• Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Topic: And the winner is...

Zach Mathews, for Best Comeback on a Redfish Trip.  Zach was our special guest for the Red Stick club's conclave on Saturday, and with all his traveling and various species of fish he's caught, he had never caught a redfish on fly rod.  Nor a sheepshead.  Yesterday he caught both.

Things didn't start off good.  Zach and I arrived across from the FAA Gate just before sunrise to flat calm conditions, and very low tide.  We had trouble getting the canoe in the water it was so low (and on several occasions during the day had to buttskittle our way across 1/2-inch mud cuts!).   Just minutes after launching, the first red was sighted, but Zach had trouble spotting the fish.  We went to the "clock system" which allowed me to call where I saw 'em, and him to cast to that spot.  For the first hour, we cruised along the banks, out to Dolphin Bay, and along the way, spotted several reds.  Zach hooked one on early, fought for about 3 minutes, then lost the fish.  After that, Zach - being the innovator that he is - innovated new ways to NOT hook up on active reds. emot_lol

By 8am, the activity had quieted down, the wind had picked up considerably, and now I was worried Zach may have blown his best shot at a red.  But we noticed as we paddled along the shorelines that the fish were much away from the bank, even with a rising tide.  Mostly in 18" of water or more.  Zach stood up, and I "paddle poled" him further off from the bank.  With the sun now up, and water clear, he was able to spot and cast to fish.  We spotted a school of sheepshead and he put a Coma Spoon in front of one and it ate.   As he said, that "got the skunk off".  Because after that, he hooked up four reds and one big sheepshead.  The reds went 7 1/4, 7 1/2, and 8 1/2 pounds, and gave him all the fight I had promised!  We spent as much time taking photos as we did fishing emot_lol  But that's okay, those were great fish for a first-timer. 

By 11am, he was fishing them like a pro, but alas, he had a flight back Sunday afternoon, and it was time to go.  Besides we had to stop at Cafe Oceana on the way back and let him sample some great Cajun seafood (Fettucine with an oyster, shrimp and crabmeat mushroom sauce emot_toast ).

I'll post photos later today.

  • Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Re: And the winner is...

Zach has posted photos plus more details on his website forum.  Check it out:
http://www.itinerantangler.com/cgi-bin/ … 1268020640

Also, when you get time, check out the podcasts on his site. Some really great interviews.   

www.itinerantangler.com

  • From: Lafayette, LA
  • Registered: 2009-04-06
  • Posts: 213

Re: And the winner is...

Congrats! I saw you guys close to the launch (I was the doofis tooting the horn as I drove by!). I saw yall again when I entered into that small bay north east of Laurier (I was the doofis trying on the poling platform fighting the current and wind). What I didn't see were as many redfish as you guys! (although I finally slimed my boat). Again, well done...I've yet to get a sheepshead on fly. Of all of the spieces that I have targeting, I find them to be the most difficult fish to hook/ land.

based on your experience, how much sight fishing is possible down hwy1 between now and June?

  • Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Re: And the winner is...

We spotted you when you passed by. I told Zach that must be Barret - he's late! emot_lol  Honestly, if you'd been there earlier you'd probably seen more fish... that wind really picked up around mid-morning and with the fish in deeper water and under that chop it was getting tough to spot 'em before we ran over them with the 'noe.

How much sight fishing is possible between Fourchon and Grand Isle?  Now thru April should be terrific.  Suspended organics and solids will remain low, the grass/moss will setup and start matting and crabs and shrimp will move into that stuff and make home.  Sometime in May it can start to cloud up when Gulf flow brings more river water back into the marsh and organics build up. It's also a time when shrimp are so thick the reds can just inhale all the food they want!  By June, the grass/moss has gone away, the water is never real clear, but we start to see an ever-increasing number of reds moving in from open Gulf waters as it builds towards the late summer spawn.  So that kind of even things out.  Of course, the grass remains thick in the upper estuary along Hwy 1 thru summer.  I just go when I can, and not worry too much about the environmental factors (other than wind, of course).  emot_wink

  • Registered: 2009-01-14
  • Posts: 49

Re: And the winner is...

Ha, I knew that was you two in the canoe; I thought “Catch must be taking out Zack from conclave!” right-O. I had two other guys in kayaks with me from Texas and we had made a stop at the TPH to get the skunk off of them from the day before when they were alone. They ended up site casting a ton of reds; and I had caught a good 10 specks and a 3 reds by the time I had to leave at 9ish. (I know, I know) anyway I think they will be spreading the word in Tejas and we may have some recruiters from out west for PaddlePalooza.
-B

  • Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Re: And the winner is...

Choup, that was you?  Thought I recognized the yak.  Yeah, looked like the TPH was busy, even as we were leaving, there was a small plastic navy.  I told Zach the specks must be in (good to know reds there too).  We had thought about launching across from the TPH at first light.  We slowed down and the launch spot had NO WATER, JUST MUD.  emot_surprise 

Anywho, I know what you're up to... luring them poor Texas boys to PP7 just to snatch away their hard-earned oil money emot_lol  Better look out this time... there's a lady in the Lafayette club whose been kicking the boys butts left and right and she plans to fish PP7.  Just to see the two of you square off, I'd pay a thousand yen!

  • Registered: 2009-01-14
  • Posts: 49

Re: And the winner is...

I was actually rolling in the Hobie Sport “mini-me” I call it! Looking forward to fishing against Val and crew, I’ll be over there on their “home-waters” at the end of the month. Can’t wait!

Last edited by Choupique (2010-03-10 16:49:11)

  • Registered: 2008-12-24
  • Posts: 188

Re: And the winner is...

Catch,

I think you gave Zach the fever good.  He emailed me asking about a couple of different fly patterns on my web site.