By: Glynn Harris

Any way you look at it, the year 2020 has been one for the books, a book you’d like to toss into a big roaring fire.

The first couple of months of 2020 were a mirror image of January and February 2019. Folks were going about doing normal stuff. Hunters were celebrating a good deer season, squirrel hunters were glad to see deer season end so they could hit the woods with their squirrel dogs unencumbered. Crappie and bass fishermen were on the lake targeting big slabs and sway-bellied bass that were getting ready for the spring spawn. Then came March.

I always loved the month of March because it meant I’d be king for a day for 24 hours because on March 29, I celebrated a birthday with greetings and gifts and cake and such, things that made me feel sort of special. March 29, 2020 was markedly different. Oh I had a birthday and friends and kin sent greetings. There were even gifts and cake but something was lacking. Folks who stopped to greet me were wearing masks. There were no hand shakes or hugs. I got elbow or fist bumps.

I looked forward to church and Sunday school where my birthday was acknowledged with good natured ribbing suggesting I needed to wipe drool from my chin because I’d grown so old. By the end of the month, I could no longer attend church. If I wanted to hear the pastor’s sermon, I watched it on my computer in the safety of my office. Why all the drastic changes?

COVID 19. We are now in the ninth month of virtual shut-down created by an unseen but present enemy, the coronavirus that has sickened and killed thousands. I know people who have had the virus, I’m kin to several. I know some dear friends who have succumbed to this plague.

Then came the hurricanes. Laura was not only devastating and deadly in southwest Louisiana but she reached where I live way up here in north LA as a category one storm causing damage up this way somewhat like the tornado caused in early 2019. Then there was another following on Laura’s heels a month later and just about every week we saw another and another forming in the Caribbean posing a possible threat to our state.

Political unrest? Oh my goodness; this country became torn apart and divided by factions at each others throats followed by a presidential election that has done little to settle the unrest.

We have been in sore need of something to take our minds off all the negative nasty stuff the year 2020 has dumped on his. Thank God for Autumn. The changing of colors of the leaves from green to purple and red and gold as they flutter down to create a lovely multi-colored carpet has given us something warm and soothing to take the edge off all things nasty and mean.  

I took off my mask, picked up my camera and drove out to Lincoln Parish Park one day this week. Oh my, what a pleasure it was to see the unfiltered beauty and majesty of the changing of the seasons. Not a single thought entered my mind about a virus or a hurricane or political unrest. All I saw was peace and tranquility created by God.

As I was drinking in all I was seeing and experiencing, the thought entered my mind that as bad as everything has been during this nine months of hell, could what Autumn 2020 is showing us be a sign; an omen, of better things to come?

            I hope and pray it is.  

FISHING REPORT

BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass have been fair on spinners and soft plastics around pads and structure. Crappie fishing has improved a bit fishing the lower end of the lake around the dam on shiners or jigs. No report on bream or catfish. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

BLACK BAYOU –  Crappie are slightly improved on shiners and jigs. Bass are fair around the grass on jigs and soft plastics. Bream are slow. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.

OUACHITA RIVER – Bass have been fair fishing shad imitation lures around the mouth of the cuts. Crappie have been best fishing the river lakes on jigs with Monkey Milk, Gum Drop and Glacier jigs working best. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE D’ARBONNE – The lake level has risen slightly and should be around the 5 to 5 ½ foot drawdown level. Bass fishing has been best fishing the edges of the channels on crank baits and soft plastics. Crappie have been fair in the channel fishing 15-18 feet deep in the deeper holes on shiners or jigs. A few bream have been caught deep on night crawlers. Catfishing is good on cold worms and night crawlers. For latest reports, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE CLAIBORNE – The crappie have moved from the deep tops and are more in open water with shiners or jigs picking up some. Stripers have been fair in open water. They’re not schooling on top but some have been caught trolling bucktails or spoons. Bass have been hit and miss with them biting one day and slow the next. Crank baits and soft plastics are picking up a few. Catfishing has been good on trotlines baited with chicken livers or blood bait. Bream are slow. For latest information, call Tim Loftin at Kel’s Cove at 927-2264.

CANEY LAKE – Bass fishing has been best in the deeper channels on drop-shot rigs and swim baits. The yellow bass are starting to bite in deep water with some caught on jigging spoons and tail spinners bounced off the bottom. Crappie fishing has been best around deep tops with some caught under the Hwy 4 bridge on shiners or jigs. No report on bream or catfish this week. For latest information contact Bateaux on Caney Lake at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE POVERTY POINT – No report. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318-878-0101.

LAKE ST. JOHN – The lake level is dropping apparently from the gates being opened. Fishing has been slow.  For information, call Ken Mahoney at 318-201-3821.

LAKE YUCATAN – The water was rising rapidly but is now falling rather fast. As a result fishing is slow.  For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.

LAKE BRUIN – Bass and stripers are fair at night on crank baits fished around the lights. Bream are fair; crappie and catfish are slow. For information, contact Carlos Gray at 318/766-0075.