Tough Day on Big Lake

[ScubaLatt]

Fished today with a group of 3 out of Alexandria. I donated a guided fishing trip to the Louisiana Black Bear Foundation's auction last winter and the lucky bidders got to take a trip with me today.

I should have known it was gonna be a hard day when I had 4 strikes against me right off the back:

1. Woke up at 4 am to a strong thunderstorm in Da Bluff...
2. Lost ice chest and all gatorade, water, cokes between Moss Bluff and Sulphur. Green Igloo brand new flew out of dang boat!
3. Launched at Spicer's and they were OUT of live shrimp!
4. Headed to Dugas Landing and they TOO were OUT Of live shrimp.

I got to the dang launch at Spicer's at 5:45 AM and you were OUT of live shrimp???? Come on Spicer's you got a dang butterfly frame right there at your launch!!!!!!!

Headed to Joe's cove south cut and caught a gazillion shad but no mullet. Headed SOUTH, WAYYYY South. Fished the channel with very limited success with my pogies. Headed to the Jetties -- muddy. Headed back up north to West pass -- muddy along banks but nice green in middle. Strong incoming tide -- Tide charts had tide going out all morning????

Decided that the trout did not want shad so headed back to Dugas at 10:30 to buy live shrimp. 2 quarts and $30 later back on water.

Headed back south after stopping at a couple spots along the rocks near joe's cove. Water was fairly nice. Not great but fishable.

Decided to go to where I started out SOUTH and where I loaded the boat July 6th with trout and reds. Tide slack until 12:15 when it started going out. Nailed 15 solid trout, 1 red and 1 flounder.

Caught a huge variety of creatures today: 25 lb black drum on 12 lb line and spinning rod, several bait stealing, feet/belly eating croakers, several undersized reds and some trout, 2 sharks at the jetties, a couple hardheads, and even caught a SQUID on my live shrimp! !!! That was a rare sight to see.

Water Clarity Report: Jetties: HORRIBLE Ship Channel: Nice in middle, muddy along banks (Boat traffic???). Washout: chalk stained. West pass: chalky Did not go into lake so can't give report.

All in all a good day of fishing and I made 3 new friends from Alexandria.