Big Lake is the Best
I'm new to this, so be gentle.
I've been fishing all my life growing up in South LA, running trout lines in Bayou Teche when I was 12. After fishing for years with family and friends bought my first boat in 1993, a Cape Horn 19 with 200 Merc that did 55 mph. Used to take that thing 50 miles offshore out of Venice and troll for marlin and tuna with another crazy buddy with an 18' Wellcraft. We always went in pairs and never had a problem. Caught tuna, yellowfin and blackfin, and caught a few white marlin, too. And plenty of snapper in those days.
Sold the boat in 1995, moved to the mountains and came back a few years later, now living in H-town, Mexas but travel all over the world selling engineering for energy development projects.
For the last couple of years, once, twice a year, hired a guide out a Hackberry and limited out every time we went. Specks and reds. I was hooked.
Made the jump and bought a gently used Bay Ranger in May. In June: zip. In July: a little better. The last couple of weekends: excellent. Trout when we want trout, reds when we want reds (see pics from last two weekends).
Hate to say it, but best success has been on live shrimp under popping corks. Automatic. I've thrown Cocahoes, Yum, Bombers, Sand eel jrs., She-Dogs, Gold spoons, damn near the tackle box and have only limited success with artificials. Might be me but I think it's the heat and the water color. And probably my holes.
In spite of all this, I think the Lake Calcasieu area is a treasure. I'm willing to keep it that way. I'm joining the CCA LA chapter, keeping only what I eat, and releasing the big mommas when I have the luck to catch one.
Looking forward to the Fall and posting reports. Geaux Tigers! Beat Bama!
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