Fall Fishing

It’s Almost Here

 

     My favorite time of the year is almost here! Football season has started, humidity is dropping, and the temperature is a tad lower in the morning. That’s right, Fall fishing is right around the corner. I look forward to kayak fishing in the fall every year.

   In my opinion, Fall fishing is the best time to be fishing out of a kayak. The temperature is more tolerable, humidity begins to drop, ponds clear up in the marsh, and most importantly the fishing close in is on fire! Redfish are in every pond tailing and trout are making their way into the marshes across Southern Louisiana and all I want to carry with me is my fly rod and top water lures. There is nothing more exciting catching top water trout and redfish all in the same pond system and so close to your launch location.

  Before the Fall weather moves in I start to prepare my tackle for the season. I pack away my corks and jig heads and pack up a simple box of top water lures and popper flies. Also in this box I will have some gold spoons, maybe some inline spinners, and a couple twitch baits. My favorite lures to throw are Texas Tackle Factory Gun Dog Dummy top water in black or speckled trout pattern. These top waters walk the dog just right, have a perfect sound pitch, and the trout and redfish just crush them. For spoons, I like a weedless gold spoon or an inline spinner with Texas Tackle Factory Hackberry Hustler in purple/chartreuse. I will throw the Dummy for trout and others for redfish.

 

   There are many great launches where top water trout and redfish can be found close to the launch for kayakers. One of my favorite spots to fish in the fall is Hopedale and Delacroix, La. The three launches I most frequent and very close to productive areas are Campo’s Marina, Pip’s, and Breton Sound Marina. All three of these launches are within sight of pristine fall fishing and depending on weather conditions one location will be more favorable than the other.

  When I make my way from the launch I am on one mission, heading to the marsh. I am not worried about open water but interested in points entering the marsh and the ponds within. Look for moving water around the cuts into the marsh or nervous water. You want to work these points hard as trout will be hanging around getting fat. I like to work my top water around the banks and the cut itself looking for that fat trout. You will not catch plenty trout but the chance of a large trout crushing your top water lure are in your favor. Sometimes presentation is key and you need to try different methods to trigger that crush that is wanted. Maybe they want a fast walk-the-dog motion or a slow twitch walk like an injured mullet, experiment and your rewards will be bountiful. Do not overlook little clumps of grass around the entrances of the cuts either. Many times I have caught a fish or two hanging around the grass. Once I move into the ponds I will throw top water as well but also will throw the inline spinner for the redfish. The inline spinner works great when grass is present right below the water line or throwing back into small cuts. If the water is high in the grass this is when I will use my weedless gold spoon to punch back in the grass. When the water is high those reds will get deep in the grass and feed on a buffet of food and you have to get in there to compete.

 

   Remember, fall is also duck hunting season. Be courteous and remember hunters may be back in the ponds. If you hear shooting, let them hunt and stay out of the ponds. The last thing you want to do is ruin another sportsman’s hunt by paddling into the pond they are working. We can fish all year when they only have so many days out the year to enjoy what they love to do as well.

 

1.       Hopedale Lagoon: Very easy launch at Pip’s Marina with access to Hopedale Lagoon. Work the opening to the lagoon with your top water lures for trout early before boats start moving through. Work the shorelines with top water looking for tailing redfish and trout that run the banks. For certain redfish, paddle across the lagoon to the marsh and work, work, work. If the redfish are in there you will see the tails or bait getting blown up!

2.       Breton Sound Marina: Very clean launch and quick access to a large marsh system. Work the points into the barge canal and into the marsh for trout. The inside of the marsh is very productive for fat redfish using top water and spinners.

3.       Campo’s Marina: I head across behind the rocks and work a top water for trout in the broken marsh. This is a great area to find big trout and redfish along the rocks and on the flats leading to the marsh.

   These are just three areas I like to frequent in the fall but use the same techniques for others as well. Lake Pontchartrain is a prime example and you may find me on the South shore working the marsh close to Hwy 11 throwing top water lures as well. This is another great area for some trophy trout and reel screaming bull reds.

