cliffhall
Forum Replies Created
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Oh boy, this will be one for the ages.
Unfortunately, I have some clients scheduled for Friday evening that I can’t cancel on. I may be able to come down after that and fish with you guys on Saturday, though. I understand if you’d prefer to give that spot to someone who can make the whole trip.
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I feel like I could write a book on this question but I’ll save you guys the pain of having to wade through that. As a mental health counselor and over thinker, this question is often on my mind while I’m on my boat.
Shooter’s points summed up my thoughts on this well but I’ll elaborate a bit:
I like that the fish don’t give a frick who you are. For most of my life duck hunting was my primary passion. Even outside of the 60 day season I’d think about it 24/7. That passion redirected as duck hunting in LA got worse and worse and it became more about how much money you had to gobble up duck leases vs how competent or passionate you were for the pursuit.
About 6 years ago I started taking the duck boat and kayak around hopedale, Delacroix, and Bievenue to chase redfish, bass, trout or whatever else would bite. At some point, and I can’t pinpoint to exactly when, speckled trout completely took over my mind. Things like “plan redfish” went out the window and it was a “chase trout or die trying” mindset. I became addicted (I think fishing addiction could actually be a diagnosable condition under process addictions in the DSM-5).
I love that trout generally follow set rules and patterns but that they will also occasionally do whatever the frick they want. I’ve said it on here before but chasing trout is like playing chess in a blender in a tornado.
I love that as good as I’d sometimes like to think I am I can have a day (or multiple days) where they completely humble me.
I love that this pursuit runs you into some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. There’s just something about trout nerds that I love and appreciate.
I love that the trout don’t discriminate. An old man in Reggio can smoke the trout in a 14ft aluminum flat, barely held together by duck tape, while 5 googans set sail in a 400k boat and get skunked.
I love that it keeps me out of trouble and sane. I am an introvert whose job requires me to have deep conversations all day. I NEED to get in the outdoors occasionally and pursue pattern-able creatures who can’t talk.
I could go on and on but there’s just something about hunting and fishing for me that just FITS. I’ve never been able to explain it but when I’m fishing I can lock into some flow state that is inaccessible in pretty much every other area of my life. It’s just who I am and I don’t know if something that deep and spiritual can even be fully articulated.
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Combining that with this cooler morning and you have the recipe for going Six to Midnight.
Fortunately, I’m only a few tools away from being able to confidently navigate the river. Looking forward to experimenting down there with you guys.
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That’s awesome! I love your tarpon experience hierarchy…..I can relate to that. Best believe you are gonna get one on your skiff one day and it’s gonna be the most amazing feeling.
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Happy birthday, @Boyce
What are we buying ourself as a present this year?
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Upping bait size does not always mean bigger fish. I have caught a lot of bigger fish on Mirrodines and I have buddies who primarily target bigger trout who do well on smaller jerkbaits.
To me, the biggest factor in catching big trout on purpose is going where they are. I’m not familiar with vermillion bay but on the east side of the river I’m generally looking for things that hold what big fish like: fin fish. Grassy flats and rocks can hold fin fish and big trout from November to April.
Water temperature is something I look for as well. I’m not as concerned about what the temps are as much as what the temp trend is. 55 degree water temps are not the same when it was 45 or 65 days before. Look for warming trends or for when cooler temps have held for a few days.
I would also be looking for grass flats 3-5ft that are near deep water refuges during the colder months. Seems like a cold front will consolidate fish in deeper water and they will be looking for the nearest flat or structure with bait as temps warm up.
Finally, learn how to throw topwater. I catch most of my 20”+ fish on topwater (might be skewed because I throw topwater every chance I get). Seems like many people think the magic number is 63 degrees to find fish willing to feed on top but I’ve occasionally gotten them to bite in water temps slightly lower than that. I generally do well in late winter/early spring on overcast days and windy days. It helps if there are pogies and mullet in the area.
This is all for the east side of the river so you may have to extrapolate or even move to different areas if vermillion bay doesn’t hold big fish anymore.
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Good thoughts and well done. I’ve been harping over preventative maintenance all summer and last night I discovered my fuel/water separator housing was a corroded mess. Doing the deep dive now on replacing it with a stainless option.
While we are at it, does anyone know if a get the 3/8” housing option can I get an adapter to run a 5/16” hose on one side?
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Welcome! What part of Brazil are you from?
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Completely anecdotal but I’ve gotten the sense the angling population is aging out. Also, like Devin said, this is not a hobby for fair weather fans. You need resilience to know the thing you love is almost entirely influenced by factors out of your control.
It’s even worse in duck hunting right now. It’s fallen off so bad that what’s left is people who just love the sport or young kids who are so far removed from the good ole days that they don’t even know shooting 3 ring necks is a poor hunt. It’s the shifting baseline theory that Ty Hibbs proposed and Devin talks about.
The good news with fishing is that less pressure should produce better fishing and then better fishing will likely create a resurgence of people wanting to give fishing try.
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Nailed it
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As best as you can articulate, what did that “Feel” like? I feel so far removed from my favorite types of speckled trout bites that I’ll have to live through you for now.
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Just seeing the words “cold front” makes me giddy. Once I get my fuel/water separator issue fixed ill be bouncing back and forth between the bayous on the North Side of Lake P and Bayou B. Theres always a chance fish show up in either of those spots mid September.
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I would definitely rely on intel from old timers. I think the same way as you when looking for big trout: being near productive areas in spots that do not get hit as hard. Chas Champagne is a big believer in that for Lake P so I do not know why it wouldn’t work in other parts of LA.
I would start by becoming an expert on bait if I was going to learn Vermillion Bay. Where do the Mullet and Poges hangout at different times of year? Im assuming some of those ponds on the SE side of Marsh Island are grassy? If so I would be throwing jerkbaits and topwaters in those ponds and coves come late winter/early spring.
If you want to learn about baits for big trout then go follow Jay Watkins on instagram. He is always pumping out good content on big trout.
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I’ll do a little Google earth scouting when I get home and let you know what I think. Again, I have zero experience with Vermillion bay but sometimes new eyes can offer a helpful perspective. That or give you a decent excuse if it turns into a bad trip lol
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My thoughts as well. I just think of a place like bievenue 7-8 years ago and how old the average angler must have been. There would be what seemed like 100,000 boats out there and I think most of those guys have to be in assisted living by now.
