Big Lake with Bruce Baugh (4/22 and 4/23)
 

I've fished the Shell Beach, Hopedale, Delacroix and Breton Sound areas for many years and caught lots of fish......but never fished Calcasieu. I was looking to wade fish for big trout, so booked a trip with Bruce Baugh. Let me start by saying I've fished with many guides over the years....Capt. Bruce knows how to target big fish and he's a great guy to spend a couple days with. Knowing Bruce releases most big fish, I asked in advance if he's OK with us keeping any trophy fish. He said absolutely no problem. First afternoon we jumped in and started to wade, I was next to Bruce when the first fish hit his lure....he looked at me and said "big fish". When he says big fish, he means it. Couple minutes later, a fat 10lb tout was hanging on the Boga, then was released. Biggest fish I've ever seen in person. We then proceeded to catch a handful of 3-6lb fish. Then my buddy's top water got slammed....minutes later 8lb trout on the Boga. That fish was going on the wall. So within first two hours, we've already caught a 10lb and 8lb!! Ended the afternoon keeping a few to eat....but a 10lb and 8lb on our first day in Big Lake, that's insane.
Next morning conditions were not the best, strong south wind and water was very high, but Bruce said he knew an area that would give us a good shot at another trophy. We were already content and figured our trip was already a success. First trout hit my topwater...5lb trout. Then a few reds in the mix until.....once again Brad's bait got slammed. Result was another one for the wall.....a 9lb hog. Caught a couple more good ones, then had to pack up at noon and get back for the kids soccer. What an absolutely amazing trip with Capt. Bruce. We will be back many times.

Nice!! Awesome pics

That's some pigs there! Nice!

man thats some hawgs!!! congrats

couple more pics from Big Lake
 

here's Brad's 9lb in the ice chest...to put it into perspective, the smaller fish in the chest is 5lbs. I also attached a picture of Brad's 8lb trout.
Brad had to inform his wife that his $250 fishing trip is probably going to be more like $1000 because of the taxidermy expense....she was not happy. But imagine a double 8lb and 9lb mount....worth every penny!
On top of that....Brad won a couple hundred at the casino. Needless to say it was a good 24 hours for him and he's ready to go back

Where are W and Spinna? They sure are being quite.

Nice fish man!

wow

No doubt Capt. Bruce is the man!
Very impressive trip right there!!!

Awesome fish. Congrats

Some great fish guys...

Samsung Galaxy S3 (Android dominating the world!)

congrats on the hawgs!!

MUDDA FRICKAAAAA, Nice trip fellas

Def sheetrock material, and duffy im not sure of your comment, being quiet? Id say thats def better than being at work!!;)

Holy shat! He needs to buy a lottery ticket ASAP!!! Good stuff! If I could foot the bill I would book a trip in a heartbeat. Never heard one bad thing about capt Bruce

First off awesome fish man that's a hell of a day right there..



Quite what, may I ask?

Lol.. Spell Chk. Must have anolog phone still

Gotta love "smartphones". Don't get y'alls panties in a bundle.

No doubt. Back to thread!!! Great fish man!!!

Good Lord! That is a heckuva trip!!!!

Thats insane
Great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhh I'm so jealous! Gotta get back on the lake now that turkey season over. Epic trip!

Wow! Very nice trip man.

Awesome trout

Now thats some fine trouts there...

That last picture is crazy! The trout looks like it has stretch marks! Impressive stuff

When your not local I guess Bruce takes people to his secret big trout holes
....lol

What an amazing trip, Bruce knows how to make it happen on a wade trip. Great fish.

That makes me extremely jealous that I can't fish BL for a while. Awesome trip for sure

What a wade!!

In other news, I saw someone showing off a claimed 20lb trout on facebook today lol

Beautiful fish, great catch, congratulations.
Not to be critical, but what is the deal about mounting a big fish?
The picture of you holding that big sow is very impressive, why not blow that one up in a big frame on the wall? I'm sure that your wife has already asked all of these questions. Guess that I'm am just too cheap to spend that much money on a fish, I would rather have a kayak or a new shotgun or something more useful to me. A fish that size is probably about at the end of its life anyway so no big deal, just wondering. I caught and released a 29" one day that I wish I had a picture of now but I still don't want her on the wall.

Hahah, looks like Sabine to me herd that red bj been sitting in coffee ground cove.

+1. Though I will say it's often hard to get a good picture of a fish like that, especially in the water.

But if you get a good one and have someone who knows anything about taking pictures, I'd rather have a picture in a nice cypress frame perhaps with the bait hooked on it.

BTW, congrats on such a superb trip. And I don't blame you for mounting it. Just my take on doing so.

Hell yea!!!!!

As for the "mount vs don't mount" debate....I cant speak for Brad who caught the two big fish....but I was definitely voicing my opinion to get those suckers mounted. My reasoning is I've spent countless hours over the years fishing the Breton Sound area and we definitely have an awesome fishery, but after all those years, my biggest is 6lbs, so I still don't have one my wall. In fact, my fishing camp has nothing but duck mounts and fish pictures, so it's time for a fish to go on the wall....after all...its a fishing camp. That's what prompted me to call Bruce. If I ever get one or two on the wall, I would definitely release big fish after a few pictures.....but I'm not there yet. Hopefully I will be after next trip to BL

Nice fish and bruce is the man if you want to catch big fish..

That will get your heart going. Nice fish

Awesome trout.

sick trips man

i been seeing these pics on bruces facebook page... it made me sick to my stomach so i sent him a message trying to book a trip...booked till july !! anyways hell of a trip!!

To all turkey Hunters...season has been extended til may 7th. I repeat ...may 7th!





LOL!!!!!

I'd take being where u are at vs fishing anyday! I will have to live vicariously through my son someday!

Bruce is always on those hawgs, he is the real king of Big lake!!

X2 coffee grnd cove is the best kept secret on Sabine!!!

????? U think that is where they at... i see some tanks in back ground...

Tanks aren't that visible from coffee ground...and that looks like camps on the other side of pic

Na just messing around-

Definitely Sabine

Hmmmm. No matter what jam up trot.

Man that's some hefty trout!