fishing western lake

[croixbum]

Banker

You know I'm a former banker. For sure you know we're not your typical bait shop.

I did know that you were a former banker, relatives in West Point told me that. No yours is not typical, always love to come in there. Loading up my debit card , see you soon. :rofl:

 

[carmcoop]

disappointed fishermen

Well, so far I have to say we are very disappointed in fishing. Western Lake where we are, nothing but tiny nuisance fish. We even waded out trying to find the deeper channel, but no go. Saw a couple of gators,but no fish.
Surf fishing: Using the pompano rigs we got at yellowfin, and shrimp and frozen sand fleas. So far, only small shark, cat. We've tried wading out to the sandbar to cast deeper, and we've tried shallow.
Someone told us to try the small 331 bridge at daybreak. Did that this morning at 5am, nothing but crabs. Came back and tried surf fishing - got one cat.
We have a charter booked for Thursday, but if anyone has any fishing pointers, that doesn't require a boat or kayak, we sure would appreciate it.

 

[croixbum]

Disappointed

Well, so far I have to say we are very disappointed in fishing. Western Lake where we are, nothing but tiny nuisance fish. We even waded out trying to find the deeper channel, but no go. Saw a couple of gators,but no fish.
Surf fishing: Using the pompano rigs we got at yellowfin, and shrimp and frozen sand fleas. So far, only small shark, cat. We've tried wading out to the sandbar to cast deeper, and we've tried shallow.
Someone told us to try the small 331 bridge at daybreak. Did that this morning at 5am, nothing but crabs. Came back and tried surf fishing - got one cat.
We have a charter booked for Thursday, but if anyone has any fishing pointers, that doesn't require a boat or kayak, we sure would appreciate it.

Thats why they call it fishing. I am a Miss boy so I dont know a lot about saltwater fishing but after 2 trips a year for 5 years I have learned. Cigar minnow is my bait of choice, cut them in half, thread them up so that they dont come off. I fish early and then from 5- 12 at night. Always catch ladyfish, blues and this year caught 2 bull reds better than 20 lbs. Cut up lady fish will usually catch blues. I never wade, fish are shallower than you think. Persistence is the key, dont give up. Use light line, 14 max, use the sea strykker 2 hook rig with 3 ounce sinker. Again, I have used all of those baits but the cigar minnow is my choice, a little pricey but whos counting if you are catching fish. If you can catch some live sand fleas that are about the size of your thumb, they will catch fish. Good luck, I remember the first year down I didnt catch anything, was using some steel leader that the fish didnt like. I have invested in some expensive surf rigs but the truth be known, I caught the most fish on a 29.99 combo rig.

 

[John]

Well, so far I have to say we are very disappointed in fishing. Western Lake where we are, nothing but tiny nuisance fish. We even waded out trying to find the deeper channel, but no go. Saw a couple of gators,but no fish.
Surf fishing: Using the pompano rigs we got at yellowfin, and shrimp and frozen sand fleas. So far, only small shark, cat. We've tried wading out to the sandbar to cast deeper, and we've tried shallow.
Someone told us to try the small 331 bridge at daybreak. Did that this morning at 5am, nothing but crabs. Came back and tried surf fishing - got one cat.
We have a charter booked for Thursday, but if anyone has any fishing pointers, that doesn't require a boat or kayak, we sure would appreciate it.

Western Lake: I tried to avoid busting your enthusiasm in earlier posts. The dune lakes around here are Ok for puttering around, but are not considered prime fishing areas. Sorry you've had no luck. It's especially difficult without a boat.

Surf Fishing: I love surf fishing in the Grayton area, but this time of year there can sometimes be too many people in the water for decent fishing. If possible, move a little bit to the east into the state park area, away from all the summer bathers. Alternately, pack up the car and go to a more remote beach access. The first few and last few hours of daylight is typically a good time.

The dark band of water between the first and second sandbars is where you will find the fish. Some species, like Whiting and Pompano, will also swim inside the first sandbar. However, they all seem to use the deep water between the sandbars as a "highway". Unlike freshwater fish, surf fish are usually on the move.