 

   I hope everyone has a great fall fishing season and get to enjoy the top water bite as much as I do. This time of year I try and throw my top water all day. Anyone that has caught a large trout or redfish on top will know why!

   One last pointer: Do not think you will not catch trout in shallow water. Last year I ran across one of my best top water trout trips in water less than 3’ deep. As fast as you could cast out large trout all over 16” would inhale the lure. This was a spot that had little grass clumps on a flat that lead to a pond system. The water looked nervous and it paid off to pay attention to the surroundings.

   Remember to work those points, cuts, and clumps! Watch for moving or nervous water and throw that top water!

   Paddle away!

Barrett Jones (Swamppro)

 

 

Riding The Bull Into History

You can also view the hard copy in Marsh and Bayou Magazine and online at kayakfishingmagazine.com with pictures from the event.

http://marshandbayoumag.com/

http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/102-current-issue-featured-articles-on-kayak-fishing/1809-riding-the-bull-into-the-history-books.html


  Ride the Bull may have been on August 17^th this year, but for many like me; it started weeks before the actual date of the event. This is a different type of tournament, with a style to which many kayak anglers are not accustomed. Ride the Bull actually sounds pretty simple, but it is not. The tournament participants fish one particular area in Grande Isle, Louisiana that is very well known as the entry way to the Gulf of Mexico. All anglers must launch at Bridge Side Marina with a shotgun start and fish for one species of fish, bull redfish. Anyone who has caught a redfish knows how hard they fight. In this event you are looking for a bull red in the 20lb plus class or more, and you are doing so in deep water. Caminada Pass is known for schools of huge bull reds that make home in this entry way to the Gulf of Mexico in August. Shark, jack crevalle, stingrays and many other species also congregate in the Pass this time of the year, and baitfish fill the area. What do you do with this monstrous fish after you catch it? Simple, one of the tournament chase boats comes and takes your fish to the marina to be weighed, tagged, and released. Oh, it sounds so simple. We will get to the actual event, but like I said in my opening sentence this event started weeks before.
It’s the month of July and everyone that kayak fishes in Southern Louisiana knows that Ride The Bull in Grande Isle is right around the corner. Fishing reports are coming in on internet fishing forums, social media and text messages, and it’s time to start getting that itch to head to Grande Isle for some big redfish action. The Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club forum is full of questions. What size anchor? What size hook? What type of bait? The endless talk of the upcoming event just makes you that much more excited to get down to the Island. Personally, I was chomping at the bit, and by mid-July I was checking my offshore gear and already debating on what I was going to do for bait and where I would fish the Pass.

   The week before the event is one of the longest weeks at work. Reading the fishing forums you can see people are already headed down to the island. Make an afternoon trip to Academy Sports and you notice low quantities of large circle hooks and 4-6oz lead weights. The time is nearing! Friday is finally here and I, amongst others, am ready to kiss my wife and kids goodbye and jump in the truck and get down to Grande Isle. The drive on down to the island is long, as you are excited to get down and see all your friends. The moment I come across the bridge my face lights up with excitement. There are trucks with kayaks as far as the eye can see. I know in my gut that this is going to be the largest kayak event in history. Every brand and every color imaginable of kayak is here. Kayak fishermen from all over the country are gathered under the tent, even Hawaii! Everyone is just as amazed as I am with how large this event has become. We all know we are now part of kayak fishing history and the excitement is immeasurable.

   After everyone gets registered and receives their shirts, safety vests and numbers, it’s time for the film fest. This year the films that were presented were incredible. Everything from huge top water trout to bull reds, these anglers definitely have some talent. In the end, Casey Brunning walked away with over $600.00 worth of GoPro equipment for his video footage from his kayak for catching the huge bull reds that he is known for.

