Western Lake Fishing

[bayoucajun]

We will be headed down to So Wal next week, and have been trying to figure out locations to catch fish, particularly redfish and speckled trout. Does anybody know if Western Lake is at all salty this time of year? I know that there is sometimes an outflow to bring in that salt water... If you know of any other spots in the area to catch a few I would be very thankful! Any help/suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Will

 

[Em]

We had a good rain about a week ago, and it added about a foot to the lake level of Western Lake, which decreased the salinity a bit. The opening at the Gulf is almost connected and with some strong surf washing in, there may be some salt water lapping over the beach into the lake. Redfish and Trout are in there, as are the Mullet, Largemouth Bass, BlueGill, and Gar. I've been seeing some smaller Bass and small schools of under limit Redfish in the shallow pass between what the old-timers call "Grayton Lake" and Western Lake. If you stand in that shallow area, you'll see the fish.

 

[bayoucajun]

Would that be the shallow water channel between Eastern and Western? The one the bridge crosses over? Haven't been down in a year. Hopefully that opening will be connected soon, its gotta be good for the reds and specks in there.. I'm truly shocked that those fish survive in there with no flow of water. Think they will hit shrimp or plastic?

Thanks!

 

[30A Skunkape]

Would that be the shallow water channel between Eastern and Western? The one the bridge crosses over? Haven't been down in a year. Hopefully that opening will be connected soon, its gotta be good for the reds and specks in there.. I'm truly shocked that those fish survive in there with no flow of water. Think they will hit shrimp or plastic?

Thanks!

If you really want to catch reds I wouldn't mess with Western Lake. If you have a kayak, I would actually put them in at the Hogtown Bayou park (go north on HWY 393 and the park, which has restrooms and lots of paved parking, will be about two miles at most on your left). Here is a link to Walton Outdoors...good site for current fishing info http://www.waltonoutdoors.com/cessna-boat-ramp-closed-for-improvements/ . The boat launch there is currently being redone, but this matters not for kayakers, as there is plenty of beach where you can just plop them in. Hogtown Bayou is a finger of the bay and has lots of grass flats and oyster beds that hold reds, specs and flounder. In fact, plenty of people fish from the bank and I have seen a few actually catching fish. I have had luck with gold spoons and DOA shrimp there. Live bait would probably be better if you felt like messing with it. You might try a DOA shrimp under a popping cork now that it is warming up. Either way, I can almost guarantee you will have better luck there than in Western Lake. The redfish are certainly running the beaches now too, if you want to surf fish. My tip to you is to go to Yellow Fin outfitters just off 30-A near Eastern Lake-they will put you on the fish and sell you what you need, at prices just as good as Bass Pro, etc.

 

[bayoucajun]

Definitely will check that out. Don't the guys over at yellow fin rent kayaks, if I remember correctly? Also would you happen to know where some of these oyster reefs might be? I'm thinking we will throw gulp and other plastic under a cork..

 

[30A Skunkape]

Definitely will check that out. Don't the guys over at yellow fin rent kayaks, if I remember correctly? Also would you happen to know where some of these oyster reefs might be? I'm thinking we will throw gulp and other plastic under a cork..

Yes, they rent Kayaks. Gulps are a great idea. There is a topographical map you can inspect at Yellowfin mounted on the wall, or you can buy one for yourself there, they are cheap and have grass beds, oysters, etc marked.

 

[BeachSteelers]

Top water plugs for reds is most exciting but takes a ton of casts. I saw a few decent reds in western on my last Paddle there.
Trout are usually pretty small there.