Calcasieu River Bass Fishing Reports

Jared LeBlue · July 24, 2003, 10:57:23 PM

Went to the Calcasieu River this past Monday to get a little prefishing in for the Big Bass Bonanza coming up in two weeks. The river is stained but it's fishable. Caught one dink and had several good bites on a buzz bait. Hope they biting better for the tournament.

Mike Cork · July 26, 2003, 06:27:16 PM

I don't know much about that area but have heard quite a bit about it. Let us know how the tourney goes.

Jared LeBlue · July 26, 2003, 09:20:27 PM

Mike, It's a pretty good fishery but big fish are hard to come by. The tournament I'm fishing is one of the biggest in the State. Last year they had over 750 entries which was down from the year before which was over 800. They are paying 6 places an hour this year with a guarantee of 5 places over all. They normally pay way more than that though, in 2001 they paid 115 places over all, thats not counting the hourly places. I'll let yall know how it turns out.

Mike Cork · July 27, 2003, 09:22:40 AM

Rattle,

Whats it cost to get into the tourney and what usually takes big bass per hour? Just wondering cant make it this year but it might be a fun and exciting way to learn the water next year

Jared LeBlue · July 27, 2003, 10:08:01 AM

The past few years the winning over all fish has been just under 5 lbs. Hourly big fish vary. I've taken a first place bass of the hour with a 2 lb fish and have seen smaller take 1st place bass of the hour. But in general it normally take something over 3 lbs to get 1st in bass of the hour. On the same hand if you have a 2 lb fish you will be in the money. They pay 6 places an hour so depending on how good the fishing is if you have a decent keeper fish you could win some money. Learn to play the hourly game and you could come home with several checks. The entry fee is $38 a day per person or $65 for two days. E-mail me you address and I mail you a pamplet so you can check it out.

Jared LeBlue · August 03, 2003, 04:43:09 PM

Well the 16th annual Big Bass Bonanza is over and it was a tough one. A 5.81 lb bass took 1st place with a 4.7 lb bass taking 2nd. I didn't get the total number of anglers fishing but I heard it was close to what it was last year which I believe was 775. Fishing was good over all but getting size was a problem. I heard reports from several different anglers which were pretty consistant, lots of fish but no size. I had a problem hooking up, they were biting but I was missing. I missed a real good fish Saturday and a couple of other decent fish that could have put me in the money. The only problem with that is they don't give checks for missed fish. Oh well there's always next year.

Mike Cork · August 07, 2003, 11:46:33 AM

Rattle, is this tourney the same time every year? I would like to forcast some time off from work and check this thing out sounds like alot of fun and a great way to learn new water

Jared LeBlue · August 07, 2003, 07:22:09 PM

Mike, the tourny is always the first weekend of August. The guy that puts the tournaments on is Ron Castille. He also puts on weekday tournaments every week on different lakes and rivers. These tournaments are call " The Afternoon Dog Fights". These tournaments start sometime in April and go all the way through August. If you qualify in one of these tournaments you get to fish the regional tournament , I think that's what it's called, on that body of water which you qualified. If you qualify in the regional tournament you get to fish the superbass tournament, again not sure if the name is right, which is on Toledo Bend. I hope to see you next year at the Bonanza, it is a fun tournament. If you want any more information on the Bonanza or the Dog Fights e-mail me your home address and I will send you some info.

Jared LeBlue · November 03, 2003, 09:22:45 AM

Went to the river last Friday and had a beautiful day. The fish didn't cooperate to much but we had a good time. We ended up catching 4 bass but only three would keep. The South wind was blowing which was keeping the water from moving real good. The river should be getting better as the the cold fronts start coming in. As crazy as this may sound the first couple of days after the cold front comes through is the best time to be fishing the Calcasieu River. Bluebird with a strong north wind is deadly.

MotherNature · January 17, 2004, 07:28:05 PM

Your fishing report goes here....

