!!!

·         Up at 5 AM for out 6 AM meet up at our abode.

·         Loaded all gear into Ford transporter,

·         Rabbit crossed our path now me know it going to be  good day, luck was with rabbit, (did not get hit) and Team Jo-Joon this day.

·         Huston we have a problem, Hwy 11 traffic bumper to bumper, it took us 1 hour plus to get from Hwy 11 bridge to Hwy 90, after that is was clear sailing.

·         Four pulls on Yamaha Nightmare Machine to get her started she is a lot better since me changed fuel line.

·         Off to honey hole in MRGO to start out fun day of fishing.

CONDITIONS:

·          Perfect

·         Wind, W.N.W. 12-14mph.

·         Water status / conditions: clam. Ripples, slight chops

·         Sky, sunny & clear snowbird type day

·         Temp, cold 38 F.

·         Water level, down 3-4 feet

·         Water Temp ,  41.2 F

·         Salinity,   2.1

·         Specific Conductance   3880

·         Pressure,    30.51  R

·         Water clarity on a scale of 1-7, 4 plus

·         Mississippi gauge:  4.2’

·         Caernarvon Outfall:  734         ft3/s

·         Tide, falling all day.

·         Peak tide,  09:09  H  1.44’

·         Peak tide,   NONE

·         Major Feed Time:   06:48  /  19:18

·         Minor feed time:    02:13 / 00:24

·         Tidal Coefficient:   39 (Very low)

·         Fish Activity

·           Averag Activity   

·         Boats are out and about,  6 boats.

·      ONEOFTHEPACK’S REPERTOIRE OF TECHNIQUES / STRATEGIES      

·         Be safe.

·         Have fun.

·         This is me daily therapy for ALL me aliments.

·         Put some running time on the Bay Flat Jr and the Yamaha Nightmare Machine

·         Gather Intel for future trips, and to share with fisherperson, (on Facebook) to help assist them in their choice of areas to fish, lures to use and presentation of same to the elusive Silverwonders.

·         Catch what catch can.

·         Learn what learn can.

·         Feed our addition to fishing.

·         See if the Jerk Baits the ones to fish with

·         See if Big Girls wanted to play!

·         Bring home some fishes for petite Yana

·         Find a spot  # with the seven fundamentals / criteria of catching:

1 WIND AT YOUR BACK: (Wind was perfect pushed right along MRGO rocks, picked up a little during the day, made it hard to feel jerk baits)

2 MOVING WATER: (Falling all day pouring through locks, made it hard to try and fish that area)

3 WATER CALRITY: (Little off today, instead of a 7 plus we had a 4 plus, sandy looking, hard falling current had it a dirty some. The Pen was also dirty, this not usuals for that area.)

4 HOLDING FISH:  (Channel edges, set up in 24’ of water throwback to drop up and fish down it.)

5 PATIENCES: (Needed some today 4 sure, me got skunked, Big Rudy caught one and lost one, but t still a good learning day 4 sure)

6 SKILL: (Drop shot only technique / presentation to catch today.)

7 LUCKS: (Kenny’s Seafood was open today.)

·      Oneofthepack’s repertoire of Techniques / presentations:

·         Anchor up cast & retrieve slowly along the bottom, with a twitch every now and then, tight lining…………………………………DID NOT TRY

·         Drift with the wind cast & retrieve (DWWC&R)……………Jerk Baits nothing, (1) nice strike)

·         Oak River Troll (ORT)……………….Did not try.

·         Reverse Oak River Troll (RORT) ………..DID NOT TRY

·         Oak River Skim (ORS) ……………DID NOT TRY

·         Cork ……..Nothing

·         Lake P Troll (LPT)…………….Nothing

·         Drop shot: (1) t.

·         Dead bait……None

·         Live bait………………None

·      Oneofthepack ‘S repertOIRE of LURE DU JOUR:

·         3” H&H Purple Beetle, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head with gold hook……………Did not try

·         3” Chartreuse Glow Beetle, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head w/gold hook………….Did not try

·         Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head w/gold hook……………Did not try.

·         Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H 3/8 oz. round white head w/gold hook……………DID NOT TRY

·         Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H 1/2 oz. round white head w/gold hook……………DID NOT TRY

·         Salt Strong Power Prawn (added 10-25-24) matched up with: Did not use:

§  ¼ oz. jig head :          

§  3/8 oz. jig head :    

§  Tandem Rig:    Drop shot (1)t.       

