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

Call me

Captain Greg Dini, Fly Water Expeditions

New Orleans, Louisiana

407-538-0770

Capnd13@gmail.com

Louisiana Guide Rates

After a big hearty breakfast at Penny’s and picking up our Po Boys for lunch we were off to the Louisiana Marsh. The wind was still honking pretty good but we persevered. Both Derek and Sam got some nice redfish on fly. Sam shot a lot of incredible video and pictures. I’m excited to see how it comes out.

Before it was time to pack it in and get these guys to the airport Derek said he would pole me up the next bay. It didn’t take long to find a victim, at first I thought it was a decent redfish siting on the point. As I fired off the fly a big tail hit the surface, and a couple strips and an enormous Black Drum face engulfed my fly. I think Sam got the bite on video. After that we took some pictures and headed for the barn.

Derek and Sam said the check in at the airport was quick and painless. The next few days it looks like I will have some good weather for my charters.

If you want to hit up some Big Louisiana redfish call me, the fishing will continue to get bigger and better for the next few months and I still have some openings.

Fishing the Louisiana Marsh

Started the day off catching a few reds on jig.

BoldWater gets a nice redfish on Fly.

Sam Root gets a good redfish on fly

Louisiana redfish

My 40 pound black drum on fly

A couple celebratory beers and we are off!