mar
12-22-2012, 01:15 PM
Just got back from a wonderful trip to New Orleans with the better half. This was a combination mini-honeymoon / fishing trip. In short we had a blast.
This was both our first time to the Big Easy. Soaked in the sights and sounds of the city. The food was amazing everywhere.
We did some touristy stuff:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0035b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0048b.jpg
We ate really good. Gained at least 3 lbs each:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0071.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0104b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0107.jpg
Visited the local shop:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0124b.jpg
On to the fishing. I booked 2 days but only ended up fishing one day due to weather. It wasn’t wide open by any means, but I caught a few fish. This was my first ever sight-fishing experience and it showed. Had a tough time seeing the fish that the guide pointed out and my short-range casting accuracy sucked. Added to that, most of the fish we saw were ‘laid-up’. Just sitting there motionless and spooked as we got closer or as the fly landed in the water.
Still, I had a few heart-stopping moments on some really big fish. First was a 25-lb+ bull that followed the fly 15-ft from the boat. It spooked as I inexplicable lifted my rod. Rookie.
Another was a pod of huge bulls tailing in some very muddy water. The guide had a tough time figuring out the direction of the fish. Finally, one of the giants showed itself. I made a cast on target, made the right strip, the fish looked and followed…, guide said ‘get ready, he’s gonna eat it’. Then it just turned away….Holy shiznit. 40+ lb bull according to the guide. What a rush.
We kept on pushing on and by this time, the next pods of fish that we saw were more active. Spotted a small redfish 20 feed from the boat. Made the right cast, fished turned, inhaled the fly and I strip set. Pretty freakin cool.
First ever redfish on:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0154b.jpg
Very happy man:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0163b.jpg
Apparently I got really excited and started cussing like a sailor when I hooked my first ever redfish. The guide got a good laugh out of that:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0169b.jpg
Around the bend, we saw a few more active fish. I couldn’t spot the fish but could see the wake as it pushed against the bank. Made a cast to intercept it, a couple of soft stips, and fish on:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0170b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0180b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0184b.jpg
The marsh is so full of life:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0150b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0189b.jpg
Not a bad first sight-fishing trip for a rookie. I caught some fish and got a few giants to follow. I can see why people keep coming back to this wonderful place.
We ate good, had a LOT of fun with the better half and I caught a new species on the fly.
Life is good.
This was both our first time to the Big Easy. Soaked in the sights and sounds of the city. The food was amazing everywhere.
We did some touristy stuff:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0035b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0048b.jpg
We ate really good. Gained at least 3 lbs each:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0071.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0104b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0107.jpg
Visited the local shop:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0124b.jpg
On to the fishing. I booked 2 days but only ended up fishing one day due to weather. It wasn’t wide open by any means, but I caught a few fish. This was my first ever sight-fishing experience and it showed. Had a tough time seeing the fish that the guide pointed out and my short-range casting accuracy sucked. Added to that, most of the fish we saw were ‘laid-up’. Just sitting there motionless and spooked as we got closer or as the fly landed in the water.
Still, I had a few heart-stopping moments on some really big fish. First was a 25-lb+ bull that followed the fly 15-ft from the boat. It spooked as I inexplicable lifted my rod. Rookie.
Another was a pod of huge bulls tailing in some very muddy water. The guide had a tough time figuring out the direction of the fish. Finally, one of the giants showed itself. I made a cast on target, made the right strip, the fish looked and followed…, guide said ‘get ready, he’s gonna eat it’. Then it just turned away….Holy shiznit. 40+ lb bull according to the guide. What a rush.
We kept on pushing on and by this time, the next pods of fish that we saw were more active. Spotted a small redfish 20 feed from the boat. Made the right cast, fished turned, inhaled the fly and I strip set. Pretty freakin cool.
First ever redfish on:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0154b.jpg
Very happy man:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0163b.jpg
Apparently I got really excited and started cussing like a sailor when I hooked my first ever redfish. The guide got a good laugh out of that:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0169b.jpg
Around the bend, we saw a few more active fish. I couldn’t spot the fish but could see the wake as it pushed against the bank. Made a cast to intercept it, a couple of soft stips, and fish on:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0170b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0180b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0184b.jpg
The marsh is so full of life:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0150b.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/DSC_0189b.jpg
Not a bad first sight-fishing trip for a rookie. I caught some fish and got a few giants to follow. I can see why people keep coming back to this wonderful place.
We ate good, had a LOT of fun with the better half and I caught a new species on the fly.
Life is good.