Jared LeBlue · March 03, 2004, 10:01:39 PM

I heard the bass are starting to bite good on the river. Looks like it's going to be a pretty weekend so I'm going to take the family camping and do a little fishing.

Jared LeBlue · March 07, 2004, 05:49:46 PM

Well, everything got messed up this weekend. Started out with every campground on the Calcasieu River being filled up. I don't know what was going on but there wasn't anything available. I thought no problem I'll just go to Indian Creek. Well they had ample space but I had a little trouble getting there. My hitch on my camper for my boat gave way about 10 miles into the trip. Thank God it didn't break off but it bent pretty bad. I had to turn around and bring the boat back home. Well after that hour delay we were back on the road and headed for the creek. We got there with no more complications. The only thing now is it's pouring down raining. Try setting a camper up in the rain with a 6yr. old and 2 yr. old. My wife was working so she got to miss all of this fun. I don't know if I'm going to be able to make it to church enough to save me after everthing I was spouting out. Finally got set up, the kids are full of mud and all of their shoes and rubber boats are wet and full of water, and the rain stops. My wife shows up about two hours later and several beers have been downed so everything starts getting better. All and all we had a great weekend and I met a new friend who ended up taking me out to fish a little while Sunday. Well it's time to get back to the grind and look at that stupid hitch on my camper, cause I can't deal with not having my boat while I'm camping.

Jared LeBlue · April 16, 2004, 04:27:37 PM

Had a pretty good day on the river today. I caught 11, and had some nice fish in that creel. The bite came on a spinner bait early in the morning than switched to a baby brushhog by mid morning. The water temp is still in the mid 60s but it is muddy right now. You have to fish slow but they will bite.

coach · April 23, 2004, 08:39:05 AM

I heard the Calcasieu River is clearing up a little at the white oak section. A report given to me is saying that the west fork is very pretty and the fish want to eat a pearl brushhog.

coach · May 11, 2004, 09:39:39 AM

Anyone fishing the temple tourn. this weekend.

Mike Cork · May 12, 2004, 10:22:15 AM

"Temple" is that a club or organization? Or just and open invitational?

Jared LeBlue · May 12, 2004, 09:56:20 PM

Mike, I believe Temple is the company putting on the tournament. I believe it's a charity tournament and it is an open tournament.

Mike Cork · May 13, 2004, 06:31:45 AM

cool I was just curious as I had never heard the name before thanks

Wildcat26 · June 02, 2004, 03:35:31 PM

Just went boat riding Monday afternoon on the river. The river is still a little high with good current. The water is starting to clear up.

Brush Hawg · June 08, 2004, 08:12:22 AM

My brother and myself went to the river on Saturday. We caught 12 with 7 keepers. My brother caught a 31/2 lb. bass which is really nice for the Calcasieu. Most of the fish bit on muscadine baby brush hogs.

Jared LeBlue · June 08, 2004, 10:41:51 PM

Glad to see the fish are biting again. I take it the water is back down to normal. I guess I'm going to have to fish a dog fight over there soon. Any news on the dog fights?

Brush Hawg · June 09, 2004, 09:35:26 AM

They are running the dogfights out of Sam Houston on Wednesday afternoons. Not sure of the starting time though. Probably safe to check in by 4:30 pm.

Jared LeBlue · July 12, 2004, 09:34:46 PM

I made a little two hour trip this afternoon when I got off work. I caught 5, missed quite a few, and dropped ( this is the story of my life) a drag puller. All in all I had a good time. It looks like it's finally getting good again after all this rain we've been having. The current is still moving pretty good by White Oak and the water is stained but it's not too bad. I caught everything on a buzzbait.

Brush Hawg · July 13, 2004, 12:21:19 PM

We fished the Westfork Saturday morning and caught six. Only two keepers in the bunch. Water was pretty good on the Westfork. Met another boat who had caught 20. They had two over three pounds.

Mike Cork · July 13, 2004, 12:59:08 PM

I seen that rattle posted buzz baits are working. What kind of plastics do you throw down there on the river?