....needs a pinch of salt (part 2)

I decided to sleep in on Tuesday.  The 6 hour drive, fishing, and making camp on Monday had me moving a little slow, but I wasn't lacking motivation.  I knew my fishing time was limited, only 2 days, so I prepared an extra cup of coffee Monday morning when I left home at 12am.  I left it in my truck all day and night.  It was cold but drinkable on Tuesday morning...that saved me at least 10 mins.  Grabbed a bagel, lunchable, water, some granola bars (nothing sexy...just calories) and I was driving out of the GI state park in 5 mins...almost, I got stopped by some friendly kayakers who I wanted to know where I caught my specks.  After a brief conversation, always willing to share my experiences with other friendly yakers, I was on the road and headed to a new spot, someplace I had no experience.

Started nice and sunny.  That changed.

I could see the clouds moving in fast and knew sight fishing would be limited today.  But within 10 mins I spotted a red crashing bait, it took 2 casts and fish in the net.  CPR'd and moving...

Clouds made it too dark to sight fish

Covered about a mile before I stopped at a fishylookn spot, it was too dark to sight cast, so I searched with a spinnerbait with TTF killer flats minnow.  Blind cast a point and hooked up.  I could tell it was a speck by the head shake.  Surprised by the result, I repeated, and agian...nice speck.  Time for an audible...can't sight fish and the specks are aggressive.

I must have got lost in the fish'n because all of a sudden I was surrounded my birds...not sure if I drifted into them or they converged on me.  But for the next 2 hours I caught about 2 limits of keeper specks...all 12-15".  Not many undersized, and it was cast after cast.  They only wanted the SB with flats minnow in purple/chart.  I tried jigging on the bottom and swimming in various colors.

The specks had these falling out of their mouths

Just a few of the birds and you can see the specks busting the top (top right in pic) 

At 9:30 they moved on and so did I.  Went look'n for reds in the dark.  It started really slow, I found a few but spooked them b/c I was sitting on them.  Like typical reds, they panic and torpedo my kayak...

It took an hour or so, but the clouds dispersed some and the sun made sight fishing an option.  I located a great flat that was almost void of water.  It had a canal running through it and I could see reds cruising it, searching for something to eat.  No worries I got what ya need...

What I'm look'n for as a sight fisherman

Didn't take long to get one in hand.  A few others followed.  It was turning out to be a great day.

30" baby bull

Found this baby bull crashing bait along a grass line.  I got really excited and accidentally put the spoon in the grass.  Knowing I only had 1 chance, I tried to slowly pull it free...BUT...it came out like a bullet...heading right at the big red...it landed and the red turned.  I expected to see the torpedo maneuver.  However, it torpedoed the spoon...I wasn't prepared and had to reel in my slack before I could set.  Again, despite my best effort, sometimes they just want to be caught.

High and Dry - He was mud wrestling some shrimp...not even sure he was in the water. 

As I was landing this guy.  My wife text me, reminding me to check in every once in a while.  I sometimes forget to do that...So I get the phone out and send the "I'm living them dream, thx for being awesome" reply.  I hear a sound behind be...think'n it's a red I turn to take it's pic b/c that seems cool, right?!  SURPRISE...he didn't stop there.  He kept getting closer and closer.  Not sure if he wanted a ride or the red.

Glad it wasn't a gator

Another baby bull

The day really changed when the sun came out.  I could clearly see the reds and they were feeding.

He was just hang'n out on the bottom, not moving...dorsal fin was high and dry.

I ran across the above red sitting in about 6"s of water (pic below).  I was cruising along looking for reds when I nearly torpedo'd him.  I had to rapidly and quietly deploy my poor man's power pole.

Poor man's power pole.  Just dig in and hold on.  Warning - blisters usually accompany multiple uses.

Stumbled upon another big red crashing bait.  I took my time and put the spoon way ahead of it and waited until it got about 2 ft from it.  I lifted it up and started swimming it...BAM...I guess I didn't see this little guy and he got there first.  The big red swam around my kayak a few times as I was releasing his little brother.  Not sure if he was waiting on him or mocking me.  Good times!!

  That was was it, last fish for the day.  It was another great trip in a special place.  On the way home I drove through Rayville, LA and was greeted by this:

Every utility pole in town had a flag - that's cool

Being a veteran, I certainly noticed.  Well done Rayville.

Sore hands and tired bodies, the GOOD LIFE!!

Spent the weekend chasing Redfish in Grand Isle, LA with my brother-n-law.  Drove all night Friday and fished all day Saturday and Sunday.  Traveled over 800 miles and went 37 hours w/o sleep.  This is my favorite fish and I love SELA....worth every sleepless minute. Spent the night under the stars on the beach at GI state park and can't wait to do it again.  My BnL has never been redfishing so I spent the better part of the morning explaining everything I had learned over the last yr.  Focusing on finding and stalking reds.  The morning started slow for him but after about an hour he had his first 19" hard fighting red and I left him to go test my luck.  Picked up a few keepers and a 29" that I released.  The day really picked up at about 11am as the tide started to fall and the reds came out of the canes and even had a visit from a shark.

He's on the hunt also.

 Around lunch time I came across a school of reds and called my BnL.  He arrived and his day changed for the better.  Again, I left him catching small slot reds and went on the hunt.  That's when my day changed.  Fish were everywhere and the bite was furious.  That was the moment I had been waiting for and I broke out the new 8wt I had purchased in March specifically for targeting reds.  Crept up on a large red feeding and made a 15ft cast, then it happened....head turned and a vicious take.  I don't remember the details of the fight but he made several runs, turned, circled the yak and head shook...not in that order.  It was a battle that lasted several minutes.  He was a 26" brute that made me appreciate all the carp I had been practicing on the last month.  However nothing prepares you for the fight of a redfish.  After a few quick photos, I spent a few minutes reviving him and watched him swim away.  Ended up catching 8 over the next 2 hours on a clouser minnow.  Most were 20-22"s but this 32 or 33, I didn't look closely b/c I was concerned for his survival (he had been on the reel a long time) was the highlight of my trip.

1st red on the fly.  26" beauty

Largest on the fly 32-34 see below.  Too much fun!

Fun on the fly.  Around 32 or 33. Who care's really.

Quick photo and spent a few minutes reviving him.  He regained his strength and pulled free of my grasp. Good day got better watching him swim away.  That's pretty much how the weekend went.  Lot's of catching, 2 limits each day (only lower slots kept) and probably another 30 released each day.  We both arrived back home with sore hands and tired bodies.  Another life changed for the better as my BnL has confirmed he's ruined, fresh water fishing just won't due.  I tried to warn him.  Next adventure is in the works.    

BnL just before he caught a 28, his biggest fish ever.

Most fish caught on spoons and shad baits, various colors.  Sight fished just about everything. Not much blind casting.

2nd fish caught Sat morning. Dark line is at 27".  Still swimming.