Louisiana fly fishing guide November 2015 report

The winds of El Nino have reeked havoc on the season in November. Massive storms have made for tough fly fishing conditions. None the less any day with decent weather is producing good numbers of shots. If you can cast well you will catch these monster fish.

Louisiana fly fishing report Mid October 2015

Well this has been an amazing week for fly fishing in the Louisiana marsh. Perfect weather and good tides have produced some an abundance of shots on bull redfish. The winds are now at 20 knots and the easy days are over for the foreseeable future.

I am confident the first calm day after this stretch will once again produced massive quantities of hungry crawling redfish. Even in poor conditions I will find fish. They just are not on every bank and in every nook and cranny.

The brief rest is not entirely unwelcome. My body aches and some down time is required to catch up on daily chores. A couple of days rest will do me good.

FOR BOOKINGS GO TO   
HTTP://FLYFISHINGREDFISH.COM

Louisiana fly fishing report October 2015

 

Now the fishing is easy. Everywhere  you go you can find giant redfish on the banks. The schools have broken into singles and swim deep banks searching for food. It really does not take much to find good quantities of fish.

I am really not impressed with my new Beavertail Strike skiff. My old boat was superior. The customer service I received from Will and Liz at Beavertail is unacceptable at best. I have and affinity for antiques. Perhaps I should have just stayed with the Morejohn skiff.

There are still openings in November if you want to book the trip of a lifetime. Any day I can get out there is producing.

 Call 504-452-0550 for more information
OR
HTTP://FLYFISHINGREDFISH.COM
 

 

Louisiana redfish fly fishing report September 2015

The redfish are abundant and huge in the marsh around New Orleans. This is a spectacular time of year. Big redfish are crawling the banks with their backs exposed. This really makes them easy to see at distance. A well placed fly is the key to encourage a massive strike.

Low wind days with sunshine are abundant now. Cool fronts are moving in knocking down the water temperatures. Any fishable day has tremendous potential for plenty of fly fishing shots.

 

I am also finding the schools of redfish that all anglers enjoy. If the tide is ripping around a bank on the outside large groups of redfish are on patrol. There are still open days in October and November so contact me for availability.

Captain John Iverson 504-452-0550

Louisiana fly fishing report December 2014

 

December fly fishing in Louisiana is probably my favorite month. The Florida guides have left leaving the fish unmolested for the native fly fishermen. I can not tell you how many times I have seen these interlopers run over big fish to fish the slot fish near the banks. Big fish do not like to be disturbed. It does not take much pressure and the bulls run for cover out of sight fishing reach.

 

The bigger fish have moved into the ponds at the edge of the marsh. They are basically in shallow areas where you normally find slot fish. There is one in almost every pond so patients is key. Poll slowly and wait. These fish are cold and don't move very much. A calm slow approach the area is much more effective than the run and gun attitude of warmer months.

Peanut butter patters are working well. The fish want to look up and see a big meal. Right now they are lethargic and conserve energy where they can. Large flies on the surface are producing heart pounding slow motion eats. Fish slow and poll silent on sallow flats and work the mud ponds for best results.

The time is right

Cooler weather has arrived. Hopefully the dog days of summer are behind us. The mild temperatures will cool and clear the water. Clean clear water is very important to see the monster redfish that I target. The big redfish usually swim deep and cloudy water just wont work.

November is the premier month for the big reds in Louisiana. The fishing gets easy. The tide begin to be much lower in the winter months. Less water uncovers the bull redfish hiding places. Now all we need is low wind and some sunshine and the bite will be tremendous.

I still have a few days to book in November. If you can be flexible on dates I can get you on the water. This should be a great season. It has started off wonderful and should only  get better.  
 
 

 
 

 

  

Guidelines to book a good Louisiana fly fishing redfish guide in season

Louisiana is known for monster redfish swimming in the shallows or up high in the water column. These bulls or donkeys are a fly fisher's fantasy fish. Most of my clients have never caught a fish over 10 pounds much less a fish in the 25 to 30 pound range. The redfish live here year round. Do not let anyone tell you any different. The summer time here is brutally hot, the water is not that clear, and the tides are much higher. That is why our most booked season is in the mild cooler months of October through March. Finding a good guide during these months is easy if you book a year in advance. Unfortunately most clients plan their trip a month in advance and want to book two weeks out. This action will land in a tight spot. You will call a good guide and hear the line "I am busy that day but I will find you a guide." Be assured the guide you will receive is by no means top notch. Buyer beware if you are not fishing with the guide you are calling.

The fly fishing here is awesome. On a great day even a novice fly guide will stumble on some good fishing. Most great days have low water, low wind, lots of sun, and a moving tide. I prefer low tide around noon with about a 1.5 foot tide range. Incoming tides are also good just as long as the water is moving. There are probably only 12 to 15 good tide days a month. That is why these days book up so fast. Of the good tide days only 6 or 7 days a month have low tide around noon. Conditions may be poor one day, so booking 3 days is ideal. Most good guides make long boat runs so we don't book half days in season. Checking the tide range for the days you want to fish will increase your chances for an amazing day of fly fishing. The guide will do this for you but planning ahead and being flexible is key. 

Some fishermen have a limited booking window. Perhaps you are in New Orleans for business. Booking a good guide is imperative. Most good guides will be booked if there is good tide. We may have the occasional hole in our calendar or a cancellation. Avoid any guide that says "I will find you someone". At minimum ask for the other guides phone number. If the area code is not 504 or 985 (New Orleans and surrounding area) you are probably getting someone that is just here for the season overflow. I have fished these waters since 2000. It takes years to learn how to run all this water. The marsh south of New Orleans is huge. Look on google earth and see what I mean. The interloper will probably know only holes the locals fish. There may be fish there but they are wise and skittish. If their boat is not registered in Louisiana you have probably made a huge mistake.
  
 This is a technical fishery. Big fish are much wiser. A good guide is key to maximize the number of good shots you will get. Find a good guide and make sure he will be fishing with you. Don't let someone pawn you off for the 100 dollar booking fee. His gain will be your loss. Good guides share trips and will give you the other guides phone number. You are spending a lot of money and effort for your days on the water. Please use these guidelines to increase your chances for what can be and incredible day fly fishing. Here is my latest video for August.

Bulls crawling in August
https://vimeo.com/103401483