Fishing Report: Good week of fishing on Big Lake
Published 6:19 pm Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Hackberry’s Rod and Gun’s Capt. Buddy Oakes said it has been a good week for them.
Impressive catches of speckled trout and redfish were the norm for most all anglers in some of the most consistent fishing in months. Live shrimp and soft plastics have been successful and topwater patterns are coming on strong.
As May and June approach on Lake Calcasieu, many have thoughts of catching big trout on loud rattling topwater baits such as Mirrolure’s Top Dog, She Dog and Catch 2000. These hard baits are favorites of many on Big Lake and are a blast to fish as well as great producers.
Oakes also recommended the popular Hackberry Hustler (soft plastics) rigged on a light jig head. They also work under a popping cork allowing you to cast them a mile and you can also tip the jig with a shrimp.
Calcasieu River
Doug Guins reported the fishing has slowed down a little bit, due in part to the fish moving into a post-spawn pattern. He said, “We are still catching fish on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs and Texas-rigged soft plastics.”
The water temperatures in the river is in the upper 60s to lower 70s and the water on the main river is still heavily stained. The water on the Westfork is clearing but is congested with giant salvinia which is making it very difficult to navigate and fish.
Guins and I had a phone conservation about the salvinia and many anglers are becoming very concerned at the rapid rate of growth due to the increased coverage of the tropical plant. This will be a hot topic in the weeks to come this spring.
Sabine River
The water is clearing and the fish are biting as the water temperatures are near 70 degrees. Guins, who fishes both the Sabine and Calcasieu on a regular basis said, “We are catching lots of fish on spinnerbaits and crankbaits as well as jigs and Texas-rigged soft plastics.”
Weightless senkos and topwater patterns are also working.
Tournament Results
Dogfights: Troy Tate and Paul Frilot took the first place at last week’s Wednesday Afternoon Dogfight on the Calcasieu River with a five-fish stringer weighing 5.54 pounds. They reported catching their fish in the main river in stained and muddy water using jigs. The duo qualified for the Aug. 28 championship.
In second was the team of Al Willis and Glenn Fruge at 4 pounds. They caught their fish using Horny Toads (plastic frogs) on the northern portion of the river. Finishing third was Robert Weemes and David Rabalais with 3.24 pounds. They said they fished in the West Fork area using Speed Craws and spinnerbaits.
Calcasieu River Spring Classic: Southern Outdoor Productions hosted the event on Saturday out of Parkside Marina in Moss Bluff as 23 boats entered the three-fish per team event.
Reports from the anglers were that water conditions were muddy and for many the fishing was tough with nine boats not weighing fish.
However, there were some excellent catches with winners Shane Cormier and Greg Byrley weighing a three-fish limit at 8.14 pounds, including big bass award (5.67). In second was Branden Rannekleiv and Austin Chislom with a limit of 7.76, which included a solid 3.86-pounder. Rounding out the top three were Todd Warden and Chris Possoit with three bass at 6.86. In the kids’ division, Payton Holland was the winner.
Junior Southwest Bassmasters: In the most recent tournament on the Calcasieu River, the winner in the 7- to 10-year-old division was Wade Roberts while Tyler Lowry came in second.
In the 11- to 14-year-old division, Kaleb Buller was the winner, Evan Googe was second and Jonathan Suttle was third. In the 15- to 18-year-old division, Chris Chandler was the winner, Brandon Dyson was runner-up and Blake Fontenot. Great job, guys.
CPSO Tournament: Last weekend the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Office sponsored its monthly tournament on Toledo with Ron Castille and Craig Bean winning it with a five-fish limit weighing 14.88 pounds. They fished frogs and Senkos.
In second with 11.54 pounds was Ray Price, who reported fishing midlake on Flukes. In third was Bubba Mayeaux and Joey Fontenot with a 10.67-pound limit. They fished Indian Mounds using Trick Worms rigged wacky.
Please send us your fishing reports. Call 463-3848 or email me at joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com or visit www.joejoslinoutdoors.com
(American Press Archives)
