SABINE LAKE & PASS

Reported by CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

 

Shrimp Fest on Sabine

 

 

AS WE FIND OURSELVES nearing the tail end of yet another calendar year, I find it hard to ignore the feeling of excitement that keeps trying relentlessly to get my attention. 

I suppose one of the main reasons for this is because I know that the entire bay is absolutely loaded with shrimp. This, in itself, could be the number one reason for all the excitement, and it probably is. Shrimp in the bay equals fish in the bay; plain and simple. Whether you’re fishing the shoreline in 12 inches of water, or the open bay, if you cast anywhere near an air-borne shrimp you are going to get bit. In fact, you may get bit a few times before you actually hook up, and that is not at all a bad thing. It simply means the fish have one thing on their mind; eating! Little things such as lead heads with very sharp hooks don’t seem to bother them at all. They are not going to let something so trivial stand between them and an easy meal. 

Another thing we’re blessed with in these final two months is the decreasing water temperatures that the frequent cold fronts bring. When it begins to settle down after the front blows through, predator fish and baitfish alike will cruise the bay with new-found adrenaline. You can almost feel the bite before your lure hits the water. Light northerly winds and high pressure are ideal conditions for scoring big. 

It is the low pressure, however, that ranks near the top of reasons for me to be excited. Low, as in low fishing pressure, that is. There are no guarantees in fishing, hence the appropriate name, but having significantly less competition on the water greatly increases your chances. A big portion of the outdoorsmen who would typically be roaming the waters of Sabine will be settling into box blinds about the same time I roll into the boat ramp. I am happy for them, and admittedly, at times a little jealous, but the rewards of staying home and fishing can be huge. As the crowds get smaller your window of opportunity gets bigger. Having about half of the boats that would normally be on the lake when fishing is this good allows you to fish more spots that you know hold fish. 

The passes and mouths of the bayous will usually hold some really nice fish. Being able to work these areas thoroughly gives you the upper hand when it comes to catching a nice stringer. It is no different in the lake. Being able to choose your flock of birds and have it to yourself can be the difference between getting early limits or having to work a little harder for them. When it comes to fishing and fishing pressure on Sabine Lake, right now is about as good as it gets.