KFDM COOP Posted April 6, 2006 Report Posted April 6, 2006 Sabine Refuge closed until further notice The Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is closed until further notice. Typically, the refuge opens March 15, but last weekend I got a tip the refuge was actually closed despite no presence of signs or information to the contrary. As it turns out, refuge officials put out ìrefuge closedî signs last week and I came across them in Willow Bayou. There are also signs at other points along the Louisiana shoreline of Lake Sabine. Louisiana officials said damage caused from Hurricane Rita is the reason for the closure and there is no date yet set to open the refuge. North Sabine - Trout action has bee fair in the channel around the islands on live bait, Catch Jrs. and Corkies. Redfish are scattered. Flounder are fair on the Louisiana shoreline on live mud minnows fished on incoming tides. South Sabine - Trout are fair on live bait and plug and firetiger-colored / eel imitations fished over the reef. Flounder are fair on live mud minnows around the causeway bridge area on live mud minnows fished around the yacht basin. Very few reports of redfish. Sabine Pass - Angler John Jeffries reports the jetties are producing lots of sheepshead on shrimp fished around the big rocks on the Louisiana side and south of the Texas Cut on the west jetty. Redfish are good on mullet. A few trout are starting to show up and take plastics and topwaters fished early on calm days. Capt. Ryan Warhola reports excellent catches of wahoo and amberjack at the Flower Gardens. Bolivar - North End Bait reports the surf has been fair for redfish, sheepshead and black drum on cut bait. A few flounder are coming through the pass and taking live mud minnows. Toledo Bend - Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials report very little action due to low water levels. Tournaments have been moved to Rayburn Lake. Rayburn Lake - Guide Lynn Atkinson reports largemouths are coming in the back of the coves on senkos, whacky worms and spinner baits. Colors have been watermelon red pumpkinseed, green pumpkin, and Watermelon red Green Flake. Crappie are showing up around the bridges on live shiners. A few are starting to move up shallow in preparation to spawn. Sabine River - Angler Gerald Burleigh reports catfish are hit and miss in the bayous on cut bait on the first hour or so of moving tides. Small flounder are good around the Outfall Canal on shad and finger mullet. A few stripers are still showing up around BurtonÃs Ditch and taking plastics. LAKE LEVELS TOLEDO BEND: Normal Level: 172.0 Current Pool Level: 167.90 (Was 166.83) RAYBURN LAKE: Normal Pool Level: 164.4 Current Pool Level: 162.66 (Was 162.49) B.A. STEINHAGEN: Normal Pool Level: 85 Current Pool Level: 82.46 (Was 82.39)
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