Minamalist Challenge 2023
FridayRolled out with hot coffee early. Made my usual stop at Cash Magic(ly dissapears) for pit stop, coffee refill and Slo Melt. Talked to several members while driving down and cruised right past the Minamalist Zone. I really didn't want anyone to know where I was fishing for the tournament, as I'd been scouting for weeks. Combat launched on LA1 and was joined by Josh Redd and Jonathan Aucoin. We didn't go far and got on some trout action for a little while. Water was crystal clear to 4 feet [...]
BCKFC Championship 2022 Coco Edition
Drove down Thursday evening after work. Reminded me of driving to Grand Isle in the 80's, before the bypass and 4 lane. No cars on the road, but slow down to 30. Really? Nothing makes me more anxious than waiting, for nothing. Arrived at Coco Marina around 730 and joined the BCKFC in the restaurant and bar. Probably 30 members and friends eating and hanging out. Awesome! For those who've never qualified, there's a FB Messenger Championship Chatroom where there's lots of $h!t talking and enormous claims. I cruised the [...]
Trout Challenge 2022
Rolled into the fabulous Galliano Inn Friday, just in time for dinner. I was bunking with Josh Redd and Ryan Allemand. Butch Ridgedell was next door. Frank Lee and Jerry Cottrell were 2 doors down. Chris and Janie Murphy were at the other end. They declined dinner as Chris had broken two rods riding the bulls and was hunting replacements. The snooty board members were staying a couple miles away but were napping late, so didn’t attend. We all rolled into MeMaws and settled down. The waitress does a funny [...]
Fall N Tide 2022
Didn’t get to scout Friday because of work commitments and knew it would be lot different from the spectacular results of the previous weekend because of the week long cold front and high pressure conditions. Arrived at Bridgeside around 530 Friday afternoon and made the social rounds just before the filling of the captain's bags. They had so much help, I just watched. As usual, many asked where I was fishing and I either blatantly lied or just smiled. Sorry! Pastalaya was served shortly after and it was fabulous. Unfortunately [...]
Summer Spectacular
So July has been outstanding! I went to Chicago for the weekend of the 4th but got back home at 145AM on the 4th, washed my face, changed clothes and went fishing with decent results. The next 2 weekends I was able to fish Saturday and Sunday both weekends, laying waste to many trout and aggravating several charter captains at the Bridgeside cleaning table. The first weekends fish were given to the guys I work with. One mentioned that those were some huge trout fillets and asked if he could [...]
Dawn to Dusk 2022
It's been a little while. Yeah, I've been a little off this year, skunking in 3 tournaments in a row. Lovely. Let's just say bad game day decisions. On a brighter note, the Monsta Banana is no longer mine. It serves another master, hopefully well. I have acquired a 2021 PA 14, rigged with the same pvc rod holder that's served me well through 3 kayaks, $40 eva floor installed personally, a new and improved 7' x 1 1/2" mud anchor complete with paracord grip, and lastly a Lowrance 9" [...]
Chill Factor: Minimalist Challenge 2022
Sorry it's been a while. Website issues caused me to write and loose 3 articles. Yeah. Anyways, I scouted 3 of 4 Minimalist Zone launches at least 10 times, with numerous people including Wade Barbay, Josh Redd, Austin Johnson and Michael Ethridge. We caught fish everywhere but very few trout on the west side of the ship channel. I caught good quantities of trout, reds and bass, and even a flounder, in and around Lena Lagoon. In one situation, 4 species anchored in one spot. Everyone knows of my penchant [...]
Fall N Tide 2021: Squeaky Drive Spectacular
ThursdayGot home on schedule just after 5 and staged gear. Wife got home at 525 and backed the truck to the cart, gave me hugs and kisses, wished me good luck and took off with her sister. 20 minutes later I was getting on I10 and a few minutes later I was idling in afternoon traffic. What was running through my mind was all the scouting I'd done in the past few weeks and where I was going to fish. Decisions, decisions. I got out of Belle Chasse right around [...]
