We are going to be taking a trip in June for some reds and trout. I do not saltwater fish very often but love it when I do. We will taking a boat with us and trying out calcasieu, and tips on what to look for and bait and also any tips on running the lake would be appreciated. Thanks

Don't overthink it. Look for intersections of moving water, and baitfish activity. There's your trout. Marsh banks with mullet and wakes, there's your redfish.

If in doubt, follow pelicans, they don't lie.

What is your go to baits? Was going to use live shrimp as we normally do but would love to try other baits and artificials.

In the Louisiana marsh, you can pretty well do it all on a cocahoe queen minnow in plum chartreuse. 1/8 oz screw lock head. Maybe a few weedless spoons if the redfish are tight in the grass.

I might hunt down some Hoagie super minnows in the same color scheme, they're a bit bigger and have a harder vibration if the water is cloudy.

I appreciate all the info. I am assuming that live shrimp on a popping cork can get it done if the artificials aren’t working for us?

I wouldn't know, we don't sling meat.

Louisiana standard, live shrimp under a popping cork.

Go to Spicers Marina. Get some live shrimp and throw it under a popping court. Split shot shrimp along the jetties is usually high percent to be productive. Also the drop along the channel is good in summer. Birds might give some clue to where the fish are. Mid lake shell can be good in June too.

Plastics work well but shrimp is more guaranteed. Usually small plastics on a 1/4 oz jig head. I like the Bass Assassin 4” Sea Shad in Chicken on the Chain. It’s pretty reliable.

Pretty easy place to get around. Navionics map is good there.

Liberal limits. 15 trout over 12”. 5 reds between 16 and 27” a day.

In the summer schools of primarily over sized Reds get in the middle of the south end of the lake. When they do you can catch as many as you can stand.

Watch when the boats come out of Hackberry Rod and Gun. If they go in a general direction north or south good to go in that direction too. Don’t potluck them. Just a indicator of what end of the lake is holding the most fish. If they go every direction it probably doesn’t matter. Fish are spread out.

Also easy to tell what the guide boats are. See what pattern they try deep, mid, shallow and try it at other locations.

Tide makes a difference. Be aware of when the tide moves. It can light them up.

Look for bait in the water. Fish like to eat. They hang around stuff to eat.

I appreciate all the info guys. We will be headed down the last week in may and hoping to come home with a lot of good meat. We will more than likely going to fish live shrimp as that seems to be the best chance to catch em with my limited saltwater experience. I Have a large gator trax boat that will run shallow and a navionics map so hoping to come home in one piece. Any info about the west cove area? looks really shallow but might hold some good fish. Also what area is the best to launch at?

Just curious, is your trailer aluminum or galvanized?

its a galvanized trailer. Planning on spraying it will salt away and washing it really well when i get out of the water along with the boat.

Where are you staying? We stay at Spicers most of the time. Or we rent a house off VRBO.

With a Gator Trax you won’t have any problem in West Bay.

The Weirs are always a good bet to catch fish if you can get a spot there. Usually a few boats fishing them. Best on a out going tide. You can go behind the one if it’s open. I forget the name of it.

We are staying at a airbnb in sulphur. A little bit of a drive but it was cheap and i nice place that would fit a boat. We are definitely going to hit the weirs some and also some of the flats/cuts off the main channel. Hoping the wind is not too much of a factor while we are there.