06-09-2004, 04:02 PM
[cool][blue][size 1]I spent a while in New Orleans, several years ago. It is a fisherman's paradise. However, you can spend a lot of time floundering around unless you get some help from the locals. There's a lot of water and a lot of fish, but like everywhere, there are places and times when the fishing is more user friendly.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]If you want fresh water fishing, there are rivers, sloughs and lakes that have lots of bass (green trout) and crappies (sacalait) and big sunfish (brim). Most of the standard plastics and hardbaits will work. Flipping is especially good up under the weed cover and brushy shorelines for bass. Catch crappies and sunfish around structure...docks, trees, etc.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I did a lot of float tube fishing in the saltwater canals down below New Orleans, around Buras. Got lots of big redfish, seatrout and flounders fishing twisters and swimbaits that work on Utah's fishies too. Whites, yellows, chartreuse and smoke sparkle are good colors. On many occasions, in shallow water, they will pop topwater chuggers, poppers and buzzbaits.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]This time of year you need to be careful about snakes and gators if you go bank fishing...or tubing. There are some big eastern diamondbacks and lots of water moccasins. And, some of the gators are big enough to do some damage.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]If you get the time and have a few bucks, catch a charter out of Venice and go out fishing the gulf offshore, around the oil rigs. Lots of yellowfin tuna and some other worthwhile heavyweights too. Inshore fishing and surf fishing can be very productive on a lower budget.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Good luck on getting specific info in the area. There are baitshops and fishing-oriented businesses on every corner in some areas down there. Stop in and look at the pictures and maps and ask some questions. Also, take a rock to tie around your leg. Those big marsh mosquitoes are fierce. Even worse are the tiny "no-see-ums". They can cover your bare arms and make your skin feel like it is on fire when they all munch on you at the same time.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]One of my favorite fish down there were the small "marsh bass", in the brackish water canals down by Venice. On an incoming tide, you will catch them along with redfish and trout (weakfish), on the same lures. They are not big but the salt in the water seems to give them some extra spunk. Kinda like smallies on steroids.[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]If you want fresh water fishing, there are rivers, sloughs and lakes that have lots of bass (green trout) and crappies (sacalait) and big sunfish (brim). Most of the standard plastics and hardbaits will work. Flipping is especially good up under the weed cover and brushy shorelines for bass. Catch crappies and sunfish around structure...docks, trees, etc.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I did a lot of float tube fishing in the saltwater canals down below New Orleans, around Buras. Got lots of big redfish, seatrout and flounders fishing twisters and swimbaits that work on Utah's fishies too. Whites, yellows, chartreuse and smoke sparkle are good colors. On many occasions, in shallow water, they will pop topwater chuggers, poppers and buzzbaits.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]This time of year you need to be careful about snakes and gators if you go bank fishing...or tubing. There are some big eastern diamondbacks and lots of water moccasins. And, some of the gators are big enough to do some damage.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]If you get the time and have a few bucks, catch a charter out of Venice and go out fishing the gulf offshore, around the oil rigs. Lots of yellowfin tuna and some other worthwhile heavyweights too. Inshore fishing and surf fishing can be very productive on a lower budget.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Good luck on getting specific info in the area. There are baitshops and fishing-oriented businesses on every corner in some areas down there. Stop in and look at the pictures and maps and ask some questions. Also, take a rock to tie around your leg. Those big marsh mosquitoes are fierce. Even worse are the tiny "no-see-ums". They can cover your bare arms and make your skin feel like it is on fire when they all munch on you at the same time.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]One of my favorite fish down there were the small "marsh bass", in the brackish water canals down by Venice. On an incoming tide, you will catch them along with redfish and trout (weakfish), on the same lures. They are not big but the salt in the water seems to give them some extra spunk. Kinda like smallies on steroids.[/size][/#0000ff]
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