Fishing report
Joe Joslin
Outdoors
Capt. Buddy Oakes of Hackberry Rod and Gun said, “The only thing hotter than the weather is catching big reds.”
Big, oversized bull reds are coming from the Cameron jetties to the mouth of Turner’s Bay and along the ship channel, Oakes said. He added that there were lots of lady fish in the system and, if you can get your bait though those to the bottom, the fish are there.
A calm wind a couple of days last week allowed guides to fish the rocks along the beach with some success.
“The trout were on the small side but there were lots of them,” Oakes said. “Same song, second verse when it comes to the best baits with live shrimp under a popping cork for trout and live mullet and crack crab on the bottom for reds.”
Capt. Kevin Broussard of Cajun Paradise Lodge and Charters reported that “Fishing has been good overall.”
There’s fish from the Saltwater Barrier to Prien Lake on soft plastics worked slow. Trout action on the beach at Cameron has been very good when water is good, he said. Redfish action in the lake was hit or miss with live shrimp best in the surf for reds, Broussard said.
“Fishing is improving on Big Lake but still isn’t consistent,” said tackle expert Pam LaFosse. She said the salinity was excellent throughout the lake from the Saltwater Barrier to the Gulf.
Trout have been hard to pattern but can be found on the reefs throughout the lake plus schools of trout were under birds in West Cove, Turners Bay and the south end, she said. With the right wind the beaches in Cameron have been producing trout as well.
LaFosse said specks were being caught on MirrOlure’s Lil Johns in watermelon red, chicken and plum-and-chartreuse. Redfish were being caught along the west and east banks of Big Lake and the Haymark Marsh near Prien Lake with chartreuse-and-pearl Gulp! Swimming Mullet rigged on quarter-ounce jigheads or shrimp under a popping cork.
Flounder are hard to find but a few can be found on the east bank of Big Lake and are hitting chartreuse-and-pearl Gulp! Swimming Mullet.
Calcasieu River
“The Calcasieu River continues to get better with clearing water and a good current,” said tournament angler Doug Guins.
Surface water temperatures were from 90- 92 degrees with crankbaits, jigs and Texas-rigged Craws being his go-to patterns and baits.
Guins said he has been concentrating on main river structure with current in 6-10 feet. Schooling action continues to pick up with good numbers on topwater and swimbaits. If the water continues to clear then the number of bites will increase with catches of 20-40 possible on a single afternoon trip.
Sabine River
Guins reported good numbers on the Sabine River with quality bass up to 5 pounds with water slightly stained but clearing with surface temps at 90 degrees. He reported fishing the main river on the south end is concentrating on cuts and drains plus deep drops in the channel.
Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater and Texas-rigged soft plastics have been producing in the cuts but is best on a falling tide with water flowing out which is usually clearer than the river.
Results
DOGFIGHTS: Winning Week 17 of the Wednesday Afternoon Dogfights on the Calcasieu River was the team of Jacob Williams and Travis Franks with a limit of 8.34 pounds fishing the river with crankbaits in West Fork. They also had big bass with a 3.33-pounder. They are qualified for the Aug. 29 championship.
In second was the team Robert Weemes and David Rabalais with a limit weighing 6.37 pounds. They flipped soft plastics in the southern part of the river. They also fished West Fork. Finishing third was the team of Jacob Johnson and Gavin Johnson with 6.33 pounds using wacky worms and Chug Bugs while fishing West Fork.
Please send us your fishing reports. Call 463-3848 or email me at joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com or visit www.joejoslinoutdoors.com
Slab crappie we caught with crappie guide Jack Adams.