   Well, Friday night is still young, but I know I have a long night ahead. Bull reds love mullet and I still need bait. Tyler Hall and I climbed in our trucks with cast nets in tow to go and find our luck. We knew we needed big mullet, not the usual finger mullet for trout, but the largest mullet we could find to cut up into nice steaks. After a couple stops we finally hit the jackpot and found a big school in a roadside ditch. Time to take it back to the hotel and get some rest before the big day! At this time I realized I am not the young buck I once was. Its 1:00am, I am dragging and still need to do some tackle rigging. Well, that never happened as I hit the sofa and I was out!
Buzzzzzzzz!!!! The alarm goes off and I wake with excitement! No throwing the alarm clock across the room and rolling back over as I am going to RIDE THE BULL!!! I only had 3 hours of sleep and it’s raining, but I do not care as I am hyped up! Grab a cup of coffee, load the kayaks, and haul to the marina we go!

All I can say is “WOW!” when we pull up to the marina. It is a kayak show! Kayaks are tied up all around the marina. On land, under the tent and 10 deep in the launch. It’s an unbelievable sight for sure. Everyone is running around just as excited as we are and making last minute preparations before the 7am shotgun start. No one says anything about the rain or cares if more is coming as it does not matter, because we are hitting the pass in the largest kayak fishing tournament ever. They announce that 488 kayak anglers are fishing the event! Amazing! I could not believe 488 confirmed kayakers were launching and over 520 had registered for the event. Just think about this for a minute, 488 kayaks in one area using the same launch, it’s a sight everyone should see.

 

   It’s now 7am and the horn sounds. I decide to wait to launch as I just have to see the armada paddle out. It was really funny actually with paddles flinging and peddles pushing as far as you could see. The water in the marina was choppy with waves going everywhere just from the kayaks making their way out to the pass. Seeing this, I am anxious to head out myself and get out on the water!

 

   Tyler and I head out of the marina and make the left into the pass and we just start laughing! There were kayaks everywhere. I would have loved to have flown over the one-mile area to see the colors. You could pretty much make a cast in any direction and hook a kayak. Hopefully, it would be like that for the fish. We make it to a spot in about 30’ of water and anchor up. As I am reading the bottom and looking for large fish targets on my Raymarine Dragonfly down imaging sounder, a school of mullet moves in. Within minutes we hear hooting and hollering down the pass. “Hookup!!!” “Fish-on!!!” Someone yelling, and paddles waving in the air, the excitement of a fish on gets everyone in shouting range excited. Sure enough, you hear another hoot and holler as someone else lands another bull and the chase boat runs off to the marina with the catch for weigh in. By now, you can imagine my heart is racing with excitement waiting for the tug on the rod. Finally, the drag makes a run and I get a fish coming towards the boat. Just my luck, a big ole nasty catfish! After trying our luck for another hour in this spot we decided to move. As we paddled away we notice the tide has turned and the current is picking up. It’s now 12:00pm, and we decide to paddle in for lunch. The crew had a big lunch for everyone and the stories were being told amongst the anglers. Some nasty bulls were caught along with big jack crevalle, drum and numerous large sharks. I knew I needed to get back out there.

 

   After lunch had settled, I get my gear oriented and Elliot Stevens and I decide we need to get back out and try to get a bull red on the board. As we made our way out of the marina the current was ripping fiercely. Many anglers were already headed in and some had to be towed by the chase boats. We made it across the pass, but with the current as strong as it was the fish would not be eating in this much rip. We knew we had a very tough paddle back across and had to get with it. Paddling back, I was amazed at how strong the current had gotten. Chase boats were now either towing people in or picking people up that flipped in the current. I really have to thank these crews in the boats. They would motor up to every kayaker and ask if they needed help. They were on their “A” game for sure. Elliot and I make our paddle in and just stand there looking back at the pass. This event had just become an extreme kayak tourney for sure.

 

   I talked to Casey Brunning about his day and he was very excited about the overall Ride The Bull experience. Casey had a great day catching two bull reds for the day adding to his winnings from the night before from the Media Festival. I asked him about his experience with landing the two Bulls. “The fight was one of a kind for me… I’ve caught hundreds of bull reds in my life but never caught one on braided line” he said. “In a kayak I am used to fighting a good redfish for 5 to 10 minutes on 12lb monofilament … I’m still a lover of mono, but for tournaments where time is of essence due to predators in the area I will be using a braided line set up.” He also stated, “I brought both of my fish to the surface in well under a minute… I spent more time getting the boga grip on the fish than I did fighting it.” Casey was using 65-pound braided line with an 80-pound leader that he usually uses to fish for sharks off the beach.

