06
Nov 17

Redfish Kayak Fishing Expert – Added to the resume

I have now spent more than five hours fishing out of a kayak for redfish in Louisiana, DIY-style. This, I’m confident, makes me somewhat of an authority on the subject.

In the picture below you can see me fishing Southern Louisiana with James from Alabama. Being the internet star that I am, I was quickly able to take all of James’ knowledge and feed it right back to him. I was so successful at this that James out-fished me, out paddled me and didn’t once leave his rod back at the house after having driven all the way to the end of the frigging island through the various 25 mph speed traps (I may have been guilty of the latter).

Here I am, spreading my expertise.

Here are the overly broad, sweeping generalizations I’m prepared to make on the topic.

  • There is almost no wind. Yup, from my vast, vast experience (see above) there is almost never much wind in the bayous of southern Louisiana. This makes fly fishing much easier than windy places, like, for example, everywhere else.
  • Only magic and dark forces keep you in the kayak. I have been told it is the design of the kayaks that make them stable-ish for an angler standing up, but I am convinced it is a combination of dark, unseen powers and magic. I constantly felt like I was going in the drink, but didn’t and I think the supernatural is the only plausible explanation here.
  • Redfish will eat topwater. Yup. They will.
  • There are bull reds and they look like logs. Like… they look a lot like logs and you should cast at them, not wander over near them only to find out that it WASN’T a log, but the biggest redfish you’ve ever seen.
  • There are a lot of guys from Alabama fishing Louisiana. Specifically, around Grande Isle, once a year, and they know how to cook and have a good time.

I’m sure there are more lessons to impart, but I haven’t slept a whole lot in the past few days and I’m thinking maybe, just maybe, I should.

And… because I know you are thinking it… you are welcome.


29
Mar 16

The Kayak, the Girl and the Bay

So, Grandpa went a bit over the top at Christmas and got my daughter a kayak for the Bay. This is nicer than my own kayak with a nicer paddle.

This week, Spring Break for the girl, we finally got out on the water. Here are some things I’ve learned.

  • Don’t head out on the last hour of the falling tide. Kind of tough to get back in the 5 or 6 inches of water. Yeah… that was tough.
  • The girl is not so into paddling. She enjoys being out there, but not so much in, ya know, helping.
  • The fish are not in. They aren’t supposed to be. But, ya know, I had to check.
  • Kind of cool to be out there, on the water, getting to know the feel of this fishery/environment.
  • That kayak is about, and this is an estimate, a million pounds. There is now a kayak trolley. We’ll see if that helps.

I’m looking forward to seeing how this goes (and of getting a fish in that thing).


28
Nov 10

Skinny Water Culture: Monster Kayak Bonefish!

As I waited at the Miami Airport to get to Belize, I posted a picture from Facebook showing the bonefish sculptures there.  I got a reply that went “Hey, I work there, where are you?”  I ended up meeting and talking briefly with Chris, who immediately noticed my Skinny Water Culture hat.

Today, I looked on the Skinny Water Culture blog, and who is it but Chris with about a 12 pound bonefish.  Fantastic!  Way to go Chris!

I thought to myself, jeez…what am I going to do when I see a bonefish. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the unmistakable, unfamiliar sight of a tail pop up.

via Skinny Water Culture: Monster Kayak Bonefish!.