[Madicks2]

Thanks for the response. My plan is to go into the Biloxi, hopefully far enough away from the areas the bow guides target?

Hopefully we can find some clean water after this weather. With the NW winds, seems water will be low, I’ll be looking for redfish in really shallow ponds and bayous.

Let me know if you have any other thoughts or pointers to give me!! I take any and all help! Looking forward to spending a few days on the water in your beautiful marsh, it’s an amazing place and am so thankful to be able to visit here. Thanks again for all the responses, it’s very helpful for a visitor to feel somwhat confident over their game plan !

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 3 days ago by  Madicks2.

[Madicks2]

Hey Devin! Thanks so much for responding!!

Venice I’ve always avoided this time of year because of the river been too nervous to find clean water. I have typically just fished the fall & winter there

I usually fish Hopedale because it’s where I have the most experience, and since I come from out of state, only so much time on the water I like familiar water for safety and probability of producing some fish.

I’m open to anything however that’s just what I’ve done in past !

Hate to hear bow fishing has gotten so bad !

[Madicks2]

Devin, thanks for the report! Very helpful. With Strong N winds the next 2-days, do you think water levels should normalize by Friday? They shift to East Saturday and then Southeast Sunday.

I am wondering how much will be blown out on the west side of the river during the midday low tide on Friday. Also I thought about fishing Hopedale instead of Venice, but was wondering if the water would still be too high there with the East/SE winds over the weekend.

Thanks for any thoughts you have! Will be poling a skiff sight fishing for redfish. So generally like lower water, but not completely blown out where cant get to many areas.

[Madicks2]

Hey Devin, It hasn’t been much of an issue in the morning for me if you’re on the road early enough.. You can definitely get caught in it in the afternoons though.

I’ll be in Venice this weekend. With NE winds and mid-day low tides, I am assuming water will be low. Between that, the rain, and the river rising over the next few days, what are your thoughts on water levels and clarity?

[Madicks2]

We had an amazing trip seeing and catching a ton of fish, thanks for all the help!!!! Look forward to coming back.

[Madicks2]

Devin, thanks so much for all the thoughts and comments! So helpful!

I am planning to fish Port Sulphur on Friday while the wind is blowing still so that I can avoid open water and have more options to fish some protected areas. I will head to Venice on Saturday and Sunday when the wind is a bit lighter! Thanks so much!

[Madicks2]

Thanks so much for the reply Devin! The information is super helpful! I have taken your courses and actually listened to them again a month or so ago as a refresher. A lot of the fishing is somewhat similar to ours in NC, part of what I love coming to visit so much!

Great to know on the duck hunting areas, thank you for this information.

Regarding the wind, yes thankfully forecast is looking great. With NE winds past few days and continuing through Friday, I was mostly curious about water levels. I hear you and others talk a lot about “west/north west” blowing water out, and “east” winds blowing water in. Seems like NE winds would blow water into Biloxi, and maybe Hopedale, but maybe push out of northern Hopedale area?

I have fished Hopedale the last couple of trips Ive made including one I had a day of high tide and east wind which made sight fishing very tough with the marsh flooded.

With this week’s early morning high tides, I was concerned the water levels might be too high in Hopedale to sight fish the way I like to in shallow water, which is why I thought would be better to head to west of the river and fish in the lee where hopefully water was lower and cleaner. Ive fished Venice a dozen times or so, but not on my own boat yet, so was curious about how much water may be blown out on that side, but ill figure it out once I get there.

<font face=”inherit”>I spin fish as well, I </font>dont mess with the fly rod when it gets too windy. I am more focused on trying to find lower, clean water to sight fish, regardless of whether on spin or fly! I’ll blind cast if I have to, but would prefer to keep searching before I fish off the bottom using jigs, etc. It’s just the way I like to fish, and the way my boat is setup, again, very small low gunwale poling skiff not suitable for open water. We would of course be happy to catch bull drum, but will be targeting smaller reds inside, rather than fishing on the outside.

It will be just my wife and I fishing, we are just trying to get out and have a good time and enjoy spending some time in your beautiful state!

Please let me know if you have any other thoughts or comments, and help is much appreciated!