Bayou Redfish
 

Well, against rdean's advice, but thanks anyway r, I've hired
a guide to take me and my wife kayaking in the bayou. I'm gonna
fish for redfish and she is along for the paddle. This is a
guided fishing trip, not just sightseeing, so I assume the guide
will put me in the vicinity of fish.

My question to roff, how does one go about catching a redfish
on a fly rod in a Louisiana bayou on April 30th ? The guide
recommends a 9wt., but floating, sink tip, full sink ? How
about flies ? I know absolutely nothing about fly fishing for
redfish. How about that, a virgin experience at my age. ;-)
I'm looking forward to it.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Bayou Redfish
 

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:14:53 -0500, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

How
about flies ?

Spoon flies work well, but they're awkward to cast. Wear a hat.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

Bayou Redfish
 

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:14:53 -0500, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

Well, against rdean's advice, but thanks anyway r, I've hired
a guide to take me and my wife kayaking in the bayou. I'm gonna
fish for redfish and she is along for the paddle. This is a
guided fishing trip, not just sightseeing, so I assume the guide
will put me in the vicinity of fish.

My question to roff, how does one go about catching a redfish
on a fly rod in a Louisiana bayou on April 30th ? The guide
recommends a 9wt., but floating, sink tip, full sink ? How
about flies ? I know absolutely nothing about fly fishing for
redfish. How about that, a virgin experience at my age. ;-)
I'm looking forward to it.

Big (3/0 - 5/0) Clousers, Assassins/Mickey Finns, Lefty's Deceivers,
etc. on a floater if you are going to _flyfish_ - IOW, you aren't
interested in using a fly rod as quasi-casting rod. And I didn't advice
against the fishing, only wasting money on a guide. And putting someone
on fish this time of the year, assuming the weather is cooperating _at
all_, is little more than saying, "Yo, boy, y'all see that there
water..."

TC,
R

Bayou Redfish
 

On Mar 28, 3:14*pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:


My question to roff, how does one go about catching a redfish
on a fly rod in a Louisiana bayou on April 30th ? The guide
recommends a 9wt., but floating, sink tip, full sink ? How
about flies ? I know absolutely nothing about fly fishing for
redfish. How about that, a virgin experience at my age. ;-)
I'm looking forward to it.


Personally I think a 9wt is a little heavy for redfish, my primary
redfish from a boat rod is a 7wt and I use an 8wt while wading. IMO,
Clousers and decievers are fine for searching casts or casting to
cruising fish. But my limited experience is that crab and shrimp
patterns work better on tailing fish which is the "classic" way of
locating and casting to them.
A quick google turned up this link for what its worth:
http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/02-s...er-redfish.htm

For the most part floating lines are just fine but I always carry an
intermediate and fast sink polyleader just in case.

Good luck and have fun. I can send you a couple of crab/shrimp
patterns to play with if you'd like.

BTW, I used to attend the Jazz festival annually when I lived on the
gulf coast but have not been in a decade or more. Any chane you can
pick me up this year's poster (I used to collect them and still have
some)? I will of course reimburse you.

Wayne

Bayou Redfish
 

Charlie Choc wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
How
about flies ?

Spoon flies work well, but they're awkward to cast. Wear a hat.

Thanks Charlie. Those things do like look they're anything but
aerodynamic.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Bayou Redfish
 

Bayou Redfish
 

Wayne Knight wrote:
On Mar 28, 3:14 pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

My question to roff, how does one go about catching a redfish
on a fly rod in a Louisiana bayou on April 30th ? The guide
recommends a 9wt., but floating, sink tip, full sink ? How
about flies ? I know absolutely nothing about fly fishing for
redfish. How about that, a virgin experience at my age. ;-)
I'm looking forward to it.


Personally I think a 9wt is a little heavy for redfish, my primary
redfish from a boat rod is a 7wt and I use an 8wt while wading. IMO,
Clousers and decievers are fine for searching casts or casting to
cruising fish. But my limited experience is that crab and shrimp
patterns work better on tailing fish which is the "classic" way of
locating and casting to them.
A quick google turned up this link for what its worth:
http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/02-s...er-redfish.htm

For the most part floating lines are just fine but I always carry an
intermediate and fast sink polyleader just in case.

Good luck and have fun. I can send you a couple of crab/shrimp
patterns to play with if you'd like.

BTW, I used to attend the Jazz festival annually when I lived on the
gulf coast but have not been in a decade or more. Any chane you can
pick me up this year's poster (I used to collect them and still have
some)? I will of course reimburse you.

Thanks Wayne.

