1/15/11 - Payday on Big Lake
 

Josh, Chris, and myself hit the lake today as we finally had a chance to pull Josh away from duck hunting. Hit the water at around 7:45 am and the weather was miserable to say the least with a strong wind, cold temps, and a slight mist. It was really slow right from the start with water temps around 46 degrees and we could only manage to pick up a fish here or there with absolutely no consistency (outside temp was 44 at launch). Then around 11:30 someone rang the dinner bell and it was game time! We picked up over 30 fish on one short drift. As we made our final drift we needed 5 more and I thought it would be nice to try for a triple and a double - well low and behold we did that an more. We proceeded to triple, double, triple, double, etc. releasing at least 30 on the home stretch. At this stage water temps were around 48.5 and I guess the combo of the tide movement and the few degrees increase in temp made all the difference.

The fish wanted any color as long as it was white/chartreuse :p All of our fish were solid and it seemed like the longer the day got the better the fish. Ended with 45 trout and 6 reds.

Nice haul!!

Glad to hear your day kicked into gear.

Way to go ! And W wasn't around to take the credit.

Great catch guys. I can't wait to get back on the water

Nice catch guys

Nice fish fellows.

real nice catch!

Nice catch. Great report.

Good Catch guys...........

Great catch, wife and I got there at 1130 and caught 15 on our first drift and from then til 1:00 it was on. Talked to some people that were pulling out as we put in and said they did not catch a fish:(

Just a theory....
 

This winter I've noticed the tide at the North End is about 2-4 hours later then predicted for the light house. Maybe Ray could confirm....

Nice Catch!

those tide charts are way off.....Live tide is the only way to really follow it right....You can add two hours from the jetties with normal winds but with a stiff north wind you might not ever see a high tide come in.....

http://www.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov...er&port=lc

good link...for historical and current data....but what about forecast data...something at least a week in advance..

I never look at the future of tides...I kind of just watch the days before and moon phase....your stronger tides move with the moon...

I have yet found a tide chart that really gives over a 50% accuracy

I kind of fish to the live reading....I know if its a weak looking tide...im fishing close to the channel and a stronger tide Ill fish anywhere on the lake ..

You can always see what it has been doing and plot around that....

You have a projected tide on that link and live reading....

Makes good for if you know trout are not biting until a incoming tide...You can sleep in and wait to it turns...then go

Good stuff to consider...makes sense...thanks....Now back to Micah's thread....

Nice catch guys.Gotta hit big lake soon.

check out the video on our facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/GeauxOutdoors

nice job fellas !!!

Great catch guys....

Helluva catch boys

nice haul guys and thanks for the great report!

great catch

awesome catch

i was out there from 7 to 11 and only picked up a few... wish i would have fought the urge a little longer. If I remember correctly the tide started moving pretty heavy around that time? Fish were biting funny that day... great haul.

Going to have to make a trip over that way. You guy's catch some nice fish.

Come on over with that new boat....

I have been hunting......but most of the reports are faily good. I am sure someone can help you catch some fish.

Can you come during the week?

Best time for me is during the week. The wife likes to fish with me on weekends. Let me know when you want to go. Will be home until the 2nd of Feb.