Gotta get away - Redfish Trip

After a few weeks of watching and pleading with the weather, a trip was finally in the works.  But don't get excited as many trips have been in the works this year only to get victimized by the weather.  But as the days got closer the weather actually improved.  I started to feel like it might really happen.

As I packed for a few days in Grand Isle, LA I called my buddy Scott who lives in New Orleans and writes the blog Bayou Chronicles.  Aside from being an accomplished angler, Scott is a professional photographer so I always look forward to talking fish and photography with him.

I left the house at 2am with a 6 hour drive.  The promise of an all day falling tide to stalk crawling redfish kept me awake as I drove through the night.  If the tide charts were correct, I would have a chance to sight fish reds during the lowest point of the tide, during the middle of the day.  As luck would have it, that's how the entire trip went and the fishing was insane.

I met Scott on the 2nd day and we visited an area that in his words, "could be crazy good or dead."  We didn't even pack a lunch because we figured if it wasn't happening, we'd leave and try another area.  The day ended up being one of the best I have ever experienced in Southeast Louisiana. We covered about 10 miles of water and caught fish until our hands blistered.

The next day, I went back to the same spot and started where I left off.  Again, the redfish were stacked in the shallow marsh.  The water was really stained but that didn't matter as redfish aren't hard to see when they are crawling across the flat half way out of the water.  The most frustrating part was, at times the flats were not accessible, even from a kayak.  You could see a redfish chasing shrimp 50 yards away but pushing through the mud wasn't happening.  The tide was still falling and I had no interest in getting stuck in the marsh.  But I know where they live and I'll be back to check on those belly crawlers soon.  

"En Fuego"

March has been "en fuego!"  Lots of days spent on the water.  I've been chasing bass, grass carp, took a trip to the FL Keys, and ended the month on the Little Red River.

I'll pick up with the Keys.  The fishing was good but the company was great.  It's rare to spend a week on the road and not have complaints about something.  I have none.  I had never met the other roommates but consider them all friends now.  The winds however, were terrible most days.  We basically had 2 good days on the flats.  But thanks to JK team member and guide Randy Morrow we were on fish everyday.  I can't say enough about how professional and detail oriented Randy was.  He knew all of our names after the first meeting, identified our techniques, and developed strategies for the trips based on what our strengths/weaknesses were.

sharks are fun on the fly

PC Jonathan Meyer

I may have the details off a little (I can't remember my own name most days) but he's been in the Keys ~15 yrs guiding and hosting Eco tours.  Here's his FB page (doesn't post often).  Lower Keys Kayak Fishing  

Like any good guide he spends his time on the water and lets word of mouth do its thing.  Highly recommended for both conventional and fly.

The nights were spent prepping for the next days trip and riding/falling off the Onewheel.  Proud to say I only ate it once (I'm 39).  Mostly because I was smart enough (I'm 39) to not get on it again.  But it was cool...just didn't want to break something on this trip.

Onewheel in action...I almost broke myself on an EMPTY street!

I won't share more than that because Jameson and Brooks killed themselves trying to film the entire week.  The group would be spread out and they'd paddle like crazy, into 30 mph winds, trying to get to the action.  I'll share the video when it's out.  If you saw their last video, "Salty" St Marks, FL,you know it'll be insanely good!

all over the Keys...and our lunch guests.

PC Brooks Beatty

After I got home I spent a few days recovering.  Really the winds were 30-40 mph here in SEAR and I had enough fun dealing with that stuff in FL.

When the winds subsided I went and spent a few afternoons stalking grass carp on the flats.  It's still fairly early and they aren't aggressive but they'll eat.

Celebrated Easter weekend in Mayflower, AR with family.  Its become a tradition to "unofficially" open pool season on this weekend.  Yes, it's still way too cold for the adults.  But kids don't care, even in their Easter outfits.

Before I left for the weekend I checked the COE generation schedule and was shocked to see a half day of low water on the Little Red.  I stayed up way too late Saturday night and got up way too early on Sunday, 3:30 am.  But I was way too excited to pass up on the first low water in months.  

The first hour was silly.  My dead drift and mending looked like I was working a frog for bass.  Eventually I got it worked out and found a few fish.

I'm always amazed that trout will chase down and crush a bugger that swims like a drowning caterpillar.  But won't rise 3 inches to eat a nymph because it's the wrong shade of olive.

Once I got the depth figured out I had a great day.  I didn't move much because I knew high water was on its way and didn't want to be far from my kayak when it arrived.  Around lunch it showed up and carried me back to my truck.  Good way to end the month.  April looks to be just as fun...