An appetizer for the salt water gathering

[HOOKSET]

The white perch have moved from our camp at toledo so I decided to test the local waters. My wife had to host a baby shower Sunday so that was the excuse I needed to go to Big Lake fishing. All the reports I heard were they are catching fish on the east side of the lake. The kids and I started trolling around 9:30 am. Trolling for specks is like trolling for crappie, only we go a little faster and use bigger baits. We stopped at noon with 19 trout and had to throw back 5 others including a 15 1/2 inch red (ouch). I think I only reeled in two fish. Twice we had a triple and once we had all four poles bent. That was interesting with my 3 year old driving the boat and my 7 year old and myself reeling in the fish. I wish someone was videoing, we might have won $10,000, plus you could have seen the smiles on our faces. Watching my children catch 19 fish is better than catching 100 myself.




her first speck

The trophy picture:

[Team M&M]

Nice catch there, and I'm glad your kids had fun. Im curious as to what type of artificial bait that is in the pic? I've been wanting to try fishing in Big Lake, but I've never fished in a brackish lake with artificials before. When we go to the ocean we always use live bait. I'd like to give it a try though, so any advice on what type of artificials to use in a lake like that, would be great.

[HOOKSET]

M & M - We used H & H cocahoes, Texas red killers, and H & H baby bull minnows. Not too sure on the size jig head but I think they are 1/4 oz. The colors varied. Everything can be bought at Academy or Walmart.

A neighbor went Sunday morning and caught 9 flounder and 2 reds on a carolina rigged live shrimp.

[Fishin_Magician]

I love the sound of that 4 pole hookup! Heh with the kids in the boat that had to be a circus. Congrats on a great trip, those are some lucky kiddos. I bet they had a great time.

I am interested in this trolling for specks... I got into long line trolling for crappie after my first trip to pirates cove. It was funny we were trying to slow/vertical troll minnows like we always do and we were getting whupped by this kid long linning a road runner while his dad did big cicles with the boat. I have little shame and ended up asking the kiddo what his secret was. Long story short we started trolling and came in with a nice mess.

This is the rod configuration I ended up using for trolling.


I use the trolling motor and if the wind is really strong a drift sock to control the boat. Which puts me on the front of the boat w/ someone in the rear manning the 4 poles straight off the back.... I use 4-6lb line and little 1/16th oz jigs with clip on spinners.

Any tips on altering this method to fish Big Lake? I figure I will want to go to at least 8-12lb mono line... or maybe some 20lb braid. And as far as lures I was going to try some swim baits w and w/o spinners. Not too sure which size jig head to try though. I know it will most likely be shallower than the water I am used to trolling... Which would prolly make you have to go faster and use less lead.

about them pesky trout, and I want to be prepared when we do battle in a month.

~Fishin' Magician~

[HOOKSET]

FM - I use the 2 rod holders that go straight out the back of the boat and 2 that go at a 90 degree out the side. My reels have 10 lb line. I have never tried with spinners on the jig heads but it may work . We have a 4 stroke motor that will idle down to about 800-1000 rpms. According to the gps we are moving at 2-3 mph. Just locate a good oyster reef and start trolling. I have trolled big circles around people casting and caught when the were not. Make sure you give them plenty of room because they dont care for the trolling method, especially if you are catching and they are not:D .

It may change between now and the end of June but you can try Turners Bay, Commisary Pt(just south of Heberts landing), and Long Pt(west side of the lake by the ship channel).

[Jigster]

Well done Hookset.

Jigster

[shadow]

Thanks for the appetizer Hookset. Sounds like yall had a ball.

Markham, I have heard that they have caught them off the rocks too.

[jlaughlin72]

Good job Robert, looks like the kids had fun and you too. You need to be careful with your little one driving the boat, you may run into one of the game wardens that had a bad day, and ticket you for them not taking the boater safety thing. Craziest law I ever heard of, we didn't take any course and we all turned out ok.
Congrats on the catch and thanks for the post.....................Johnny

[dupe9876]

When trolling for specs, How far or how much line to you let out behind the boat? I was thinking about going with my wife, and it would be alot easier to troll, than to watch her fight with an open faced reel all day.

[HOOKSET]

I throw the bait as far as I can then click the reel. If you keep getting hung up on the bottom then reel in a little. I have learned that when you get a hookup don't stop the boat unless you have to. Once you stop then all the baits fall to the bottom and if you are over oysters then they can get snagged. Good Luck. Remember this weekend starts the STAR. That means ALOT of boats running up and down the lake.