8-21-16 Right before storm

[MEM1971]

I did not fish east or south bank in big lake today. I did fish north all the way down west side of lake and all over west cove. Not a trout! All the blow ups were lady fish. Finally after putting it off all morning worried about storms I headed south around 9-930. Just past the pilot station I eased close to bank and dropped anchor in 8-10 feet of water and could just reach the bank if wanted. Very first cast is was trout on and a nice one at that! After the 12th trout the tide was going out so hard and muddy big time and the trout bite was over. Wanted to kick myself for not getting there earlier. Out of mullet and shrimp was thinking of heading in then I remembered the pogies in back livewell. Lady fish killed my live bait supply but I had threw net at launch and filled back box with pogies. All of the sudden it looked as if they opened the gates up down by jetties and boat after boat was headed north. A quick look at the radar and I saw why. I thought just one more cast. Hooked something and it was not pulling just felt dead and thought maybe I got some trash or oyster or possibly a crab and about the same time I thought maybe its a flounder it was at the boat and it didn't like what it saw and was gone just as I reached for net. I'd iike to have that saddle blanket back! It was way bigger than the next 5-6 or caught. By now my one more cast turned into a dozen or more and storm was almost on top of me. Threw back two small flounder and boxed four to go with the dozen trout. Found three trout behind ice jugs that didn't make picture. Had to leave the flounder biting after lightning got too close! Overall a good day especially considering conditions and a lot of boats at landing said they caught nothing. Glad I had them pogies cause these flounders are stuffed and ready to go in the oven. My advice to anyone heading to big lake next 3-4 days would be go south first and early!! Water up above salt water barrier has not even crest yet and its all coming down.

[Robert Haynes]

Good report, thanks

[ckinchen]

Nice job and report

[jpd0144]

Great stuff dude ! Congrats on salvaging the day.

[MEM1971]

Thanks guys! Funny how fast things change from just 10 days or so ago catching limits and limits all over to running a mile or two from end of channel struggling to catch a dozen trout with bonus flounder and actually feel good about the day. Times like these I'd hate to be a guide. Of course u can just about always get reds if the sports agree

[Gasper Master]

great report, thanks for the info. Ended up with 2 reds, 2 flounder, and on speck on aritificial yesterday from daylight till about 3. Broke out the live bait and caught 6 more reds and 5 trout until the bite died. was a tough day, but happy to have come home with a decent haul