I believe you go whenever you get a chance. Facing different conditions and going when weather is not perfect only can help make you a better fisherman. You may learn some valuable stuff on them crappy days. Then you can challenge yourself to produce fish on the tough days.

The only thing I really look at / check is the wind. If the wind is not blowing to hard and the water condition is good.....it is time to fish.

While you are out fishing on Big Lake, watch what the tide is doing during the day. Then when you are computer the next time.....check:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/la/nwis/uv...65,72020,00060

I have often found that what is happening on the lake is not what this web site says in going on down in Cameron [even allowing some time difference].

Whenever i have gas in my boat/feel like it...

i go when i want to go. the only factor that i look at is wind and that will determine where i will fish wether it be p-train, venice, hopedale....ect,ect. . but the best way i have found to learn an area in not giving a **** just go and deal with what ever conditions god hand you that day eventually you can pattern the fish and find where it fish by comparing that particular day to similar ones of wind, temp, water, temp, tidal movement ect ect . some of the best trip i have had have been the one when you see the flag standing straight out on yer way top the marina and yer havin second thoughts but they end up being killer trips!

I go whenever somebody invites me or when the wind isn't blowing too hard and I can get my boat into the bay.

If I'm off work I go. Sometimes I go before or after work. I may have a problem...

I like to think about the lake and visulize how the wind will effect the conditions and where I want to be; then I start thinking about tide movement. Then I think about the # of boats I think will be fishing that area.

I have a problem, this is what keeps me up at night before a trip. :confused:

i like to do the same thing but i have yet to find a tide chart that actually matches the tides of the lake:pissed:

and on top of that the weather channel has got the winds direction and speed wrong the last 9 out of 10 times

I don't look at any of that because I don't want to think that any time is better than another. I fish tournaments and the conditions are always different I try to learn how to catch fish in every condition. Tide is important in tidal areas sometimes you don't want to be caught in some places when the tide is at its lowest. I always look for clean moving water and run outs if i'm fishing bass or reds. trout fishing all depends on what season it is. trout can be hard for me to figure out some months thats why I'll read reports.

i pretty much..hop in my boat and go when i got time..How much gas i have in my boat depends on where to go..

http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/plot...ieu+Pass%2C+LA

That is the buoy at the Cameron jetties. The tide on the south end of the lake lags behind that by an hour or so. The farther north you go the more the time lag. The winds are always pretty close to lake conditions.

3 things factor in to my fishing trips.

Beer
Ice
Gas