Happy Thanksgiving!

This day means many things to many different people. For most, it's a day of feasting with friends and family. Here in Louisiana, the dinner table will be adorned with turkey, roast, venison, duck or other hearty meat slowly cooked, along with Cajun favorites like sweet potatoes and corn machcoux. There's a good chance that the bird of choice is stuffed  with crawfish or shrimp.  I'm getting hungry just typing this, lol!

Here in the Cormier household, while we do enjoy our feasting and football, we still recognize Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us. We're thankful for all the woods, waters and wildlife we have here in the Sportsmans Paradise. And for the numerous friends we've made through our love of outdoors.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

It's the most wonderful time of the year

No, it's not Christmas yet.  Seems like it, given that the Hallmark Channels have been showing Christmas movies for a month, and the stores - especially Hobby Lobby - have had decorations up for even longer.  But for marsh anglers, it's like Christmas.  Reds and specks on the fly rod, and from a kayak, is the gift that keeps on giving.  

Right now is prime time for speckled trout - the interior lakes and bayous are thick with the silver wonders.  I love to fish poppers early and late, and on overcast days.  These also tend to attract larger trout. Pete's Perch Float Popper, Bob's Banger,  Rainey’s Bubblehead Popper, Skipping Bugs, and Foil Pencil Popper (e.g, Walt Holman style) are all very good options.

Later in the day, I’ll switch to the old “VOSI - Dropper combo". Either a Clouser Minnow, LaFleur's Charlie or EP Spawning Shrimp under a Vertically Oriented Strike Indicator.  The VOSI is constructed from half a perch float, and acts like a fly rodder's popping cork. 

To achieve best results, I use about 30 inches of fluorocarbon tippet, with the VOSI placed just past the connecting knot with the rest of the leader.  Make a strip, pause a couple seconds, another strip, another pause, etc..  

If we’re coming off a cold front, trout action can be slow, so I’ll scout for reds. A day or two after a front, the wind often lays down and the tide is low. Perfect conditions for spotting the Spottail Elvis! This time of year, reds are more apt to hit poppers longer in the day, and especially if it's overcast. 

If they're not in the mood for topwater, a wide variety of other patterns will work.  Some reader favorites include: Copper Spoon Fly, Root Beer Charlie, Grey’s Spawning Crab, Scrambler, Borski Slider, and the Chernobyl Crab. But if you see sprays of shrimp, that Spawning Shrimp is a sure thing!

One thing you need to beware of... there are bulls on the loose!  During summer, these bigger poisson rouge were mostly on the edges of lower bays and lakes. But with cooler weather, they sometimes move into the deepest parts of the marsh. Last year, we encountered two fish over 35 inches on the north side of Galliano. In a boat, it's a heck of a fight. But in a kayak, it's a long sleigh ride!

Commission votes to reduce menhaden buffer zone

Yesterday was a very disappointing day at LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge, as members of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries (LWF) Commission voted 4 to 3 in support of a Notice of Intent to reduce the commercial menhaden buffer zone from 1/2-mile to 1/4 mile in most areas along the coast.

This meeting took place only a year after the current regulations of a 1/2 mile buffer were established as a "compromise" between conservationists and industry representatives. At the time, it appeared almost certain a one-mile buffer would be set, but Governor Landry insisted that there be some compromise.

Now the industry has broken it's agreement.

In testimony yesterday, industry leaders argued with some data that they claim would not result in additional bycatch of red drum and black drum if the buffer were reduced. Most of that came from a year-long bycatch study by LGL Group. 

LGL President Scott Raborn was asked to speak first and answer several questions. During the questioning by LWFC Chairman Kevin Segura, it was vague whether moving the buffer would result in greater bycatch.  However, Dr. Raborn was not allowed to finish his testimony which, in those areas where the 1/2 mile buffer was deeper than 22 feet, there WOULD be an increase in bycatch.

The industry reps continued their arguments claiming:

• the buffer was impacting their ability to catch pogies
• that menhaden is overrated as a forage species, 
• that pelagic fish will gravitate towards other prey such as shrimp and crabs if menhaden are reduced in their area
• that the menhaden harvest in Louisiana reduces the total biomass of menhaden in the Gulf of Mexico by only 3 percent.

Conservation advocates - including State Representative Joe Orgeron, Chris Macaluso of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Glen Cormier of the FFI Gulf Coast Council -tore apart each of these arguments in short order. Also joining in dissecting the misinformation - as well as providing supporting scientific facts were representatives of CCA Louisiana, American Saltwater Guides Association, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Center for Sportfishing Policy, and several others. 

Overall, the opponents in attendance and number of speakers in opposition was 3-to-1 to the commercial industry. And this is even more impressive when considering that an overwhelming number of guides were unable to attend since October and November are their busiest times of the year. In addition, over 800 emails and letters were sent to the Commission opposing this NOI.

Despite the overwhelming opposition and "real" scientific arguments by conservation representatives, the Commission voted as many expected - right along commercial / sport lines. With the 3-3 tie, Chairman Segura cast the deciding vote in favor of the NOI.  

Here's what happens next...

The Notice of Intent will be published, and once so, there's a public comment period that opens on December 19th and concludes on January 23rd. It then goes to the Legislative Oversight Committee for review, and if no action is taken, it would become official on March 20, 2026.

While the comments period is certainly an opportunity to express our displeasure with the NOI, it's our opinion that further comments will do little the votes on the Commission. As stated, these votes were cast along partisan lines and there's little expectation that will change.

Therefore, all effort must be made to persuade members of the House and Senate Natural Resources Committees. These members make up the Legislative Oversight Committee that can veto the NOI. 

To use a football analogy, it's halftime and we're down on the scoreboard. But we have a chance to pull out a victory if we work hard enough!  Stay tuned for more details to come.