[ckinchen]

Originally Posted by ccm

Hi guys,
I am new to the forum and have really enjoyed reading how the good fishermen catch fish. Hopefully I will learn something.

Need some help with tides. I have been saltwater fishing for only about five years. Mostly in the Venice and Cocodrie area. Looking to do more fishing in Big Lake. $3.75 gas really hurts since I have to drive from north LA to get to the salt.

I have printed out the Big Lake tide tables for Sept thru November and what I see is a pattern of high tides that are usually at times that are not fishable. ie very early AM. Do you guys still catch fish even though there are no decent high tide times? In the areas we have been fishing it is really hard to catch much unless you have tidal movement.

Unlike most people who fish Big Lake we have no interest in the trout. We only fish for Reds.

Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Welcome to the site, glad to see your first post. Typically Big Lake will have a falling tide in the afternoon during the summer months. If you were trout fishing, the south end of the lake up to the middle of the lake will usually have bird action in the afternoon. When it gets really hot outside we would get up and be on the water well before the sun comes up and be back off the water early so we could make an afternoon trip.

If you are into night fishing several camps in Prein lake will leave their dock light on so that may be an option for you. If the camp owners are there fishing I would stay away.

Generally speaking May and June are great months for numbers, July and August can be ok but allot of people have to switch to live bait during the dog days of summer.

Around October through January Big Lake is on fire and is as good of a fishery as any place I have fished.

For redfish there are several "secret spots" but you can always fight the crowds at the weirs if you just want to catch fish. Going behind the weirs at Grand can be a really good option. If you have the ability to fish during the week you just might have the place to yourself.

Regarding flounder, the founder run around November last year was nothing short of spectacular. Most of that fishing takes place in the ship channel.

Several folks on here know far more about the lake than me but hopefully this will point you in the right direction. Best of luck to you.