Nope!!!

 

If you want to try somewhere new, its definitely on the hit list. Find a place to rent down there and make a time of it. I grew up down there, so would rather fish Calcasieu or Sabine than anywhere else. Ill make the drive any day

 

Where are you driving from? and it probably doesn't matter... it's good. Galveston, Sabine, and Big Lake (Calcasieau) are great.

 

I'm coming from Pearland. I'm about 30 mins from Galv bay.

 

I live here and fish it probably 40 days a year. Just like any body of water you need know where and when to fish. Fall of the year is almost too easy. Just find the birds working. If you want to learn the lake I would hire a guide. I recommend Jeremy Waltrip. Otherwise you're relying on a lot of luck or chasing birds.

 

I fish there quite a bit, especially this time of year. Flounder limit is 10 per person per day year around.
I fish with Captain Kevin Broussard with Cajun Paradise Lodge and Charters 337-274-0788. We usually get limits of Trout then reds before getting our limit of flounder.
Jeremy Waltrip is also an excellent guide and will put you on the fish.

 

Ole "W"

 

On my bucket list!

 

I don't know where you hail from, but if you are in the Galveston Bay area, this is a bad year to ask that question IMO. The fishing has been really good this year, so the two and a half hour drive to Big Lake is not as worthwhile a gamble as it is in some years. I grew up fishing Big Lake and I will tell you that Calcasieu is a little more susceptible to muddying up than GB. So you need to pick your day where the wind is concerned. Just like any fishing, tide is the other factor. It's not like it's a sure thing every trip. But having said all that, when it's on, it's on big time. Limits are way more liberal, both in size and numbers allowed. Fish are plentiful. Lot's of bait because of great marsh estuaries. Spring fishing is very good when the wind isn't blowing. Summer can be tough fishing at times. Live sometimes bait helps in the summer. Fall and winter are exceptional. I also recommend getting a guide, but if that's not in the budget, fish the birds in December. Start in Turner's Bay on the north end of the lake and work from flock to flock as you head further south. If the tide is moving there will be no shortage of school fish, so you don't need to crowd anyone. Flounder fishing along the ship channel can be nothing short of awesome during the run.

 

Flounder fishing along the ship channel can be nothing short of awesome during the run.

This.... Just wade out there with all the other people and chunk you some Gulp. Everyone limits out. Sometimes your shoulder to shoulder out there, but in no time you have your ten flounder. Some fun stuff.

 

You bet it's worth the drive. Unless you catch some bad weather, you're probably gonna catch a mess of fish if you know where to go. World class fishery for sure!

www.solarscreenguys.com

 

I got nearly skunked on that lake... With a guide... Two days in a row! So, choose your guide carefully and don't expect miracles.

 

That's why it's called fishing and not catching!

 

Talk to LA wader on the board here. He guides there and Sabine and will probably do you a good trip with a lot of education.

15 trout limit but 12" length and a lot of people will fill the cooler with bait size trout.
Flounder 10 fish limit.

Decide how you want to fish. Wade, learn the lake, big trout, or ?? and find the guide that does what you want. Many guys do not get out of the boat or wade some do.

 

Just got back from Big Lake. Had a blast and caught lots of fish. I fished with Big Lake Guide Service. They are mutual friends and my buddies hooked us up with them. Their guides are younger than some others, but that just means they are more fun. They will put you on the fish. I fished with Nick Poe, and he did a great job. Would definitely recommend and i will go with them again soon.

 

Dont forget about capt. Bruce Baugh he hammers the big trout during the winter... and also capt jared adams

 

I went with some friends fishing BigLake 4 times in the past 5 years and every time was a successful trip (each of us got limit). Not sure if it was because my friend's cousin was a local there. But I can tell you this much: "Big Lake beats any bay system in Texas". Love the high limit they have in LA too.

 

This is it, this is where you definitely need to go!

I went with some friends fishing BigLake 4 times in the past 5 years and every time was a successful trip (each of us got limit). Not sure if it was because my friend's cousin was a local there. But I can tell you this much: "Big Lake beats any bay system in Texas". Love the high limit they have in LA too.

 

The way the fish have been jumping in the cooler by the dozens this year before leaving the boat ramp in galvetraz I'm not sure I'd venture anywhere. Calcasuie is like any bay system if you do not know it good luck, but if you do it cna be like Galvetraz has been recently. If you are struggling in Galvetraz, Calcasuie will most likely be the same.

 

It's always fun to experience something or someplace new.

Even if you do not slam them, you should see new things and learn new techniques.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll probably yank my boat down there in a week or two and give it a try. Even the guide I went with a few years ago out in East Bay ( Capt. James Plaag) said he's never caught more trout in his life out of that lake. So I guess it's worth the shot. Thanks again for the replies

 

are you getting the day license or annual?
with the rain they got, my sources said the fishing has slacked a bit.
i'm tempted to pull the annual license just to support those crazy limits over there

 

Calcasieu is a very strong fishery! To take the pressure the lake gets these days and still yield the numbers of fish day in and day out says a lot. Like others have said, you still have to know a thing or two about the lake, it can humble you real quick. This time of year is a great time to fish the estuary, fish are plentiful throughout the estuary. This time of year is just starting my favorite time of year to fish, when I'm not chasing ducks!

Good luck!

 

Fished there a couple weeks ago. Had our limit of reds by 1pm. Great place.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Sportsman paradise bucket list for sure,I really want to retire and live near Sabine.I fished it with a popular 2cooler not a guide but really had the best trip ever bent rod all day chasing birds in October been itching to go back for 2 years now be safe tight line buddy .

 

We had a pretty good time a couple days ago. With a group of 15

 

Thing about Big Lake is that 50' deep ship channel that runs up right beside. Fish can gain access to Big Lake or West Cove from there. Cold winter? No problem. Rain and fresh water? Those problems clear up quickly. Did you know Paul Brown has relocated there? I'm going back again "come hell or high water" guaranteed! If you want a guide, you could probably hire a homeless guy on the corner and do just fine!

www.solarscreenguys.com

 

I'm heading over there Sunday. Looks like the flounder are moving.

Happy, happy, happy

 

I'll be there for 2 weeks starting the 18th .

 

I went out with a local guide few days ago. We hit Black Lake and Prien Lake and a few other choice spots. We netted 6 – 8 Reds of which 2 were keepers (maybe 17” average). We kept 18 or so Trout and netted 5 good Sheepshead. The day before went out with a friend and landed my first Red. A nice 28".

Like a lot of the the other fishermen, I too like the Sabine fishery and I'll go back to Calcasieu. It is a great fishery.