 

   There were not many fish caught at the event this year due to the weather conditions and tide, but some big bull reds were still caught. Jeff Gleason was honored with first place for his bruiser this year and took home a new Hobie kayak and $2200.00 in cash! Many other great prizes were handed out from wonderful sponsors this year as well. This event is definitely in the record books for me. It was the most extreme conditions I have ever paddled, but also the most fun I’ve ever had at a tournament. I am already looking forward to next year. Rain or shine, slack tide or raging current, I will be there.

 

   Kudos should be given to the tournament directors, Danny and Kristen Wray. They really stepped up and made this a great event. Danny, Kristen, and the rest of the volunteers had this event running smoother than other smaller events. It was a sight to see how everything unfolded, and I want to congratulate them all on a job well done.

 

Top ten tournament winners were Jeff Gleason (32.96lbs), Shane Pantoja (30.94), Mitch Schexnailder (30.02), Johnny Bergeron (29.96), Ann Taylor (28.98), Derek Lafosse (28.9), Ryan Lauve (25.98), Easton Dumont (25.76), Ryan Lauve (25.7), and Loye Ayres (24.68).

 

  Next year’s “Ride The Bull” is set for August 16 2014, and I am already looking forward to spending another weekend down on Grande Isle. For more information on Ride The Bull, visit www.calmwatercharters.net.

Save Our Lake Fishing Rodeo

  Back in June I had the pleasure of fishing the Save Our Lake Fishing Rodeo. Saveourlake.org is a wonderful organization which has helped so much with everything on Lake Pontchartrain. Lake Pontchartrain would not be in the state its in now if it was not for them.

  The Save Our Lake Rodeo was setup for boats and kayaks. Kayaks and boats competed for the same divisions but also had a separate kayak division. Last year I landed the largest black drum of the tournament to take 1st place drum and 2nd place Kayak Kahuna. I wanted to be up on that board again this year.

  This year I wanted to paddle my new Hurricane Skimmer 128. This is one of Hurricane Aquasports newest kayaks. It is 12'8" long and weighs about 45lbs. This is a great kayak for any kind of fishing. Fast, light, tracks well, and comfortable.

  At safe light I paddled away from the beach at the foot of the Hwy 11 bridge on the South shore of Lake Pontchartrain. I wanted to work the shoreline first o try and find a nice trout and make my way towards the rail road trestle bridge maybe 2 miles away. After throwing topwater for some time I could see the trout were not along the shore feeding so I made the paddle to the trestles for deeper water and to look for trout suspended along the bottom. I first tried working the rock piles along the shoreline and then paddled along the bridge structure. Looking at my Raymarine Dragonfly, which shows video like soundings  never saw fish I was looking for. This Dragonfly from Raymarine did show a sailboat resting on the bottom about 1 mile out along the trestles. You could easily see the outline of the hull and part of the mast. This was interesting but no fish! I then decided to move towards the marsh. I started working sand spits and indents with a Texas Tackle Factory Shiney Hiney head and cork rig. I knew if a red fish was near by it could not resist the cork popping and that furry chartreuse head and shrimp body. Still, after pop and pop of the cork, no fish! I then paddled to one of my favorite trout cuts into the marsh and was surprised what my Dragonfly showed. At the mouth of this cut the depth got to over 14' and this was between a sandbar leading to the marsh and 4' leading to the lake. Now I know why I have always found trout around this cut. I kept watching my Dragonfly and my eyes lit up close to the sand bar. On the up side of the hole I could see fish holding on some structure. Finally!!! I see something worth casting for. I back out of the cut slowly and start making casts with the same Texas Tackle Factory setup. After about 5 pops the cork shoots to the deep. I pull to the bank and net a beautiful big redfish. Excited, I start casting more and work the hole but never get another strike.

