minnows , small mullets , croakers or menhaden under corks .
“ A live shrimp under a popping cork is a good method for catching flounder ,” Adams instructed . “ Often , flounder are in really shallow water , so use a short leader and take the weights off . With no weight , shrimp fall more slowly and flounder get a better look at the bait . When flounder are feeding on shad , throw a cast net and catch some shad for bait because they might not even hit a shrimp . Fish with what they want to eat .”
As the weather turns hot in the summer , flounder sometimes seek deeper water in major bayous , canals or around the ship channel shelves and drop-offs . For deeper fishing , drag a shrimp on the bottom . Pop off the head of a fresh dead shrimp and thread the shrimp onto a jighead as if rigging a soft-plastic bait . Toss it as close to the cover as possible . Drag the bait slowly over the bottom , hopping it up occasionally , until it falls off the drop-off edge .
Live bait on a jighead also works , particularly when flounder turn finicky . Sweeten a jighead with a live cocahoe minnow or small mullet hooked through the lips , nostrils or eyes . Fish it like dead shrimp on a jighead , but pause longer and more frequently . Drag it a foot or two along the bottom and wait . The wiggling fish creates irresistibly tempting action . Keep repeating and try various depths to locate flounder .
“ Obviously , live bait is very effective because we can put the bait in the target area and hold it there ,” Rue advised . “ With flounder , it ’ s usually more a matter of putting the bait in front of the fish . If it ’ s in a feeding mood , it will bite .”
For big doormats , try a Carolina rig tipped with a live minnow , mullet , menhaden or croaker about three to five inches long . To make a Carolina rig , slip a sliding sinker on the main line . Tie a barrel swivel to the line and add an 18- to 36-inch fluorocarbon leader tipped with a circle hook . With the line slipping through the sinker , a baitfish can swim more freely .
Although flounder generally prefer natural baits , they do hit jigheads tipped with soft-plastic trailers , swimbaits , spoons , flies and other artificial temptations . In coastal rivers , bass anglers frequently catch flatties on Texas-rigged plastics , wacky worms , jigs , crankbaits and spinnerbaits .
During a strong tide , an unweighted plastic shrimp makes an excellent flounder temptation . If necessary , add a tiny split-shot to the line to help with casting . Throw the shrimp as far upstream as possible and let the current carry it naturally downstream . Occasionally , lift it off the bottom to keep it floating freely in the current and only use the reel to take up slack . Some people also use artificial shrimp under a popping cork just like live bait .
Jen Carroll proudly displays a flounder she caught with some help from Capt . Al
Winfrey of Hackberry Rod and Gun
“ I like a Gulp ! shrimp or swimming mullet on a 1 / 8-ounce jighead ,” Adams recommended . “ In off-color water , I throw chartreuse . In clear water , I use white . When flounder are up really shallow , I sometimes fish a gold-bladed spinnerbait with a curly tail Gulp ! on a 1 / 8-ounce jighead . That ’ s really effective when flounder are eating shad .”
Most people probably catch flounder by accident while fishing for redfish or speckled trout than by intention , but few people let them go . Whether targeting them or loading an ice chest with “ bonus ” fish , flounder can please any palate . A favorite way to prepare them , chop off the head , remove the guts and scales . Then , slice it down its back creating two pockets by the spine . Fill those spaces with spicy crabmeat , bake or broil and enjoy !
For area information , contact the Southwest Louisiana Conventions and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-456-SWLA or visit www . visitlakecharles . org .
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