Showing posts with label fly fishing redfish New Orleans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fly fishing redfish New Orleans. Show all posts

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Louisiana November fly fishing report

Louisiana fly fishing is extraordinary for bull redfish. Now is the time of year when the big fish come into the shallows. The Biloxi marsh is ablaze with monster donkey reds.
 
 

 
 
  
The fish are on the banks as well as the outside barrier islands. The monster redfish are easy enough to spot. A well placed first shot is imperative to entice a rod jarring strike. Practice the short game. Sometimes they appear extremely close to the boat.












 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

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.  
 
 
 
 
 
  

Sunday, August 24, 2014

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