Yeah, a 9wt sounds like overkill for 10 to 12 pound fish but my
7wt is a 10' two piece (would be great in the kayak but a bitch
on the train to Nawlins), I have no 8wt but I do already have a
couple of 9wts. And that's what the guide recommends so what the
hell.

I'd be more than happy to pick up a Jazz Fest poster for you but
you can get one yourself (and fill in the blanks in your collection)
he http://www.art4now.com/store/index.asp

--
Ken Fortenberry

Bayou Redfish
 

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:40:06 -0700 (PDT), Wayne Knight
wrote:

On Mar 28, 3:14*pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:


My question to roff, how does one go about catching a redfish
on a fly rod in a Louisiana bayou on April 30th ? The guide
recommends a 9wt., but floating, sink tip, full sink ? How
about flies ? I know absolutely nothing about fly fishing for
redfish. How about that, a virgin experience at my age. ;-)
I'm looking forward to it.


Personally I think a 9wt is a little heavy for redfish, my primary
redfish from a boat rod is a 7wt and I use an 8wt while wading.

I already tried that, Wayne, but hey, when you're getting advice from a
guide who knows where redfish are in S. Louisiana, advice from folks who
live or have lived there with lots of fishing experience just sorta come
in a distant second...

IMO,
Clousers and decievers are fine for searching casts or casting to
cruising fish. But my limited experience is that crab and shrimp
patterns work better on tailing fish which is the "classic" way of
locating and casting to them.

Shrimp and crab are decent "specific purpose" patterns. FWIW and IMO,
though, the "bait fish" types are adequate to great all-around, whereas
the shrimp/crab types are more limited. IOW, if you're gonna travel
"heavy," by all means take both types, but if you're gonna travel
"light," a couple of each, Deceivers, Assassins/Mickeys, and Clousers
are the ticket. Remember, these aren't 16s, 18s, 22s, these are
3/0-5/0s. And take at least 2 of each - 1 for you, one for any possible
oyster beds, etc.

A quick google turned up this link for what its worth:
http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/02-s...er-redfish.htm

For the most part floating lines are just fine but I always carry an
intermediate and fast sink polyleader just in case.

Gear whore. Seriously, reasonable advice. I guess I'm more of the "a
travel light" kinda guy on jaunts like this - you know, a couple of
flies, 1 (ONE!) rod, reel, spool, vest, boat, vehicle, generator, TV,
cell phone, GPS, camera, etc....leaves more room for gin, tonic, and
ice...

Good luck and have fun. I can send you a couple of crab/shrimp
patterns to play with if you'd like.

BTW, I used to attend the Jazz festival annually when I lived on the
gulf coast but have not been in a decade or more. Any chane you can
pick me up this year's poster (I used to collect them and still have
some)? I will of course reimburse you.

Oh, man, this has become its own, er, funkin' industry, both legit and
otherwise. An official poster, unsigned, isn't cheap, and a signed one
is REALLY ridiculous (IIRC, they were fetching over $800.00 last year,
unframed). Then there's all the quasi-official ones. I'd suggest
determining _exactly_ what you want and letting Ken and Kristine have a
website/.jpg/something to see so they know exactly what you want. And
as an aside, depending on which ones you have (such as a signed
Rodrigue, etc.), you might wish to check into values and determine if
you need insurance (seriously).

TC,
R

Wayne

Bayou Redfish
 

On Mar 28, 4:19*pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:
Charlie Choc wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
How
about flies ?

Spoon flies work well, but they're awkward to cast. Wear a hat.

Thanks Charlie. Those things do like look they're anything but
aerodynamic.

--
Ken Fortenberry

These look interesting. Ever heard of using them on trout?

Halfordian Golfer
http://www.nwmangum.com/spoonfly/index.html

Bayou Redfish
 

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:40:32 -0500, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:


I'd be more than happy to pick up a Jazz Fest poster for you but
you can get one yourself (and fill in the blanks in your collection)
he http://www.art4now.com/store/index.asp

Trust me on this one, guys - this (mail order, not necessarily this
site, and FWIW, there are a lot of fakes floating around, esp. on places
like Craigslist - get it from an official source) is by far and away the
best way to do it.

TC,
R

Bayou Redfish
 

Bayou Redfish
 

Wayne Knight wrote:
On Mar 28, 3:14 pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:


My question to roff, how does one go about catching a redfish
on a fly rod in a Louisiana bayou on April 30th ? The guide
recommends a 9wt., but floating, sink tip, full sink ? How
about flies ? I know absolutely nothing about fly fishing for
redfish. How about that, a virgin experience at my age. ;-)
I'm looking forward to it.



