And So It Begins

It’s almost unimaginable that we are halfway through the year and the months will now fly by at a seemingly faster pace. Sabine Lake has just been terrific this spring and the momentum continues to build. Quality fish that we thought might never come back have made appearances in several different areas leaving plenty of choices for anglers. As we stare down the second half of the year with high hopes and optimism, it’s not a stretch to think we may be in for something special.

Easily, the biggest story thus far in 2026 has been the resurgence of the speckled trout population, both in terms of numbers and quality. The overall health of the trout population right now has to be as good as it’s been in at least 10 years, when we went on that horrible run of weather-related bad luck. The dry winter we experienced started things off on the right foot as the perennial big freshwater runoff from the lakes to our north never materialized. In fact, Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend stayed well below pool, with Rayburn still extremely low as I write this column, while Toledo Bend is back near normal levels. The lack of runoff allowed the salinity on Sabine to reach higher than normal levels, which kickstarted the fishing into high gear where it remains.

Several really solid patterns have already emerged as consistent “fish catchers”, and they should continue to produce as the temps climb. The bite along the east shoreline has become much more dependable as good numbers of trout are stacking up near the mouths of the major bayous on the tide changes. This is much more in line with what we are accustomed to seeing this time of year, especially with the brown shrimp that are so incredibly abundant.

Another solid pattern has been throwing swimbaits and shallow running crankbaits along shoreline structure. The rocks that line the channel and the jetties are perfect places for this technique, and they have really shined for us so far this year.

And, of course, let’s not forget the program in the channel where shallow shell meets the drop-offs; this is where many of the bigger fish that have been caught this year came from. You can fish these areas several ways and catch quality trout. There is a surprisingly good topwater bite at times along with large 5” soft plastics, and Corky-style plugs. If you find some shell along the breaks of the channel with a few mullet hanging around, you should set up shop and wait for those trout to show up because they aren’t going to be far behind.

Switching gears a little bit I can honestly say in my 35-plus years of guiding on Sabine I have never seen as many big redfish and jack crevalle in the lake as I have seen lately. These fish are incredible to watch when they really get into a feeding frenzy because nothing that swims is safe. These schools will drive anglers mad as they move so fast while chasing down an easy meal. Many trolling motors have been tested while trying to jockey for position on one the marauding schools.

The best bet is to idle on the outside of the school and then cut the distance to a point where you can reach them with a long cast. Topwater plugs will produce incredible blowups, so be ready if that’s the route you choose to go. I’ve been throwing a Nutty Knocker from Flatwater Baits that is rigged with single hooks instead of trebles so unhooking these big fish is much easier and, contrary to what you may think, you really don’t suffer on your hook-up ratio either.

If I’m not throwing a topwater, I’ll usually have a Coastal Pro rattling cork and soft plastic on a 7-foot medium action Laguna spinning rod which allows me to make ultra-long casts and still have plenty of backbone for hooksets and the fight that follows. Be prepared for some chaos with the rattling cork because you will have to deal with multiple fish at the same time fighting over the cork during the retrieve which definitely makes things interesting.

For those of you that have been waiting for this time of the year to head for the gulf, you are in luck because there will be plenty of options. Starting closer to shore the jetties will be a fantastic option to start your day off, especially that hour before sunrise where you can get your arms stretched by some psycho trout along the rocks on topwater plugs and swimbaits.

A little farther out you can choose to run the beachfront and sight-cast tripletail or look for the foamy water as the redfish and big sharks eat everything in their path. The near shore rigs and wellheads will have trout stacked on them from time to time and, more often than not, they will be really solid fish. Don’t be afraid to hop around and find some that will cooperate.

It amazes me when I look back at the journey Sabine has been on and how far it’s come in the last few years. There were many days I wondered if we would ever see anything that resembled what we had so long taken for granted. I am very encouraged at this time and also thankful for how things have come together. I truly hope the fishing stays as hot as the temps.

Speaking of the temperatures, it would be a disservice to not offer a few words of precaution surrounding fishing in the heat at this time of year. It cannot be overstated at how important it is to take all the necessary precautions during the summer months. Staying hydrated is the most key factor during the hotter months and for some reason it’s the most overlooked. Sunscreen has become a huge topic as to whether it's good for you or harmful, so I’ll leave that to you as a personal choice. Keeping some sort of shade on yourself with a wide brimmed hat or bandana will do wonders that you will feel at the end of the day. Of course, quality eyewear is a must for many reasons, all the way from general UV protection to being a functional tool to help you catch more fish.

One thing we don’t talk about enough is wearing the right clothing that both protects you and helps keep you cool. Quality shirts, shorts, or fishing pants will make a massive difference in the way you feel during the day. I recently picked up a new Magellan shirt that has a great feel to it and it has become one of my favorites. It’s a ventilated hoodie from the Jacob Wheeler collection and it doesn’t feel like any shirt I’ve worn before, which makes it easy to wear and stay protected from the sun. Finding functional clothing that doesn’t break the bank is difficult sometimes, but this model from Magellan certainly offers plenty of bang for the buck.

To say I’m pretty fired up about our prospects for the summer and beyond would be a gross understatement and just downright false in every way. There are good things going on in just about every corner of Sabine, and it’s a great time to take advantage of those opportunities. The summer is also the perfect time to take a kid fishing as well, so don’t miss out if you have a chance to do so. Stay safe, stay hydrated, and enjoy.