The Flush

[fit4ag]

Originally Posted by TroutSupport.com

it will take a week or 2 before all the fish leave maybe a little longer. We learned a lot last summer in Galveston Bay (granted from a marine environment the Lake is different from the bay for sure. A bay has more influence from salty flows into it whereas a coastal Lake can have more fluctuation from the fresh side. As long as there is a little salt on the bottom of the bay there will be some trout... as long as there is also food. Trout can survive water that is less than 5ppt... actually they can survive water less than 1ppt salinity.. they just prefer not too since it takes too much energy to 'osmoregulate' (control their internal water content / balance). So it's really a question as to how long the bait can hold in place. How long is the question... a week.. or a month. ... ??? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

I can tell you this.. at least for the initial flush, ignore the surface water conditions of color and taste (I tend not to taste it anymore anyway, but what I'm talking about here is the salinity). We caught fish in Galveston all last summer with the surface being completely fresh and ugly. Use a heavier jighead and you have to be touching the deep shell.

Big Lake is getting a little less flow and might be more fishable longer and might not get blown out... Sabine will likely blow out at some point.. (fresh from top to bottom for more than 3 weeks). Might be time to take some scouting trips to other parts of the state soon.

I wish all the guides and businesses the best during this time.

Trout Support is Spot on. I guide in Galveston Bay and last year we thought it was never going to stop raining. We found the fish deep and they STAYED THERE. I suggest you find the deepest reef and work in slow and stay on the bottom. If the fish are not there.....The fish are gone!!