The Bayou Vacherie area still has lots and lots of marsh, and the salty creatures that love to call it home.
According to Capt. Erik Rue with Calcasieu Charter Service (337-598-4700), there is a lot happening at Big Lake right now. Trout are biting all over the lake with most of the action coming over the oyster reefs and under the birds.
“You can still catch some good trout on topwaters early in the morning,” Rue said. “But don’t be surprised if you get a good topwater bite all day long, especially if there is lots of bait flipping around. There doesn’t have to be a lot of activity, but it helps if there is some.”
Rue went on to say that most any of the topwater walking baits are working, although he’s been throwing a Rapala Skitter Walk. He also mentioned that a lot of people are high on the bigger X-Rap right now.
“Those bigger baits may not get as many bites,” he said, “but they will attract bigger fish.”
The Norton Sand Eel has also been getting lots of bites. Rue has been fishing either a chartreuse or limetreuse Eel, but he added that he would start switching over to more of a shrimp color as the water starts to clear and the trout start banging the shrimp more and more. He added that a glow/chartreuse Wedge Tail has also been working well.
“I would say that if somebody isn’t familiar with the lake, they should concentrate on fishing under the birds,” Rue said. “There have been a ton of them all over the lake, and you can catch a decent number of fish under them. However, rather than chasing them all over the lake, fish with a heavier lead head when they disappear and work your bait slow on the bottom.”
Rue explained that the surface water temperature was 88 degrees just the other day as he was getting off the lake. With that kind of heat, the trout are going to stay down more and more. Fishing the heavier jig on bottom in about 7 feet of water is the way to catch more and better fish.
“We’ve also got a ton of redfish seemingly on every bank,” Rue added. “It’s been that way since the storm. Most of the time, we catch them on the same plastics we throw on the trout, but if you want to target them specifically, get on a bank and throw a spoon or a spinnerbait. You’ll eventually get into them.”
Anglers looking to catch some bigger redfish should try bumping the bottom with some bait in the same areas. However, some of the bigger reds have been running in schools out in the middle of the lake, which is typical of this time of year.