Rain hasn't hurt things too much...yet.

I awoke with every intention of working my way through a long list of "got to do jobs" yesterday, but a friend called and before I knew it we were back on Big Lake.  Two more jobs were added in pencil when I returned home last night, but I pleaded temporary insanity and even got supper out of the deal.  I did get some of them done today and scratched off several more that just didn't look that important.   

We decided to look at some different water Thursday afternoon and I now know why we did not catch any redfish Tuesday....they were all stacked up on one flat in less than two feet of water.  I caught a few on a topwater bait, but Gene just wore them out on a Crazy Croaker.  The water was still in very good shape after the rain on Wednesday.

We didn't spend much time on the north end of the lake, but those that did caught trout up to seven pounds.  Many of those fish, as well as one of the seven pound trout ate black-chartreuse Sand Eels. Two very good catches of trout were taken under the birds just south of Commissary Point.

The folks that caught those fish said it was wild  early that morning, but the gulls never showed back up in the afternoon.  They caught those fish on Gulp shrimp fished under popping corks.  I have never done this, but they used a small split shot and a straight shank hook rather than a jig head.

They hook it through the head until that end wears out, then turn it around and hook it through the tail and catch some more.  I mean....like its just hanging there.  They then save what is left to fish on the bottom in the ship channel for flounder.  They get their money's worth out of a pack of Gulp!

Running to Big Lake has been strictly by choice as I have not been disappointed with our trips on Sabine of late.  That said, I have either read or heard much better reports the last couple of days than I have been able to post.  It is quite possible that I need to hire a guide and start thinking outside the box.

The recent rains have hurt us more on Sabine than they have on Big lake, but that is to be expected.  The solid bite we had going has tapered off a little, but it still isn't bad.  A couple of local anglers that fish darn near as much as I do caught 11 trout up to four pounds and five keeper reds drifting between Johnson and Madam Johnson yesterday evening.  They said they never saw the first sign of bait and caught everyone of their fish on gold Traps!