  Time to paddle in and hope I have a decent fish for weigh in. I figured with one red fish all is lost. We had beautiful weather and I knew someone would get on someone would get on some good fish.

  I picked up my kids and we headed to weigh in to be very surprised. My redfish took 2nd place over all and 1st place Kayak Kahuna! I ended up winning a rod and reel combo, a couple plaques, and some other goodies. I was very happy with the outcome for one fish.

 

Raymarine Dragonfly Fishfinder/Chartplotter

    Just this past Saturday I was lucky enough to install the latest and greatest from Raymarine Electronics, the Dragonfly.

     The Raymarine Dragonfly is a new breed of GPS Chartplotter and Fish finder combo that is a perfect addition to any kayak. I installed the unit on my Hurricane Aquasports Skimmer 128 and used a marine silicone to glue the transducer in the hull. The Dragonfly mounted great on my kayak using the supplied swivel mount that the head unit can be easily removed from. This unit also only has one plug in the back which makes connecting and disconnecting a breeze. This unit has the new CHIRP technology for beautiful down vision soundings. (This is the reason I am drooling). The chartplotter is also very detailed with the Navionics Gold charts installed for the United States.

    Now on to the good stuff!!!

    My first run of the Dragonfly was for the IFA Kayak Tour event in Louisiana this past Sunday. I wanted to fish a location that would have some shallow water areas but also deeper water to see how this unit shines in both conditions. One word sums it up IMPRESSED!!! In shallow water up to around 2.5' of water the Dragonfly never skipped a beat. Perfect bottom readings showing grass, hard sand, and rocks were very easily seen on the bright color display. Speaking of bright color display, it can be seen in direct sunlight. I made sure I had my back to the sun and tried reading the display in direct sun light with polarized sunglasses on and off and there are no problems at all! I paddled over to the MRGO rock dam and just kept looking at the display amazed at what I could see. You can easily distinguish rocks, crab traps, crab trap lines, and most important, schools of fish. Schools of fish show up great and larger fish feeding or hiding around structure are shown in great detail. Paddling past a crab trap float I followed the entire line on the screen down to the bottom to the trap itself. Even more impressive you could make out grass on the line. I will have actual screen shots next time I return to the water. This unit never skipped a beat, never blinked, never lost bottom, just kept on impressing me with what I can now see below the water's surface. The trout just have no chance come winter time in their hiding holes.

    If anyone is interested in a fish finding, structure locating, impressive you all day machine, the Raymarine Dragonfly is for you. If you do not want to locate structure of watch a school of baitfish getting eaten by larger fish, and use this in deep water or shallow water, and not catch more fish, this is not for you!

   For the kayak fisherman I cannot stress this unit enough, it is the ticket and I am very impressed to say the least. I really cannot wait to get on the water again to look at what I have been missing in the waters I have been fishing for years!

   These pictures really do not do the Dragonfly justice. What I was actually seeing in real fishing situations it was amazing to see!

    Next chance on the water I will save some screen shots and talk about what we see and how this unit benefits you in different situations.

Redfish Rumble

   This past Saturday was the Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club's Redfish Rumble. This is one of the stops out of five for Angler of The Year at the end. The Redfish Rumble is a fun format for any angler, novice or pro. Get in your kayak in Plaquemines Parish and go catch five redfish between 16"- 27". Easy right?????

   My day started off great but worried. As many know I have four children at home (all boys and my world) and you always get some kind of stomach bug, fever, or some odd thing that the doctors like to name these days. I pull up to the Magnolia Discount Gas Station to meet my friend at about 3:30am to fuel up, grab some Power Ade, and some good ole Crispy Crunchy Chicken for the day. Now coffee is my weakness and I always like to start off my trip with a nice big cup of coffee to relax in the kayak and enjoy the morning. Not this morning, stomach was killing me and I did not push my limits, especially in my kayak.

