LAKE CHARLES, La.—From the central Louisiana pine forests, the CalcasieuRiver flows through Lake Charles to the Gulf of Mexico.  Designated a “Natural and ScenicRiver,” the Calcasieu and its tributaries offer incredible beauty as well as good fishing.  As the Calcasieu transitions from an upland sandy stream into a cypress-lined river, fishermen discover that bass, catfish, panfish (brim), crappie (white perch) and bream are among the good catches.  The same species can be found in the Sabine River, as well.  The Sabine River is better for quantity of fish where anglers average 25-50 bass in half a day.  The Calcasieu River boasts bigger fish with bass being 1.25 – 1.75 pounds.  For bass, crappie and panfish, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, trick worms, craw worms and crankbaits are the secret to a successful trip.  Boat launches along the rivers allow excellent access for fishing, swimming, skiing or boating.

As the CalcasieuRiver flows southward, it encounters at Westlake the Saltwater Barrier, which divides the river into fresh and salty portions.  From the barrier south to the Gulf, the Calcasieu Ship Channel runs largely along the old river channel.  Built in 1946, the channel transformed the city into a bustling international port and opened access for boaters to venture into the Gulf.

In some of the best fishing waters along the Gulf Coast, the ship channel runs for 19 miles before brushing against the northern edge of Calcasieu Lake in Cameron Parish, renowned for producing huge speckled trout.  Nationally heralded as a trophy trout paradise, Calcasieu Lake (known to locals as Big Lake) is the center of one of the Gulf of Mexico's most prolific estuaries.  The most sought after inshore gamefish are the speckled trout, redfish and flounder.  In fact, if you catch all three species in one day it is known as a Cajun Grand Slam!  Simply bait your line with plastic grubs, Johnson spoons, Berkley Gulps and plastic shad looking lures to catch speckled trout, redfish or flounder.

Other available species include black drum, sand trout, sheepshead and croakers.  The lake measures roughly 12 miles long by nine miles wide and averages six to eight feet deep. Nearly every year, the winner of the Statewide Tournament and Angler's Rodeo catches the largest trout in Louisiana from CalcasieuLake.

As the ship channel continues another 22 miles south to the Gulf, Contraband Bayou, home of copper-colored redfish and sleek speckled trout (spotted sea trout), enters from the east near the Golden Nugget Lake Charles and L'Auberge Casino Resort.

More gamefish species are available along the coastline or at the oil platforms including bull redfish, cobia, tripletail, Spanish and king mackerel, pompano, bluefish, snapper, jack crevalle and sharks to name a few.

A subtropical climate leads to great fishing year-round.  Peak times for speckled trouts and redfish is March through October.  Calcasieu Lake usually comes to its peak in the fall season, as flounder run, schools of redfish are on the prowl and specks feed to survive the winter.  Whether it is bass and catfish or a Cajun Grand Slam, Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes are sure to provide any fisherman a good catch.

For more information, contact the Southwest Louisiana/Lake Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau at (337) 436-9588, (800) 456-7952 or visit www.visitlakecharles.org.

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