BIG LAKE
"One of our guides caught a nine pound trout last week on Berkley Gulp!", reports Captain Kevin Broussard of Hackberry Charters. Broussard, who basically grew up on the lake, said the big trout was caught in West Cove. He states that since the area has good water conditions, fishing is good all over the fishery from Prien Lake to the Jetties. His current approach is to target reefs for the early bite and when that slows to then head to the ship channel, and/or if winds are decent, The Jetties. At The Jetties, Broussard recommends using a Carolina rig with light sinker and live shad or finger mullet. Limits of trout are possible there if conditions are right. Ideal conditions include moderate-to light winds and a moving tide.
LADIES/KIDS CATCHING FISH: "This week has been a little slower with afternoon showers and wind" says Elaine Huck of Calcasieu Point.
She also said, "The weekend was really good with fisherman cleaning fish by 9 o'clock." Huck adds that reds have been plentiful and flounders are being caught in numbers larger than she can remember. Another point she makes is that kids and woman are fishing more than ever and really enjoying themselves. Huck states "Everyday a lady or two comes in to say they have caught their first speck or red, or their biggest fish ever! It is great!" Huck recommends the south of the lake and spots like The Washout, Nine Mile, The Weirs and Old Jetties. Also, she mentioned Turners, Moss Lake and Prien as current productive areas.
"Summer patterns are the way to go currently on Big Lake" echos Lake Area Marine Pro, David Rabalais. Rabalais, primarily an artificial bait angler, suggest anglers also consider live bait now that water temperatures are in the upper 80s. He also is spending more time fishing ship channel cuts as well as The Jetties. He also suggests the short rigs at Johnson Bayou when winds are light/moderate.
Rabalais also mentioned the high numbers of flounder now being caught. Good flounder catches have been reported along the ship channel, Old Jetties as well as The Weirs at Lambert's and Johnson Bayou. Reds are still in great numbers and Rabalais says his favorite redfish lure is Berkley Gulp! Shrimp or Mullet in Nuclear Chicken and New Penny fished on a leadhead jig in quarter, half or three-quarter ounce.
