[RyanValentino]

I’d like to do some more reading on this topic to offer a fully informed opinion, but I’m not there yet. So here are my general feelings with limited research.

Overall, a positive for Louisiana. It’s about time we attracted some serious tech investment beyond traditional oil and gas. Might I be biased as an engineer considering the potential for positive local career implications? Yes. Do I think there will be significant economic impacts to all of southwest Louisiana? Yes. The scale of a $100 billion project (if it comes to be) is not fathomable to many. Think about the impact to local contractors both for the base and for residential construction (we’ve already seen the use of local engineering firms for permitting), think about the gas stations, the mom and pop restaurants, the local hardware stores, the automotive sales and repair shops, and everything in between that you need on a day-to-day basis that will see an increase in business. Will a handful of individuals be negatively impacted? Undoubtedly.

Do I think there will be local ecological impacts? Yes. I think it will be a long while before the visionary 30 launches per day pace is reached, but certainly the noise associated with the launches will have local implications (a significant local factor – ducks won’t hang around locally during that type of activity). Could road traffic, water way use, storm water runoff, emissions, etc. have local impacts? Yes. Are more widespread impacts expected? I think less likely. Do I wish there had been more transparency in the process with more robust oversight on ecological impacts? Yes. Is the government the right entity to perform this oversight? Am I? Are you? I leave those unanswered. Can Elon Musk single handedly have a positive impact on our coastal ecological health if he chooses? Yes.

Broadly, compare this to the oil and gas industry in Louisiana. Where would we be without it? Are we satisfied with how industry has engaged with the public (cutting up the marsh but supporting coastal restoration and fisheries reefing projects, broadly impacting our economy and supporting many local jobs, contributing to significant local infrastructure [think Fourchon], responding to crises like the BP oil spill, etc.)?

Very interested to learn your thoughts on the topic after you’ve researched Devin. Thanks for putting the effort in – you separate yourself from many.

[RyanValentino]

I kept one of mine at old Spanish trail mini storage for a while. It was very convenient for fishing rigolets. They have totally enclosed (this is what I did and had plenty of space to store fishing gear, duck decoys, etc. additionally) or covered options.

[RyanValentino]

The wind direction and magnitude as well as the limited tide range are working against you here – I’m worried the water may be muddied up, but you’ll have to see what’s what. Give a lot of thought to these factors in your plan. I like Devin’s thought on the beach front. He’s already said run west. Don’t be scared to run east also. Focus on the passes where water will be moving well – hopefully you can find some good streaks of clean water next to dirtier water coming out of the pass. Good luck, and keep us posted!

[RyanValentino]

Solid weekend! Thanks for the report!

[RyanValentino]

Excellent!

[RyanValentino]

Thanks for the tag Devin – I wouldn’t have seen this in time without the email.

I like the ponds you’ve selected over the ones immediately off the rigolets, but each day/year is different. When I was somewhat on them last year, I was going every weekend. I haven’t been there yet this summer, but I’m hopeful you’ll find some clean water and a few fish. Tide is working in your favor that water levels should be up, but take it easy in the ponds – think of the “stair steps” if you’ve gotten to that part in the study materials – some will be easy to get on plane in – others you may just be able to troll in or not at all – you’ll thank yourself later for taking notes on the water depth per pond against the Rigolets gauge.

I wouldn’t expect to see 50 reds or anything like that – be happy to see 10-20 and catch a few around here. Have fun with it.

Also, chances are good sheepshead will be up in those ponds too – they’ve been elusive for me on artificial, but at some point I’m going armed with dead shrimp and going to beat them down.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

[RyanValentino]

If you make it that far east, you may consider investigating Biloxi Marsh for reds over the Rigolets/ICW stuff. I don’t have experience there, but I know the Rigolets/ICW stuff gets a fair amount of pressure.

[RyanValentino]

Hey LDodson, if you’re mainly targeting trout, my suggestion would be to bypass spots 1-5 and the ICW. Head out to Borgne (and beyond?) immediately to catch the early bite there for trout. Target reds on the way in.

I can’t speak to how the deep water red bite may be. Buddies and I used to catch bull reds off the Treasure Isle point (opposite the Rigolets from your point 2), but these were rarely slots and seem to be frequenting the area less over the past couple years (maybe something to do with no spillway openings? maybe a coincidence).

There are a few ponds immediately off the rigolets and ICW that you can look for reds in in a bay boat, including the one just east of your point 15. (Note the water level at rigolets when you enter the ponds for future reference on how accessible they are for you.) You should have a pretty good idea of which will be accessible based upon GED imagery (Jan 2015 for example – though take with some salt considering the age).

[RyanValentino]

Do you already have an answer in mind?

I went down a rabbit hole on this looking at Mississippi River levels and cumulative volumetric flow, reading your articles on the freshening and the ‘25 blizzard, reviewing pogey boat regulations.

I point toward the ‘25 blizzard personally. My crew slammed the bejeezus out of the trout in the June time period of 2024 (pre-blizzard, post-“saltening”, river comparable to 2025 level), and 2025 and 2026 were really lackluster. River is down this year compared to those years, so could the least fish, most water theory be a factor – yes. Number of throwbacks in Grand Isle was really good this year – and hopefully bodes well for next year and beyond.

Thoughts?

[RyanValentino]

Hah the spot that we caught on Saturday turned from just us to literally 11 other boats within 30 minutes – crazy.

[RyanValentino]

Definitely trying this in the next couple months…stay tuned.

[RyanValentino]

Thanks for the feedback Capt. We’ll get em before too long – Grand Isle 6/25, tentatively Vermillion Bay 7/3, and then y’all have me convinced it’s time to try Venice – planning posts in the next couple weeks.

[RyanValentino]

There were some pockets of clean water deep in the marsh ponds (you had to be far enough away from the pond opening to be beyond the tidal influx I believe). All the open water we reached was yuck.

No consistent white trout bite though we did fish and graph the white trout hole you suggested for a good bit. That spot yielded the two biggest specks of the trip albeit on the point in 5-10’ of water in the tide line with a bunch of bait visible rather than in the deep hole. Caught on live croaker under cork.

Also, tried shrimping behind Chenier one afternoon without luck except for the handful of croaker that turned into bait. Ever do any shrimping LA Fiddler? I thought we might have luck considering how many shrimp boats I saw in the bay 5/29 weekend.

[RyanValentino]

Totally recognize there are better options than Grand Isle and not committed to trout at all. This is the tenth annual trip for the group, and we’ve had it on the books since January – rescheduling isn’t an option. Thanks for the thoughts on Galliano – will investigate!

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

[RyanValentino]

Lolol – how’d I know someone would suggest this.