Calcasieu Trip
 

Hey Guys, I am planning my first trip to Calcasieu in my new boat during the July 4th weekend. I am not familiar with Big Lake at all. I am in hunt for the Big 3, trout, reds and flounder. Any suggestion on areas to fish, structure or dangers would be appreciated.

Congrats on the new boat!!

This is what I did, first thing I did was got a chart.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=JN.CkT...d=1.9&rs=0&p=0

studied this even loaded the way points on my GPS that the chart provided. I think this is a great tool for a newbie to the lake, it even gives some good popular fishing spots. READ every post you can about the lake that relate to fishing. The fish move around a lot, you just have to take into consideration the condition that you have and make an "educated" guess. I have a few honey holes I can always catch a few, as do many of us on here, but those come with time on the lake.

If your just looking for a "one hit wonder" and don't plan to come much, Id recommend getting a guide. BUT for the July 4 weekend, im sure they are booked.

This time of year I would "suggest" for Specs drift over reefs on the south end of the lake, for Reds they should be along the shore lines, in the mornings and evening for feeding, one its heats up they will move to cooler waters. around the time frame your going the reds "might" start to school up

Get a chart, read post as well read other articles on the web about "big lake" or lake Calcasieu

HAVE FUN!!

Congrats, if you're going that weekend you could probably leave the boat at home and just walk across the lake.

10 Easy Steps to July 4th Fishing and Strategory
 

Step 1-Launch @ Calcasieu Point early
Step 2- Buy 2 1/2 quarts of live shrimp. 1lb dead shrimp.
Step 3-Head down ship channel to the jetties
Step 4- Find some guide boats catching fish.
Step 5- Idle into guides boat area, gotta get kinda close.
Step 6- Ask him if he's doing any good, and what they "hittin" on.
Step 7- Start to untangle the anchor rope.
Step 8- Drift uncomfortably close to guide boat while messing with anchor.
Step 9- Wave at guide and customers or shake their hand.
Step 10- Because you drifted closer than you wanted to guide boat, you will now perform the Olympic Anchor Toss, throwing anchor far as humanly possible away from boat.

I would look for a black Yellowfin, I heard he's always catching and likes the company.

Lol

Too Funny. I don't think I want to fish with a guide...THAT BAD!!

Thanks Guys

If it's calm

You can catch 3 trout on most reefs with live shrimp
Find some cuts off of bank and can catch 3 flounder
And take pop n cork with shrimp and fish rocks on ship channel till U catch 3 reds
It's possible but that will be a very busy weekend not only with 10,000 boats you will have jet skis , race boats , party barges and what every else got pulled out of the tall grass

Or go offshore and catch em all but flounder

LMAO!

Good luck! I'll be chilling and grilling pool side that weekend.:cheers:

here give this a shot

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...4-3sKfjM&hl=en

Just because you plan ahead doesn't mean youll be able to fish where you planned. The lake is busy most of the time. I find most of the time my pre planned spot is taken by at least one boat. I fished today and was surprised to see the amount of boats on the water.

Yep, its getting crowded

Thanks Guys. I think everyone is geeking right now due to the weather we have had this year. It has been INSANE. Between cold, wind and rain, our opportunities have been limited. I will be there and I will be just as excited to see you guys on the water as well. If fishing wasn't such a great sport, we wouldn't go broke buying boats, rods, reels and enough lures that we can stock an Academy. That's why it is called fishing and not catching. Tight Lines my brothers and be safe on the water.

Where can I buy the chart at?

Academy

that chart will come in handy tomorrow and sunday with all the good weather lined up!! It's always lines up perfect when i have to chance to go.......:shaking:

Some Walmart stores will have the map also.

I couldn't find a Hook N Line map at Academy in Lake Charles when I looked. I ordered one on Amazon.com.

Store inventory might be getting low..............

They moving to the new store middle of next month.

screw trout and the crowds that come along with them...fish the marsh and you'll have the place to yourself in the some of the richest redfishing water in the world...might even snag a flounder or three

There is a whole stack at cal. Point

I agree, i prefer reds anyways. Wish i could get behind weirs

Oh well.

Fortunately theres a lot of marsh other than whats behind the weir but it helps to have a shallow running boat for some of the other areas. There's marsh in the salt ditch area that's not private, Choupique bayou, , Oyster bayou, and the area north of Turners just to name a few areas.

^ and there's a lot of traffic too so account for that as well

Hey Guys, I never fished the "marsh" before. How do you fish it? Do you just anchor up and go at it or is there a certain area I need to go to?

I've been curious about the Choupique bayou area after driving past that launch. anybody ever try it?

yep, better know where you can and cant go, or troll in. it goes from 8 ft to 2 ft instantly and most of its 2ft.

Fished that area all my life. Be very careful until you learn it. As stated, they have a lot of very shallow flats it there.

When going into it from the ICW stay way to the left of the entrance. Its deep right there. If you enter from the right (east side) its only a couple of feet deep. Also, I've noticed that the West side of the bayou is the deepest. There's also crab traps in there so when in doubt stay close to the crab traps.

This depends on what kind of boat you have. More specifically how many inches/feet you draft. Trolling motor? I'm not a fans of anchoring, but i know people fish that way. I like to be on the move.

I always sight fish, but you can just work your way down a bank QUIETLY and throw spinnerbaits or spoons. Bring fresh dead shrimp and a popping cork if that doesn't work or if the water is dirty. Look for little drains coming out of the marsh. If you find widgeon grass, fish the edges and open pockets with weedless soft plastics or a spinnerbait.

and if that doesn't work, fish the weirs :D

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the help. I know it will be crowded during the July 4th holidays, but if I can find a few........I WILL BE HAPPY!

IF you decide to go behind the weirs, Id watch a a few peps do it before attempting. It can get hairy, people have damaged their boats, even sank them at the weir. Not sure what size your boat is but I believe the opening is only 110" wide. Even if I didn't have T Tops I wouldn't try it for my boat is 108"