Personally I think a 9wt is a little heavy for redfish, my primary
redfish from a boat rod is a 7wt and I use an 8wt while wading. IMO,
Clousers and decievers are fine for searching casts or casting to
cruising fish. But my limited experience is that crab and shrimp
patterns work better on tailing fish which is the "classic" way of
locating and casting to them.
A quick google turned up this link for what its worth:
http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/02-s...er-redfish.htm

For the most part floating lines are just fine but I always carry an
intermediate and fast sink polyleader just in case.

Good luck and have fun. I can send you a couple of crab/shrimp
patterns to play with if you'd like.

BTW, I used to attend the Jazz festival annually when I lived on the
gulf coast but have not been in a decade or more. Any chane you can
pick me up this year's poster (I used to collect them and still have
some)? I will of course reimburse you.

Wayne

why polyleaders? i'd never use them fishing for puppy drum. of course,
i prefer a spinning rod and redfish magic lures. the fish are usually
found in relatively shallow water, and spook easily...at least up here.
floating line should work fine. a strong leader is essential...3x at a
minimum. the fish are real hogs...and i think are the best gamefish
caught on light tackle. plus, they make a tasty meal.

from what i've seen of the la stuff, it looks similar to nc. the spoon
fly, copper heads, crease fly, deceivers, gummy minnows, clousers ought
to work. a 9 foot, 6 or 7 weight rod, fast action should be enough
stick, esp. if you're gonna be tossin at a lot of fish. a good reel with
good drag is important. the reds pull harder than any fish their size,
in my experience. i suspect the guide will have everything needed...even
the spinning tackle. g

jeff

Bayou Redfish
 

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:22:50 -0500, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

wrote:
Wayne Knight wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
I'm looking forward to it.

Personally I think a 9wt is a little heavy for redfish, my primary
redfish from a boat rod is a 7wt and I use an 8wt while wading.

I already tried that, Wayne, but hey, when you're getting advice from a
guide who knows where redfish are in S. Louisiana, advice from folks who
live or have lived there with lots of fishing experience just sorta come
in a distant second...

Yeah yeah, I heard ya the first time and I do respect your first
hand experience but a 9wt is all I have in 4 piece and I'm not
gonna buy a new rod just for a few hours fishing in the bayou.

BTW, I used to attend the Jazz festival annually when I lived on the
gulf coast but have not been in a decade or more. Any chane you can
pick me up this year's poster (I used to collect them and still have
some)? I will of course reimburse you.

Oh, man, this has become its own, er, funkin' industry, both legit and
otherwise. An official poster, unsigned, isn't cheap, and a signed one
is REALLY ridiculous (IIRC, they were fetching over $800.00 last year,
unframed). Then there's all the quasi-official ones. I'd suggest
determining _exactly_ what you want and letting Ken and Kristine have a
website/.jpg/something to see so they know exactly what you want. And
as an aside, depending on which ones you have (such as a signed
Rodrigue, etc.), you might wish to check into values and determine if
you need insurance (seriously).

No ****, over $4,000 for a 1989 JazzFest *poster* ?!!?!? Good grief.
I've got a 1990 (the last time we were there) I wonder why it's only
worth $350 ? I mean, granted I only paid $30 for it at the time but
I can be as greedy as the next guy. ;-)

Depends on the artist of the poster and the featured artist (if living),
as well as the plain ol' market demand. For example, the aforementioned
Rodrique featured Satchmo (obviously, he didn't sign it...), so the
poster artist accounts for the value, whereas if the artist of the
poster and the "featured" artist (or no artist) is less well-known, the
value can be much less. Plus, if yours isn't signed, the value is
likely less. My advice is if you want art and investment, buy one with
as much "signing" as possible, but if you just want a poster, buy one
with no sigs. If you are thinking about an artist-signed one this year
(Irma Thomas), let me know before you buy one "off-the-rack."

TC,
R

Bayou Redfish
 

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:46:14 -0400, jeff miller
wrote:

Wayne Knight wrote:
On Mar 28, 3:14 pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:


My question to roff, how does one go about catching a redfish
on a fly rod in a Louisiana bayou on April 30th ? The guide
recommends a 9wt., but floating, sink tip, full sink ? How
about flies ? I know absolutely nothing about fly fishing for
redfish. How about that, a virgin experience at my age. ;-)
I'm looking forward to it.



Personally I think a 9wt is a little heavy for redfish, my primary
redfish from a boat rod is a 7wt and I use an 8wt while wading. IMO,
Clousers and decievers are fine for searching casts or casting to
cruising fish. But my limited experience is that crab and shrimp
patterns work better on tailing fish which is the "classic" way of
locating and casting to them.
A quick google turned up this link for what its worth:
http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/02-s...er-redfish.htm

For the most part floating lines are just fine but I always carry an
intermediate and fast sink polyleader just in case.

