Across the channel, anglers fish West Cove. Big trout and schools of redfish roam the shallow oyster reefs. Rue suggested fishing Cross Reef at GPS coordinates N29 51 820/W93 14 311.
“The two key areas in West Cove are Junior’s Cut, the south entrance to the cove and Cross Reef in the middle of the cove on the other side of Rabbit Island,” he said. “We drift over the reefs with topwaters.”
Although the seminar didn’t specifically cover areas outside of Big Lake, some anglers asked about the jetties at the mouth of the ship channel. Here, twin mile-long rows of rocks form a magnet for big redfish and trout.
“In the heat of summer I fish the jetties,” Rue said. “When the fish are on, it can be really great down there. I free-line a live pogie and let it drift.”