   Jason and I make our venture down to Lake Hermitage to see what our Sportsman's Paradise had to offer us today. We waited for the legal fishing time and ventured on out to the marsh. As we made our way out you could hear some crashing of  reds feeding in the dark so our hearts got pumping. Jason made his way around one point and I started working a shoreline that looked productive out the wind. I am glad I made this move! Once the sun started peeking out the reds were visible crashing bait and tailing. Of all days my Gopro camera was dead, don't get me started on that issue! These reds were of hefty size and feeding on mullet and shrimp. It is a sight to see a shrimp dancing across the water trying to evade a red and then just get crashed!these are the kind of days a red fisherman just loves to have, big feeding reds!

  I had three lures prepared that would be productive today. Texas Tackle Factory Lil Dummy topwater in black, Texas Tackle Factory Shiney Hiney with Chartreuse Shrimp body, and a gold spoon. Where the grass was thick the spoon would be the ticket, along the edges of the grass and points the topwater or shrimp was on the menu. Everyone knows that I am a topwater fanatic and if I can I will throw it all day at anything, just not today. Most of the big reds were deep in the grass and crashing small shrimp on top the grass. To get to these brutes I would either drag my shrimp over the grass or the spoon, both of these lures were very productive. The topwater was productive near the grass but plenty grass would be picked up if got close.

  Lets get to the fun part!! I start working these reds and see one tailing that looks of hefty size. I throw out the shrimp and drag it over and he bull dozes over and slams this thing! I get him over to the net and give him a quick measure and he is a perfect tourney red, 26 1/2" and fat! Now I am hyped up to say the least. I move some as this red made plenty noise and spooked other fish. This area would stay productive throughout the morning though. I see some more action ahead where a red is deep in the grass feeding and knew I needed the spoon for this guy. I cast at him a couple times and he would swirl it and check it out but no luck. Finally after the third try he inhales the spoon and the fight is on. After dragging him out the grass and him getting me soaked splashing I put another red over 26" in the bag. Time to move again...... As I paddle along I see some nervous water on the outside of the grass and instinct of topwater popped in my hand!! I cast that dummy out there and within 3' of the walk the dog this red comes at it like a torpedo and just blows it up!! He puts up a good fight and he checks out about 24"-25". Now it gets ugly.. I start fishing deep in the ponds as all the big reds started moving in deep and I had to chase them. One problem, tons of grass. I knew now I needed weedless and the only thing I had was the spoon and Shiney Hiney. The Shiney Hiney was not too weedless so it would be majority spoon feeding. I make hook ups over and over but cannot get a fish to stay glued to the spoon. I am a nervous wreck as I have three great fish and now frustrated as the fish are there just can't get them to the darn net. Finally, I get another good solid red and move back to the outside looking for my last fish. Everything I threw would be small reds. They were beautiful in color and had plenty spots but undersized. By now the sun was high in the sky and it was time to head to the weighin.

  We had 92 people sign up for the event this year and I knew with just four fish there was not a chance of getting in the top 5. I was really surprised though with the weight I had pulled me into 6th place with 4 fish. Just if I could have landed number 5. Oh well, next time it is. This tournament really helped my standings for Angler of the Year as I am now in 2nd place with my points from the last 2 tournaments. The next event is Trout Challenge on Big Lake!

  No pictures this go around crew, sorry!!!

Take The Dog For A Walk!

  On my drive to Bayou La Batre, Alabama today one thing drove me crazy and I could not get it out of my head, top water trout fishing!! From the moment I hit the twin spans over Lake Pontchartrain and then all the way into Alabama my mind was racing. When I made the approach to the lake I saw the light fog and slick calm waters, top water dream. I wanted to just pull over and start throwing my Texas Tackle Factory Dummy top water lure so darn bad.

   My favorite kind of fishing is throwing a top water lure and I have found the TTF (Texas Tackle Factory) Dummy is the best I have found for my fishing. My favorite color is solid black for foggy and low light conditions and chrome sides for mid morning on. This morning would have been perfect for that black Dummy. Casts like a dream and takes no effort to walk the dog. The walking the dog references to how the lure walks side to side when you twitch and retrieve the lure.