Good luck and have fun. I can send you a couple of crab/shrimp
patterns to play with if you'd like.

BTW, I used to attend the Jazz festival annually when I lived on the
gulf coast but have not been in a decade or more. Any chane you can
pick me up this year's poster (I used to collect them and still have
some)? I will of course reimburse you.

Wayne

why polyleaders? i'd never use them fishing for puppy drum. of course,
i prefer a spinning rod and redfish magic lures. the fish are usually
found in relatively shallow water, and spook easily...at least up here.
floating line should work fine. a strong leader is essential...3x at a
minimum. the fish are real hogs...and i think are the best gamefish
caught on light tackle. plus, they make a tasty meal.

from what i've seen of the la stuff, it looks similar to nc. the spoon
fly, copper heads, crease fly, deceivers, gummy minnows, clousers ought
to work. a 9 foot, 6 or 7 weight rod, fast action should be enough
stick, esp. if you're gonna be tossin at a lot of fish. a good reel with
good drag is important. the reds pull harder than any fish their size,
in my experience. i suspect the guide will have everything needed...

even
the spinning tackle. g

And we already went down THAT road, too...heck, I managed to convince
him to leave the tweeds, tam o'shanter, and his dry-fly snobbery back in
the land of Clydesdale urine...

Seriously, though, given his time to fish - a few hours - the 9 is
overkill, but it ought not be too much, and when he fishes with us on a
boat, they'll likely be enough gear to go around. Actually, though, I
just realized the date he scheduled - Ken, bring the 9 setup, just in
case, but hopefully, we'll have seen y'all by the 30th and I'll get you
something a little more appropriate.

TC,
R

jeff

Bayou Redfish
 

"jeff miller" wrote in message
. ..

why polyleaders?

Because I don't do enough salt water fishing. While I may have accumulated a
little fishing tackle over the years I am too cheap to buy another spool and
a sinking fly line for fishing I rarely am going to use.

The last time I fished salt was in central Florida and the Tarpon weren't
cooperating. But there were plenty of redfish tho none of them were tailing
but they were cruising on the bottom of gin clear water about 10' deep. The
poly leader got the fly down and I managed to not scare a couple and hook
up. Like I said in my original response to Ken. I carry them for that "just
in case" minute.

floating line should work fine. a strong leader is essential...3x at a
minimum. the fish are real hogs...and i think are the best gamefish caught
on light tackle. plus, they make a tasty meal.

Agree a floater is fine most of the time and do like how they taste. I use a
20lb shock tippet, it might be overkill but I've never had one bust me off.

even the spinning tackle. g

I'm a trout snob but I have to admit catching a tailing red with a fly rod
is a blast. I wouldn't want to do it all the time but one has to do what one
has to do.

BTW, I'm going to be in Townsend May 14 - 18 if you happen to be in the
neighborhood.

Bayou Redfish
 

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
...

And that's what the guide recommends so what the
hell.

Well he is the pro. But if you want to take a four piece seven or eight
along drop me a note.

I'd be more than happy to pick up a Jazz Fest poster for you but
you can get one yourself (and fill in the blanks in your collection)
he http://www.art4now.com/store/index.asp

Thanks I had forgotten all about them. I think the last one I picked up came
via them.

Bayou Redfish
 

"jeff miller" wrote in message
. ..

why polyleaders?

Joe the Elder-----here in N.C. I fish from kayak and use spinning gear for
redfish but usually take along a six weight fly set-up in case I come
upon a scool of blue fish or find redfish tailing on outgoing tide up a
couple of local creeks.

My worn out shoulder would not. allow long periods of fly casting from
a sitting position. but on a good day I might get two redfish on
fly--three or four redfish on gulpbait with spinning rod---and maybe a
couple of small flounder. Life is good.
On many other days I just get exercise paddling--and life is still good

Bayou Redfish
 

Wayne Knight wrote:


BTW, I'm going to be in Townsend May 14 - 18 if you happen to be in the
neighborhood.

wish i could make it...i actually enjoyed my brief dip in the waters
around elkmont, and i wanted you to show me your secret path to upper
abrams...but...i'm heading to penns sometime in may during that
timeframe...and mark and i are gonna do our annual camp/trout early in
may i think...so, another time perhaps?

jeff

I personally think that 9wt bit heavy redfish, redfish from my Primary School is a 7wt boat rod, I use a 8wt and wading. IMO, Clousers and decievers fine conversion or converted to search for cruising fish. But my limited experience, crab, shrimp patterns work better on the tailing fish is the "classic " way of positioning and casting them.