Ham

So, Monday afternoon we took off for Metairie. Which is part of the Big Easy. Traffic was really awful. I don’t like driving in any big city, but there is lots extra workers in the area for the installation of a new LNG plant. And there’s road construction and there’s stupid/ selfish people. we needed some stuff so we made a target run and then on to the Rio ditch. I had several areas to try, but I was certainly hoping my hottest intell would pay off. I did not want to have to go to the city Tuesday afternoon nor Wednesday morning, but I would have until we both had Rios. I think Dave had one before I had a fly picked out to try. We celebrated the success for a minute and then I started fishing hard. My first one was a colored up male. 😍then I got a smaller one. we both caught several Rios and Green Sunfish etc. but it’s not just about the fish, it’s also the natural beauty of the fishing spots and communing with nature. So, we actually caught them too quickly and I wasn’t ready to fight the Belle Chase traffic so we drove to another Rio spot that Dave turned into an Alligator Gar Spot, but after a few minutes with no gar in sight I called BS and pointed it towards the cabin. it was fairly late when we got back and I think raining so we settled in probably the earliest of any trip. We are a Late Dinner and crashed.

The trip is all a big sweaty blur. I had packed plenty of clothes and knew the next rental had a washer/dryer we could use, but I was starting to “sweat it” (see what I did there?) because I was going through multiple shirts and pants a day. I’m having to look back at photos to see the order stuff took Place in. So, it was hot and I was frustrated and knew that I wanted to go try for Rios, but before we did that I wanted to fish heavy stuff on bottom in the waterway in feony of the camp. Lots of pilings and structure that I hoped would hold Sheepshead and Black Drum. it took Dave a few minutes to catch not one, but two hardhead catfish. I caught nothing. But, I’m a little like Ruth Bader Ginsberg when it comes to fishing, I persisted. we dropped further down still trying for benthic beasts when we saw feeding activity on the surface. It took a few hot minutes as we changed flys until we could get bit, but it was Ladyfish, being not at all Lady like. And just under them were large numbers of baby gafftops which Can get really nice sized and will sometimes take surface lures. Hardhead catfish have a real reputation for venom in their slime coat that is really unpleasant if you get poked. This little turd finned me and I did not love the experience at all. i tried heavier and larger stuff to get below the frenzy to see if something better was available, but never got a bite and the Rios were waiting so we headed in to prep for that.

So, I still have a few friends left in Louisiana. My friend Kelly Watson is a guy I check in with from time to time and he knew the area we were gonna fish in. I was pretty surprised when Kelly informed me he was meeting us at the cabin and a little concerned actually.Turns out he wanted to show us some spots to try. I have know idea why we couldn’t just have looked at Google earth, but nah we all jumped into Waldo and took off into the failing daylight. He showed us three spots running through a maze of cuts, ditches, and flats. I honestly did not think I could get back to the spot he strongly suggested for Day 1, but amazingly, we were able to find it the next morning. I put Dave up front and started push piling us around the shallow marsh pond. We saw tons and tons of bait and life, but not really a whole lot of redfish. somewhere in there I was working a tutti fruiti Clouser under a gadget float. It would chug and the fly would drift down. I was looking for a reds while working it back. I got a tug and strip set in response. Fish On! I was using a 9 weight to chunk the goofy float thingy so the guy was out matched really, but I got very anxious when I caught sight of him, but Dave deftly got him in the net and I could celebrate my Lifer/Flyfer Sheepshead. We spend a while working around with no other success. I moved us out to a deeper cut and I got a rat (mouse?) red. And in short Oder Dave got a couple of Rat Reds. Not big ones, but much better than nothing.

