Fly Fishing in Southern Louisiana
Red Drum on the Fly in the Louisiana Salt Marsh
The marshes of southern Louisiana provide the perfect habitat for red drum. They are available year round just south of New Orleans, and forty-plus pounders are about as common as those under ten pounds. Black drum and sheepshead also abound in the area, as does a peculiar creature, the alligator gar.
Fly Fishing In Southern Louisiana: The Fish
The most sought after species in southern Louisiana is the red drum, known locally as reds or redfish. These fish grow to over 80 pounds, and feed on baitfish such as mullet and menhaden, as well as shrimp, crabs, and any other morsel they can engulf including small stingrays. The redfish in southern Louisiana are huge. It is uncommon to hook one under fifteen pounds, and record-sized fish can be seen every day. Many of the most productive spots are very shallow, some under a foot in depth. This makes it easy to sight a spotted tail coming out of the water, often on a fish so tremendous that the whole tail emerges as the fish tilts its body into the mud, and the wagging tail does little more than fan the air. Black drum in the area are also generally quite large, and if you are interested, it should not be hard to catch the world record alligator gar here. They frequent the waters that attract drum, and many of these curious fish are over fifty pounds.
Flies to Use in the Southern Louisiana Salt Marsh
Redfish find big furry crab flies with purple hackles irresistible when they are digging around in the mud, but when cruising or sitting in the water column, it is better to throw something that strips better. Captain Gregg Arnold's Halley's Comet fly, which imitates a large shrimp or minnow, works wonders when dragged in front of a big red's nose, as do Clouser minnows, toad flies that mimic swimming crabs, deceivers, and any other baitfish imitations. When the water is murky, Louisiana spoon flies, made of flashy mylar (gold and red is highly regarded by captains of the area) wobble but do not spin when the angler makes long slow strips, and they demand a strike from any fish in the area. As the fish will often take about anything cast in front of them, southern Louisiana is about the very best place to catch red drum on the fly.
Rod & Reel Setup
An 8 or 9 weight setup with a floating line should do the trick when it comes to the rod and reel. A well- placed cast is a requirement for success, and the wind may at times make that challenging. Heavier lines facilitate casting on windier days, and because many of the fish are tremendous, such equipment helps the angler play a hooked fish. The leader and tippet can be light (12 lbs is handy for everything) as most of these fish will not run too far because patches of land and grass prevent them from doing so. Oysters on the bottom threaten tippet, so at times it is necessary to hold the rod high as a fish is running.
Redfish are everywhere in the marshes that lie about half an hour south of New Orleans, along with many other gamefish. Wildlife in the area abounds as a bonus, and if monstrous, hungry bull reds that seldom refuse a well placed fly are what you are looking for, there is no better place for you than Louisiana. Fly fishing in southern Louisiana really is a treat.
Captain Gregg Arnold with a nice Louisiana redfish
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