   Now, some people think its just that easy, cast out and walk the dog and I will get big trout. I wish it was. You do not get as many fish but with top water lures you get better quality, and the top water explosion is addictive! I like using a topwater parallel along the bank and near structure. If there is a big trout around he will crash it. Not only trout but reds will smash this thing as well. When you see that push of water coming up behind the Dummy your heart gets pumping waiting for the explosion. Catch a 30" plus red on top and you will understand! Another place I have found very productive for top water is near shelves where depth changes fast. If the water depth is 8' and shoots up to 3' I usually find my trout along the ledge. They love to work that shelf. Work points! Big trout love points especially if the water is moving.

Ok, I explained some different areas but there are also different approaches. Some days the same retrieval will not work but others will. It may be a fast retrieve and twitch, a slow and stop, erratic, just keep trying. I usually do best on a medium retrieve with long walks and a pause. Many times trout will inhale it when the lure comes to rest. Now redfish, I think they like the constant movement. If I am looking for reds I use a steady retrieve and keep twitching. When a redfish feeds on top they chase it down and smash it. One of my favorite fish to catch on top for sure.

   Never give up on topwater fishing. I hear it all too much that fisherman try it once and do not catch anything so they give up. Keep trying!! The rewards are great believe me. I always have a top water tied on and throw it 90% of the day. My last two tournaments all my quality fish were caught on top using TTF Dummy in black.

Give it a try, walk the dog, and become addicted like me.

The Path Less Followed

Years ago I used to love bass fishing but redfish have become my newest addiction. There is nothing like a redfish in inches of water with its back out and busting a topwater. That's another story though.

Yesterday I took my boys out for a ride in the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Norco, La. This is the spillway for the Mississippi River to flood to Lake Pontchartrain when the river is at flood stage. My young boys like to go mud riding so this is a good place. The thing they do not know is daddy used to do a lot of bass fishing out here and catch some very nice bass to boot. One problem, you need 4x4 to get to the ponds that has no pressure. Doing this your rewards are very high. So, taking my kids for an offroad trip turned into a scouting trip. We found ponds that were perfect for bass. Plenty trees, grass, clear as glass water, and bait. These ponds we found had no fishing pressure as when trails ended to you made your own to go there.

Next blog may be about bass fishing the spillway but with my redfish addiction you never know.

As you can tell from the pictures we did have fun getting to these ponds. I love every minute with my children and taking them out in the outdoors is a must.

Magnolia Days

One of my favorite spots to fish in the past was a place many kayakers knew as Magnolia. Too many this was the marsh to fill your box with redfish before the sun was high and a very close paddle. I have been out to Magnolia so many times to get a limit of redfish within an hour of being on the water it is unbelievable.

Magnolia is a rich marsh area that was always known for holding plenty fat redfish. There are many trips that when you would paddle into a pond you could just look at tailing redfish everywhere. Maybe it was the clean water, grass, low boat pressure, not sure but Magnolia was a redfish magnet.

The header picture is from a sunrise one morning as I was just sitting enjoying a cup of coffee and living the life. This was a place where ospreys caught their fish, alligators basked, otters played, and nutria a and raccoons shared the banks. This was a great place to sit back and enjoy life for what it is. A place to clear your head after a long week of work and bend a rod.

Over the years I have met new friends and also taught new kayakers the addiction of the sport here. Since the last hurricane the marsh in the area was torn up badly and hard to get into now but hopefully in the future I will be back in the place we love.

Until then here are some pictures of bent rods in ole Mag!

Time for Change

In the many years of kayak fishing I have always loved telling the stories of my trips. Good and bad the stories were told as they are always experiences that were either enjoyed or to be learned from. Over the years I have been posting on Facebook, Twitter, and numerous kayak fishing websites all over the Internet. Well, it is finally time for this man to start blogging!

I will make sure to tell my adventures of kayak fishing the Southern Paradise of Louisiana. You will also find kayak fishing tips, what lures to use and when, kayak rigging, tournaments, demo days, etc.

My blog will be a great resource for the beginner or a seasoned kayak fisherman.

Thank you for subscribing to my blog and I hope you enjoy!

Barrett Jones
(Swamppro)