·         Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with 3/4 oz. round lead head w/ 2 trailers, ……Did not try.

·         Tandem rig, ¼ oz. round H&H jig head with gold hook, matched up with Matrix Shad Lemon Drop …..Did not try.

·         Jerk baits nothing

AREAS / SPOTS / NUMBERS ON THE MAP FISHED:

MRGO rocks, channel edges, locks, The Pen, stopped fishing around 11:44 AM

OUR REWARDS:

·         Lived to fish another day.

·         (1) NMR Silverwonder (Big Rudy caught)

·         (1) Strike, popped line, or maybe came un-tied (Big Rudy’s action)

·         (2) Tangled lines

·         (1) Crab net, Big Rudy

·         Lots of:

§  Fresh air

§  Cold:

·         Bones

·         Face

·         Feet

·         Hands

·         Warmed got pleasant after sun came up.

·         A couple of snickers cany bars, that’s Big Rudy me needed that, he knows what bait to sue for me.

·         Lessons learned:

§  Water temperature below 55 F fish not bite , for us that be, we had 41.2 F water temperature.

§  Me still don’t like snowbird days, which we had today.

§  The theory of the wall, pilings, rocks heating up from the sun and warming the water, (which fish are supposed to like)  does not work well when you have piles of snow on them.

§  Water clarity a little off for MRGO, maybe a 4 on a scale of 1-7, looked a little dirty.

§  The Pen clarity was a 3 plus.

§  Water in locks made it hard to fish, to much current, no bites tight lining.

§  It was not a jerk bait type day.

§  Tried deep, shallow, drop off edges, corks, jerk baits, drop shots, trolling, tight lining along bottom, just could not make it happen today, me the only excuse for not catching today.

·         Best fishing trip of my life, until the next one.

FISHERPERSON OF THE DAY:

It could not be Oneofthepack because me got skunked today, me think me losing me Mojo, it be hurting me so bad, that being on the water and me cannot hook up with one fish, me hate when they out smart me, and neglect to be attracted at all me have to offer them.  The last 3 trips me skunked, so me cannot rely on the saying third time is a charm. But me be heading to me home grown back yard soon, that be our Disney World known as Delacroix Island, and it will all change.

Big Rudy managed to get a (NMR) to his credit and missed a big girl on his first strike with jerk baits, and hurt when you done get to see what was on your line. Big Rudy be fisherperson of this ray.

SUGGESTIONS:

“You got to go to know” and sometimes you need to make it happen all on your own, you need to buck heads with mother nature and show her who is boss.

PONDER OF THE DAY:

“Catching means you are willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.” This simple yet powerful statement reflects a mindset rooted in resilience, dedication, and unwavering determination. It’s about understanding that success is rarely handed to you; it’s earned through perseverance and effort.

To catch something—whether it’s a fish, a goal, or a dream—you have to be prepared to outlast challenges, endure setbacks, and keep pushing forward when others might give up. It means waking up earlier, staying later, and putting in that extra ounce of energy, even when you feel you’ve already given your all. It’s a commitment to consistently strive for excellence, fueled by passion and a clear vision of what you want to achieve.

In fishing, it’s not just about casting a line; it’s about reading the water, understanding the conditions, and being patient yet persistent. In life, it’s about embracing hard work, learning from failures, and continuing to move forward with determination. The willingness to “go longer, work harder, and give more” is what transforms ordinary efforts into extraordinary results. This attitude isn’t just a path to success—it’s a way of life.

Q&A:

·         Find a spot  # with the seven fundamentals / criteria of catching:

1 WIND AT YOUR BACK:

2 MOVING WATER: 

3 WATER CALRITY:

4 HOLDING FISH: 

5 PATIENCES:

6 SKILL:

7 LUCKS:

What is your list of criteria of catching, please review above expand and/or comment on same.

TEAM JO-JO’S future stratagem:

Nothing plan, but know for sure me be on water somewhere Sunday, open boat/s any takers who would like to challenge, (It will be a challenge) mother nature for dinner?

Good Fishing

Team Jo-Jo & Oneofthepack

釣り先生

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