So, survey the water (and especially the various depths), find a relatively shallow route to walk out to the first sandbar, just beyond where the waves break. Then you can cast out into the deeper water. If fishing with bait, check it often.

Thursday should be a good day for your charter, with seas forecast to be 1-foot or less.

Our customers are reporting surf catches of Pompano, Ladyfish, Bluefish, Spanish, and others in the last few days. Catfish too.

 

[mtlinscomb]

If you want some action go and buy you a few Top Dogs from Yellowfin and just work them on the surface. I'm yet to visit after 30 years/various months without leaving with sore arms. Bone color with some war paint aka fingernail polish is a personal favorite...and chicks dig it, too! At the minimum you'll have ladyfish and blues blowing that thing out of the water, and usually a Red or 2 will go for it as well. 20 - 30 lb jacks love em also. Fishing with bait (personal opinion) is only worth it if your are targeting pomps. If you aren't a pro at pomp fishing, a couple over a week period is a good haul. Good luck.

 

[Arkiehawg]

mtlinscomb:

Thanks for the advice. BTW...where do you usually fish? Bay or Gulf?

 

[BeachSteelers]

Both good advice above but I also like going ultralight 2lb test and getting some bass, small snapper type maybe mango out of the lakes but i swear i saw maybe a sturgeon blast out of the water there but that was a few years ago. If you kayak around carry a couple of different rods set ups and hit both the lake and gulf. It's a short pull to the gulf from the Southwest corner near grayton beach. But the reds in the lake are tough on artificial top water, but i cant help but try. Good Luck

 

[mtlinscomb]

where do you usually fish...

mtlinscomb:

Thanks for the advice. BTW...where do you usually fish? Bay or Gulf?

I spend all of my time fishing in the surf. If there is a North wind blowing you can bet I'll be out there with my fly rod, but otherwise using topwaters on a 40 - 50lb leader will always lead to some excitement.

 

[croixbum]

TOP wATER bAITS

I spend all of my time fishing in the surf. If there is a North wind blowing you can bet I'll be out there with my fly rod, but otherwise using topwaters on a 40 - 50lb leader will always lead to some excitement.

I have always stayed with bait but I have an interest in your post about topwaters. What do you use, can I get a resonable distance from the beach . I have researched it some and see that the
Tsunami talking popper

Cordell pencil popper

seem to be popular. I see that they come in 2 1.4 ounce which I could get out there. Any info would be helpful, planning a trip to SGB in late Sept.

 

[mtlinscomb]

I tend to stick with Top Dog's, Pop a Dogs, Top Dog Jr's, She Dogs and She Pups. The original Top Dog in bone color is probably my favorite, and as mentioned before I will usually apply some red fingernail polish on the bottom front portion of the bait. Also a few red spots down the side usually tend to make them angry. A useful trick is to take the front treble hook off of the bait and just keep the back treble hook on. You may miss a few fish, but when all said and done you stand a significantly better chance of avoiding a hook in the hand, as you can always get a good grip on the entire body of the bait when unhooking a fish. Usually in the early morning I will work the water within casting distance from the shore. Often I am looking for schooling fish or pods of bait to cast at, but some of the better blues and reds seem so patrol closer in during the early morning. After the sun gets up a little higher and I am able to see what might be swimming around me much more clearly, I'll typically wade fish in waist to knee deep water in order to get more distance on my cast. For rod and reel I am using nothing more than a 7 - 7.5 ft medium action rod with a Shimano Calcutta, or Daiwa Luna baitcasting reel. Usually the best way to work the bait is to jerk the rod to the side and up or to the side and downward 4 - 6 times in a row in order to "walk the dog - bait will move side to side" then let the bait sit still for 5 seconds or so. You will get strikes while the bait is moving, but often some of the best fish strike when the bait is sitting still - also it will give you a chance to rest . If Spanish are in the area keep the bait moving constantly...or better yet have a bubble rig in your arsenal. All of this gear can be found at Yellow Fin.

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