[LA_Fiddler]

I use google earth and the Lowrance. When I’m out and about, I’ll drop a pin on a good spot. After I go out, I’ll drop a pin on a location that was good and clean up the name using the following:

R – OCT – Trout

F – APR – Reds

S – MAY – Trout

Rising/Falling/Slack tide – Month – What I caught. You can put notes in google earth that mention wind or tide range or whatever. Sync the spots to the GPS and you’re good. When you search you can search for just the R spots, or just the F spots.

What you end up with a is a smattering of spots that produce at different times and it helps me visually see where I can expand.

I used to track peak bite with solunar and water clarity, but I realized that the conditions changed to much to make that worth anything. Its too hard to know when the water is gonna be clean at specific spots, and I won’t decide to stay home based on peak periods or moonphase. A general knowledge is good, of course, but as a matter of logging I didn’t find it useful.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  LA_Fiddler.

[LA_Fiddler]

Shoot I’m too lazy to launch the boat without spot lock, but yall went without even a hand control.

Mad respect.🫡

[LA_Fiddler]

Good report thanks. Co-incides with my experience this weekend re: early bite

[LA_Fiddler]

What’s happening with the motor?

[LA_Fiddler]

My favorite jigging rod is a 6’6 Falcon HD. MH Fast tip. I use it with 3/8 or heavier jigheads.

My second favorite is an old All Star Classic 6’7 – MH Mod Fast – Tend to keep it spooled with a 1/4 oz or lighter.

I buy the Lew’s LFS Speed Spools (they’re usually 100, but they go on sale a couple times a year for $70.

[LA_Fiddler]

I have an older fixed mount ICOM IC-M422 and a 4′ whip antenna, which is the bare minimum.

For Grand Isle, I don’t think most people need it unless they fish east of 4 bayou pass or obviously if they go to the rigs. I do a lot east of 4B, so I definitely needed one.

I initially had a handheld, but the whole reason to have one is to get a distress call out, so I did the fixed install. Fixed mounts have much higher volume than handhelds.

My old Lowrance GPS used the NMEA 1083, which allowed you to connect two wires from the GPS to the ICOM, and the red distress button would broadcast the GPS location when pressed. This is great to teach the kids in case something happens to me they can hold down the red button.

So my ICOM has been good. I’ll probably buy an M-330G this winter so I can get my GPS function back on it. Internal GPS is the way to go.

[LA_Fiddler]

good report – thanks!

[LA_Fiddler]

I get these calls. They usually send an email first, and if you don’t respond to the email they’ll call.

Yesterday I got stopped at the ramp by the LDWF doing surveys, and I asked if the surveys they did are the same as the LA Creel. He told me the Creel Surveys and the in person surveys are for different purposes, which I didn’t realize.

[LA_Fiddler]

I prefer the 3 inch on a single jighead, but the smaller ones do work well under cork or on a 1/8th.

[LA_Fiddler]

Low key jealous of that white trout. Catching a 17″ speck is one thing, but a 17″ white trout gets me irrationally excited.

I caught a 15″ in the other day and it was like hitting the lottery.

[LA_Fiddler]

Those are the NOAA Government Charts.

There are several apps that use them, but I use INavX – It was free or really cheap and can download all the NOAA charts and do track lines on them as well. Really useful for new water.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  LA_Fiddler.

[LA_Fiddler]

That’s how I’ve always looked at it too. Other people I fish with are really loose with measuring and I’ve always been terrified to come up 1/32nd short.

[LA_Fiddler]

👆 This right here

[LA_Fiddler]

Thanks!

Last year I killed the trout in September mostly fishing a summer pattern, and missed most of October and November with hunting.

Haven’t fished a proper fall pattern in 2 years and I’m ready for it to get going.

[LA_Fiddler]

That checks out. Late August I was catching solid trout on the beaches and in the passes. It was tough fishing but they were there. Figured things had changed but apparently not yet.