When it All Lines Up Just Right

Light winds and calm seas are often a rarity in the spring and they should always be taken full advantage of at every opportunity. The wide open spaces of Sabine Lake can be mighty harsh during the spring, but on those days when the wind socks lay still and the flags droop one can encounter some of the finest fishing anywhere. This year so far has been outstanding and rare; the fishing has been the outstanding part while the conditions on the water have been rare to say the least. Since the major hurricanes of the recent past it seems that Sabine has almost become supercharged and rejuvenated. Truth is the hurricanes did little damage to the fishery, if anything it flushed the marshes and rivers, cleaned the slate of past sins and problems, and began a very impressive run of fishing like we have never seen.

Every six or seven years it seems a pattern similar to the one we are currently experiencing repeats itself - we have very little rainfall in the northern reaches of the Sabine and Neches basins and the winter temperatures remain stable and incredibly mild. The last time we saw the lake in this kind of shape we saw crazy stuff happen like jack crevalle being caught 10 miles up the Sabine River and schooling bluefish on the south end of the lake.

The next few months could be really interesting to say the least, especially if we can avoid any weird late spring cold weather. The normal problems associated with runoff from the north will be minimal due in large part to the fact that both Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn reservoirs are still well below normal "full pool" level. The low levels will offer a shock absorber or buffer of sorts from heavy rains associated with the spring. It will take several sizeable rains to refill the lakes and make runoff a problem for Sabine Lake anglers. That's a big bonus for all of the fishermen both on the freshwater side and saltwater as well.

Now as far as the subject of freshwater runoff goes, the lack of it this spring will definitely change the normal patterns. For years the months of January and February were almost wasted months due to the huge river inflow that just absolutely wrecked the lake. Late February and early March would find both concentrations of fish and fishermen in the deep water of the south end of Sabine over that expansive shell reef near the Causeway. Boats by the dozens would all gather up and enjoy the fact the fish were super concentrated in a relatively small area. Once the color combination and jig head size was perfected it was like riding an escalator and catching fish as the boats lined up and made long drifts. Strong tide changes and favorable winds were "money in the bank" as the fishing was ultra predictable. That pattern will still be in play this spring but it certainly won't be the only game in town as the fish will be scattered out all over the lake instead of being hemmed up in one area.

Tried and true locations along the Louisiana shoreline and along the flats that border the river and Intracoastal canal should produce fish in consistent numbers much earlier and more often this spring as the salinity levels will no doubt hold up. The stable water conditions have more or less given anglers two "free months" of fishing that normally don't exist. Now don't get confused here, it won't be crazy like the fall, but it certainly will be better than average.

Now if an above average trout is on your to-do list for the spring and Sabine is where you plan to accomplish this goal, you need to remember a few tried and true facts that will aid you in your quest. Beyond the average and overdone cliché's and ultra-obvious things such as "mud and shell, mullet imitations, and grinding it out" there are a couple of things that may be helpful. A fantastic way to find a big fish on Sabine is to start with one of the many drains that empty the marshes on an outgoing tide. The water in the marshes will be several degrees warmer than the lake which makes these areas a magnet for these bigger fish and the bait they pursue. Not only will the temperature and bait make these areas desirable the very visible color change in the water will be a big factor as well. The clear water from the marsh will offer up a huge contrast to the water in the lake and that makes a classic ambush point where big trout will hang out. Once you do a little exploring you will find the drains have very defined guts and depressions worn out by the constant change of water on the tides. The expansive flats near these depressions will be perfect spots to find concentrations of fish and perhaps that one really big trout that all Texas saltwater anglers crave.

If the thought of getting out of the boat and probing stretches of water for hours in search of a stud trout is something that doesn't interest you, don't worry because you have another option. If 2011 taught local anglers anything it was the fact that the deeper water surrounding Sabine Lake was an amazingly untapped resource. For a variety of reasons including gas prices, weather, and the fact the fishing was so easy, many local anglers almost shunned the open water of Sabine Lake for the friendly protected confines of the Sabine and Neches Rivers. "2011 - The Year of the Swimbait" is how many will remember last year without a doubt. I saw a major increase in the number of boats probing the river and they had good reason to be there as well as stay there. The numbers of redfish bordered on the ridiculous and the quality of trout that were there on a daily basis was something to behold. No ultra specific techniques were needed most of the time, just a willingness to cover some ground and do what the freshwater guys call "chunking and winding." This pattern will be a little more difficult in the spring but not out of the question by any stretch. The fish will be a little deeper and more concentrated on the breaks and structure but they will be there. Relying heavily on good electronics is a must and patience is also a key when you target these deeper fish but the payoff is more than worth the effort. Along with speckled trout and redfish there will also be some really large stripers hanging around so if you latch on to one you can't turn just hang on for the ride because you may be shocked at how big these fish can get.

This spring has the potential to be awfully good here on Sabine and the next few months, (I know this sounds crazy because fishing has been so good lately), could be some of the best we have seen in a long time. Look for everything to get even crazier as the winds subside and the temperatures continue to climb. I personally can't wait to see just how wild it might get. Enjoy it now because it may be a while before we see it like this again.