Big trout are still biting in Sabine Lake, Lake Calcasieu and in surrounding waters.
With the top trout at the S.A.L.T. Memorial Day Weekend Tournament weighing in at 8.09 pounds and second and third both over seven pounds it shows big specks are still present despite freshwater inflow and turbid water conditions.
I have put together a list of big trout tips for local waters that can help you score on trout for the summer period, specifically with the conditions we are facing right now.
Early Jetty Risers-Many anglers would be shocked to find out how many big trout can be caught on topwaters at the jetties a half-hour before sunrise to about half an hour after.
Topwaters and the jetties might seem like a strange combo but the big girls will feed close to the surface early in the morning on both the Texas and Louisiana rocks. Right now the jetties are a key area for big trout with salinity being an issue.
They Don’t Like Croaker-Live bait is a controversial way to pursue big trout but it is perfectly legal and popular here in the Sabine area. Live croaker is the ticket for big trout on the Lower Coast but is not very effective in Sabine Lake. Mullet is a much more big trout attracting bait in the lake itself. Offshore at the short rigs however croaker can be effective. I have no idea why this is so but it has been this way for years.
Small Schools-There are small schools of monster trout that will cruise the shorelines along the Louisiana shoreline. These big fish will be in groups of a few to a perhaps a dozen or more. They tend to be most prevalent in early summer in these locales but I have a feeling they roam together like this more often than we know. I am not talking about six 30-inchers hanging out together although it is possible but I have personally seen numerous schools of trout 20 inches plus.
Look for these on the south end of the ecosystem from Madame Johnson Bayou south to Blue Buck Point.
Marsh Channels-There is a system of channels dug in the bayous along the southern half of the Louisiana shoreline of Sabine Lake. These areas can hold huge trout and some of these areas are likely to hold a little more salinity than some of the popular summertime trout haunts like Blacks Bayou on the north end of the system.
Go in quietly with a good pair of polarized shades, look for concentrations of mullet and even the big trout themselves. Bring slow-sinking plastics or big topwaters to score.
Short Rigs: The remaining nearshore oil and gas platforms out of Sabine Pass can hold impressive trout. The key is water clarity. If the water is sandy green or clear you have a good shot. Forget about it if the water is murky.
If you get bit, remember the exact spot. These trout tend to hold on one or two key points rather than around the entire structure.
Big trout are unique, mysterious creatures that drive thousands of anglers to spend thousands of dollars on specialized gear. Keep these observations in mind and you will greatly increase your odds of catching one.
(To contact Chester Moore, e-mail him at chester@kingdomzoo.com. You can hear him on “Moore Outdoors” Fridays from 6-7 p.m. on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI or online at www.klvi.com.)