In the 2000’s a band called the Bravey released two albums at the same time that were different versions of the same set of songs. There was a “Sun” and a “Moon” version. I am tempted to do my of thread about Dave and Ham’s Big Adventure, but I’ll just add to this one. lots of planning and scheming and research to try to get maximum results from the trip. I reminded myself that Rio Grand Cichlid and Alligator Gar were the primary focus, but didn’t necessarily have to be caught first. I think this trip was I the planning stages for a year or more. i would have loved to make the trip in October when the air would have been drier and the overnight temps lower, but prior commitments made that impossible. the trip down is a lot easier for me. You aren’t tired yet and you are full of excitement and hope for the trip ahead. I had spent a lot (too much?) time thinking about flys to bring and Flyrods to use. I had bought some pretty Redfish flys that I was sure were gonna knock ‘em dead. I spent a fair amount of time destroying my previous fly boxes and reconstructing them into appropriate boxes for the trip. the place I choose for marshes south of New Orleans was Bayou Log Cabins. The owner is Clay Boudrioux. They were not cheap, but he was a super helpful guy and they were on the water. We launched the boat at his ramp right after we got there and pulled it out right before we left. We were able to use the trolling motor to get to the lights that we fished under at night for a Speckled Trout etc. plenty of room and well equipped dock for fisherman. it had been 50 years since I had fished for Specks under lights, but it had not changed much. Lots of action. You’ve already fished hard during the day, might as well catch a bunch of fish in the relative cool. Marty’s Clousers caught 95% of the fish I caught under the lights. I had just under 70 fish in the two nights. Dave beat the heck out of them especially on the second night, but I have no idea how many he caught.

Always so much drama for us Lifelisters! Great Job! I’m glad the persistence was rewarded.

Really nice pretty ones as always. Are there any Brookies up there yet?

Well, Somebody’s wife anyway.

They could be (will be) in every ditch connected to the St Francis. They expand their population area I. The spring and pull back a little bit in winter, but never less than previously invaded. they can live for days out of the water if kept damp. They wiggle down hill like a champ, but aren’t ever gonna earn a Hiking Merit Badge. if there is a waterway that connects to the St Francis in any way, they coming.

Perry County Completed I made the 3 hour run after making sure that an appropriate amount of water was being released. And the water was warm enough this go around. And I had intell from yesterday. the water being released draws in a lot of different species. It also puts a slick glaze on the rocks which made them so tough to successfully travel over. first fish was a Green Sunfish. I’ll take it. I didn’t come to settle for one Green Sunfish though. After today, I kinda hate riverside sycamore trees. casting under trees, up current with a double streamer rig. I felt a tap and set. I came tight to a heavy fish. Sadly, when the Smallmouth Buffalo came to the surface, the hook pulled. later, I did a little roll cast into a back Eddy under some sycamore and I got a tug. I set expecting another Green Sunfish. But no, a had a decent Spotted Gar hooked up. He went crazy and before I could get him on the bank, he came off. I got several chunky Largies pulling a Circus Peanut close to larger mid current boulders. I got a Bluegill. I got an ugly drum. I got a White Bass. I got more Green Sunfish. I spent a lot of time fishing for another Gar and another Buffalo with the fly rod, but it just didn’t happen. I quit and starting climbing up out of the hole. 118 steps up and a 1/4 mile to the truck carrying too much gear. After that, all I had was the three hour drive home. Long Day, but mission accomplished.

Remember the Good Times. Let’s remember our friends and make time for them.

Looking very Dapper Marty. And Happy. That’s great!

I’m still waiting to find out how slimey eels are.

Was that on public water? Can you PM me a location?

That’s a Nice fish. I’m not sure that I’ve caught one that Big, but my Son has.

Safe Travels! Have Fun!

Nah, pretty typical thread life. Ppl aren’t great at staying on topic not starting their own tangent threads.

Hey Now…..

I really enjoy catching those little weirdos.

Gosh that’s a lot to deal with Mark. It’s Got to get better. I hope the new gear helps you enjoy your fishing time and I hope you catch a bunch.

Spoonbill. i plan on using mine for bowfin

I do better on Skipjack when the water is warmer and they seem to get bigger as the year goes along. I have not caught any from that water way.

Pulaski County. looking for something weird. I’ll settle for White Bass, Spotted Bass, a Longear and a top minnow.

Somebody is Fancy.

FTR Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Missouri, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Delaware, Maryland, Illinois Also British Columbia, Ontario, and Isla de Cozumel. I fished and zeroed in Indiana and South Carolina. I visited and failed to fish in Washington State, Nevada, and Colorado.

Seems like something I need to do. I fear I’m running out of days faster than I am checking states off the list. so far I’m only at 21 states. I know @Johnsfolly is keeping up with the states he has caught fish in. Is anyone else trying to do this? If so, where are you at number wise and what state are trying to go to next?