Capt. Bruce Baugh reported the flounder bite is still happening, especially along the ship channel north and south of the pogey plant. Gulp! Shrimp and mullet in pearl white has been Baugh’s go-to color. He added chartreuse is also putting fish in the boat.

He also reported lots of bird activity working all over Big Lake and West Cove. There have been lots of sand trout under the birds as well as trout and a few nice reds. If you are not aware, sand trout are great eating although they do not freeze well as their fillets tend to get soft and mushy when frozen. Baugh advised to eat them fresh and they are as tasty as a speckled trout.

Baugh is a wade-fishing specialist, actually it is his first love. Over the weekend he had a wade-fishing party and reported catching good numbers of trout up to 26 inches or about 6 pounds. All of the larger trout came on Paul Browns Broken Back Corkies and trout they caught more than 4 pounds were released to fight another day.

“Smaller specks are far better table fare,” Baugh said. By releasing the large females, there is a greater chance at increasing the trophy trout that has made Lake Calcasieu so well known for trophy hunters. Like many serious wade anglers, Baugh said he looks forward to the winter season on Big Lake, which is the best time for a true trophy trout.

“The fall feeding frenzy is in full swing,” said Capt. Tom Adams.

He reported catching nice limits of trout reds and flounder and said conditions have been good for the bait and the fish. Also, Adams said without an early winter, the fast action could continue to Christmas.

Elaine Huck, who also is a well known Big Lake angler and regular source for this column, reported the flounder run continues strong at Calcasieu Point. Huck said last Friday almost every fisherman she talked to had their limit of 10 flounder. She witnessed several 4- and 5-pounders and one group of four came in with 40 flounder and said they had one 7-pounder. She also witnessed one boat with 50 specks that was back at the dock by 11 a.m. She reported there were very few small fish brought in over the weekend. There were also numerous big reds as well.

As to where most anglers are fishing, Huck said if you can get out very early before the wind starts blowing, you can catch fish in multiple places. Hot spots include the Ship Channel from the Jetties to around the pogey boats, plus up Oyster Bayou all the way to L’Auberge. Turners Bay is still red hot with several good groups of birds there as well as Nine Mile Cut. Finally, The Weirs (Lamberts and Grand Bayou) are still producing big reds.

ANACOCO LAKE DRAWDOWN

In a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries news release, Anacoco Lake, located northwest of Leesville, is scheduled for a drawdown “in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Sabine River Authority, the Anacoco Lake spillway gate was opened (Tuesday) to maintain water quality downstream. Plans were already in place for a drawdown to begin in January 2012. The gate will be opened slightly to allow for a slow release. The action is designed to accommodate downstream concerns and still allow water for Anacoco Lake duck hunters.

“The lake will be lowered approximately 18 feet below pool stage and will remain lowered until Nov. 1, 2012.

“The drawdown is being conducted to reduce muddy water and renovate the lake bottom.”

For more information, contact Eric Shanks, LDWF Inland Fisheries Manager, at 491-2577.

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Please send us your fishing reports. Call 463-3848 or email me at joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com or visit www.joejoslinoutdoors.com

Big Lake angler Neal Nichols with a 6-pound speckled trout caught wading. The fish hit a Broken Back Corky. (SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN PRESS)