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John's Journal...
Entry 156,
Day 4
SLICK FISHING FOR TROUT
How To Find And Catch Flounder In Lake Calcasieu
EDITOR'S
NOTE: This week, we'll talk with Captain Jeff Poe
who has fished Lake Calcasieu, near Lake Charles, Louisiana, for more
than 20 years. His wife Mary, also a licensed captain and guide, has fished
the lake all of her life. We'll look at the type fish that you can catch
at Lake Calcasieu -- a huge saltwater lake off the Gulf of Mexico -- and
Poe will tell us how to catch them.
Question: Where do you find your flounder, Jeff?
Poe: In February and March, we usually find the flounder in the mouth
of the creeks and the cuts that feed into the marsh. When the tide moves
in and out, the flounder are lying in the mouth of these cuts and attacking
the baitfish. Our flounder will average a pound and a half. But this year,
we have caught quite a few 5 to 7 pounders. In June, July and August,
the edge of the ship channel that runs through Lake Calcasieu can be an
excellent place to catch flounder. Fishing for flounder in the ship channel
usually will stay good until October. Live mud minnows, live shrimp, or
a jig tipped with dead shrimp are all productive baits for catching flounder.
Question:
How are you rigging your mud minnows when you fish them?
Poe: I usually Carolina rig the mud minnows. I use the smallest weight
possible to get the line to the bottom and let the current sweep the bait
along the bottom. Below the lead, I attached a barrel swivel and about
1 1/2 feet of line to a No. 1 Kahles hook. I hook the mud minnow through
both lips and cast it. The advantage of fishing mud minnows is that they
live much longer than live shrimp, and every species of fish that swims
in Lake Calcasieu will eat a mud minnow. So although you're probably fishing
for flounder, you also will catch redfish and speckled trout.
Question: What is your best day of flounder fishing?
Poe: Many days, we'll catch a 10-flounder limit each or 30 flounder for
the boat. We usually catch that many flounder during the spring or the
fall, but we've had some excellent days of flounder fishing down here.
For more information on fishing Lake Calcasieu, contact
Captains Jeff or Mary Poe with Big Lake Guide Service at (337) 598-3268,
or go to www.biglakeguideservice.com.
TOMORROW: DOUBLE DIP FISH
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