Schoe
03-11-2008, 06:12 PM
Wow, we got home yesterday afternoon and I sure was beat.
Between our guide, Mike Helmer, from Capt. Phil Robichaux's Fishing Charters, and my two companions, Gordon Witzel and Jeff Cradic, I found myself exhausted from one of the most productive fishing trips I have ever been on.
We arrived at the New Orleans Airport last Thurs. A.M., picked up our rental vehicle and headed for Lafitte La. which is about an hour's drive from the Airport.
Gordon called Captain Mike and found out that the threat of storms that had been haunting us was indeed going to happen late Thurs. P.M. and all the next day, Fri., so perhaps we should go out Thurs. afternoon to get some fishing time in. The three of us were game and were ready to go under almost any circumstances.
Capt. Mike was obligated for other reasons Thurs. so he had another one of his associates, Capt. Mike Juhas take us out that afternoon. This Capt's specialty is Red Fish which my two companions were really looking forward to, especially Jeff, as he had never caught a Red before.
After all meeting and greeting we were under way with at least a 12 to 15 mile ride through Lakes, Canals and Bayous to one of Capt. Mikes "secret" Red fish spots.
Gordon got things started by hooking up with a nice keeper Trout which was the first of many to come that weekend. Then we got into a few Red Fish which was our target that afternoon. Dark approached very fast so we had to head to the dock after catching a fair amount of Trout and Reds.
The Storm came in late Thurs. evening and brought some very heavy rain and wind which continued through Fri. all day so needless to say we didn't get out at all that day.
Sat. morning we headed for a normally good Trout producing area but Capt. Helmer was letting us know that the high winds from the previous day the fishing may not be that great.
We set up on a drift going with the light breeze and started to pick up Trout right away and kept moving on when we ran out of the schools of Trout. There wasn't any sense leaving that end of the bay as there were fish all over and we just had to keep moving to find them.
It wasn't unusual for two of us to have one on at the same time and a couple times three of us were hooked up at the same time.
It was mentioned a couple times that perhaps we should count our fish as we were allowed to have 100 Trout for the four of us but we were pretty sure we weren't there yet so we decided that we had plenty anyway and would call it a day and head back to clean fish.
I swear to God that when we layed out all the Trout and counted them we had exactly 100 on the button. Good thing we quit when we did.
Sun. morning Capt. Mike Helmer took us right back there to try for some more Trout but the water had muddied up quite a bit and the Trout were really scattered so we headed for some Canals that were protected and should have some clearer water.
We did pick up a Trout here and there and then got into some Reds in a few spots which really got us all pumped.
Mike had one other place he wanted to try that he had picked up some nice Reds recently so after a short boat ride we were there and Gordon was the first again to hook up with a Pig Red. We all estimated it to be around 12 Lbs. What a fight it was. Those Reds have the power of a Bulldozer with an after burner.
Jeff really cracked me up after catching one of his bigger Reds. Jeff being an avid Bass fisherman probably made two casts to my one all weekend and really got pumped big time catching those Reds and did happen to mention they were more fun than Bass. I think Jeff is part Jack Russel Terror if the truth were known.
We did stop back out in the Trout area and picked up a few more fish before agreeing that we had a great weekend and needed to get things ready for our flight the next morning and call it a day.
I really would like to thank my friends Jeff and Gordon for making this a great trip and to Capt Mike Helmer from Capt Phil Robichaux's Fishing Charters.
Take a look at their website and consider booking a trip of a lifetime with them.
You can reach them at www.rodnreel.com/captphil
I shot a lot of good video footage and will get it edited and sent to Tim to get up for all to see but mean while here's a few photos from the weekend. Schoe
Between our guide, Mike Helmer, from Capt. Phil Robichaux's Fishing Charters, and my two companions, Gordon Witzel and Jeff Cradic, I found myself exhausted from one of the most productive fishing trips I have ever been on.
We arrived at the New Orleans Airport last Thurs. A.M., picked up our rental vehicle and headed for Lafitte La. which is about an hour's drive from the Airport.
Gordon called Captain Mike and found out that the threat of storms that had been haunting us was indeed going to happen late Thurs. P.M. and all the next day, Fri., so perhaps we should go out Thurs. afternoon to get some fishing time in. The three of us were game and were ready to go under almost any circumstances.
Capt. Mike was obligated for other reasons Thurs. so he had another one of his associates, Capt. Mike Juhas take us out that afternoon. This Capt's specialty is Red Fish which my two companions were really looking forward to, especially Jeff, as he had never caught a Red before.
After all meeting and greeting we were under way with at least a 12 to 15 mile ride through Lakes, Canals and Bayous to one of Capt. Mikes "secret" Red fish spots.
Gordon got things started by hooking up with a nice keeper Trout which was the first of many to come that weekend. Then we got into a few Red Fish which was our target that afternoon. Dark approached very fast so we had to head to the dock after catching a fair amount of Trout and Reds.
The Storm came in late Thurs. evening and brought some very heavy rain and wind which continued through Fri. all day so needless to say we didn't get out at all that day.
Sat. morning we headed for a normally good Trout producing area but Capt. Helmer was letting us know that the high winds from the previous day the fishing may not be that great.
We set up on a drift going with the light breeze and started to pick up Trout right away and kept moving on when we ran out of the schools of Trout. There wasn't any sense leaving that end of the bay as there were fish all over and we just had to keep moving to find them.
It wasn't unusual for two of us to have one on at the same time and a couple times three of us were hooked up at the same time.
It was mentioned a couple times that perhaps we should count our fish as we were allowed to have 100 Trout for the four of us but we were pretty sure we weren't there yet so we decided that we had plenty anyway and would call it a day and head back to clean fish.
I swear to God that when we layed out all the Trout and counted them we had exactly 100 on the button. Good thing we quit when we did.
Sun. morning Capt. Mike Helmer took us right back there to try for some more Trout but the water had muddied up quite a bit and the Trout were really scattered so we headed for some Canals that were protected and should have some clearer water.
We did pick up a Trout here and there and then got into some Reds in a few spots which really got us all pumped.
Mike had one other place he wanted to try that he had picked up some nice Reds recently so after a short boat ride we were there and Gordon was the first again to hook up with a Pig Red. We all estimated it to be around 12 Lbs. What a fight it was. Those Reds have the power of a Bulldozer with an after burner.
Jeff really cracked me up after catching one of his bigger Reds. Jeff being an avid Bass fisherman probably made two casts to my one all weekend and really got pumped big time catching those Reds and did happen to mention they were more fun than Bass. I think Jeff is part Jack Russel Terror if the truth were known.
We did stop back out in the Trout area and picked up a few more fish before agreeing that we had a great weekend and needed to get things ready for our flight the next morning and call it a day.
I really would like to thank my friends Jeff and Gordon for making this a great trip and to Capt Mike Helmer from Capt Phil Robichaux's Fishing Charters.
Take a look at their website and consider booking a trip of a lifetime with them.
You can reach them at www.rodnreel.com/captphil
I shot a lot of good video footage and will get it edited and sent to Tim to get up for all to see but mean while here's a few photos from the weekend. Schoe