Louisiana Redfish - Photos courtesy of Sam Root and Mark B. Hatter

Category: New Orleans Fishing Guide

Big Fish are still in!

We have finally received some good weather from the man upstairs and the fishing is starting to stabilize. We are still getting consistent shots at big redfish and black drum and the 5-15 pound fish are everywhere. I am very excited to get into the spring pattern and the fishing will be incredible. Tight Lines!

Had good friend Mark B. Hatter in town

I had good friend and angler Mark B. Hatter in town the past couple days. Mark writes and takes great photography for many publications including Fly Fishing in Salt Waters Magazine.  We had two good days of fishing, had shots at a few big fish over 20 pounds and landed tons of fish in the 10-20 pound range. Mark was able to land his personal best red fish on 4 lb. tippet, a nice 25 pounder. Its always a blast to have Mark in town because I get the chance to get some bow time as he has no problem polling me around a bit. Tight Lines!

A Testimonial by Capt. Travis Holeman on his Potential 4 lb. Tippet Red Fish Record Caught with Fly Water Expeditions!

Today started like any other day for Capt. Greg and I.  Question?  Which way do you want to go?  Breakfast is always surrounded by conversations of wind direction and tide.  We always throw ideas back and forth but the wind tells the truth.  Today it told us to sneak to a secret spot.  Nunya flat!

Time to fish.  As always I venture to the bow acting like a ballast and trying to sneak my way to fishing!  Whatever works.  Greg grabbed the push pole and joy washed over me like a wave.  Bow time!  Sweet.  Earlier at the boat ramp Greg was showing off his knot skills while stalling for the sun to begin to warm the flats.  I tied the 4 lb. class to my 6wt fly rod and after careful fly selection Greg’s Hudini Crab in purple found it’s way to my rod.  Great fly.  Really great fly.

We made it about 30 yards and a fish floating high was glowing like a stop sign.  Big and red.  One false cast and shoot.  Worried about a shock break I stripped slow as the big fish followed the fly into the depths.  Just as she vanished I felt the tug.  Eased the rod to about 45% and smoothly let her clear the line.  Finally putting a little pressure on the big red.  With a little slip the fly was loose.  Bummer.  Oh well.  I was still wondering if that was the one…. looking out in a daze.  Greg whispers “yo I got another one…. floater.”

Seeing the floating red instantly.  I still had not stripped out the line from the previous fish.  Quickly judging the distance I stripped what I thought would be 50 or so feet off the reel.  Greg shifted the boat to give me a clean cast.  What followed was awesome.  After watching the fly cast land perfectly and the big red pounce all I could think about was we aren’t videoing!   The cast landed perfect, I stripped and she followed.  Swing and a miss… strip, strip.  Again I was a little worried about setting the hook and did so very softly as she ate the fly.  15-20 min. later the huge red came to the boat.  I really enjoyed fishing a trout rod for our huge reds.  The 6 wt allowed for a much better shock absorber than say an 8 or 9 wt rod.

Greg jumped into place after expertly maneuvering the boat to keep me in prime fighting position.  Greg gave the boat one last push on the pole, I swung the big red back to Greg as the boat passed putting him and her in position for a gorilla grip landing.  As Greg had informed me earlier we had no net,… the plan had to work to land the fish.  Thankfully we land most fish by tailing, so it was no big deal.  Greg’s face lit up like a kid on Easter.  Fish landed and all gear still kicking.  Great fish.  Great day.  Great friends.  Thanks Greg.  Capt. Greg landed a huge black drum on 8 lb. after we ate and had a very long time to enjoy what had just happened.  I just landed the best fish I have ever caught.  Gotta love it when it all comes together.

Catch-em Big!

Travis Holeman

727-644-4347

travis@holemanbrothers.com

New Orleans Redfishing guide

Redfishing is going off here in the Louisiana Marsh just outside of New Orleans. Although we are getting our coldest weather of the year. Anyone interested in booking some days shoot me an email or give me a call. I have a few openings in January, February, and March.

Your New Orleans Fishing Guide

Captain Greg Dini, Fly Water Exeditions

Fishing in rough Louisiana conditions

Terrible weather again on the Louisiana marsh today but that didn’t stop us. Wind was 20-30 mph, no sun, cold and drizzling rain. Still found cleans water and a few fish. Landed some nice 10-12 lb reds and ended the day with a pig, 27 pound redfish that we sight fished on spinning gear. Looks like the weather is gonna get better, thank God! back at it for the next 7 days. Tight line.

Flyfishing in Louisiana video