FLY FISH LOUISIANA
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FLY FISHING LOUISIANA FOR REDFISH - NEW ORLEANS FLY FISHING GUIDE
LA Tails is a Louisiana fly fishing guide service specializing in saltwater sight fishing the inshore marshes from New Orleans to Venice for redfish, black drum, sheepshead, jack crevalle, and sharks. Although we focus on fly fishing, we don’t turn our nose up at conventional gear, and are happy to take you out on a light tackle spin fishing charter. The Louisiana marsh is a true sportsman’s paradise where you can cast to happily feeding fish without another boat in sight. Book your adventure today.
What time of year is best to fly fish for redfish in Louisiana?
Fly fishing for redfish in Louisiana is a year round affair, so success depends more on the conditions than the season.
Sight fishing is best when the wind lays down and the sun comes out, which can happen any time of year.
Fall:
Fall is the most legendary time in Louisiana fishing. As the temperature drops, large schools of Bull Reds begin to leave their spawning grounds in The Gulf and head for the interior marsh where they will spend the winter. During this same time, the white shrimp are migrating from the interior marsh to The Gulf, unwittingly on a collision course with thousands of hungry redfish. Where these two migrations meet, pandemonium ensues, and kicks off an action packed fishing season.
Schools of Bull Reds can be seen blitzing on shrimp from quite a distance, sending them into the air and attracting frigates, gulls and pelicans looking for an easy meal.
Winter:
As fall progresses into winter, the water drops out, the schools disband and the fish become more solitary. The shrimp have more or less left the marsh, so the reds turn their attention to finfish hiding out in the only available cover: oysters. This is the time to catch a truly massive fish as they prowl the shallow oyster flats looking for their next meal - My biggest fish are always caught in winter.
Another winter perk is the prevalence of huge black drum. They lumber along those same flats eating oysters and waving their broad black tails in the air, practically beckoning you over to them. When you hook up to a black drum, settle in, because he’s going to dog you.
Spring:
Early spring is a windy time down here in South Louisiana but the fishing can be phenomenal. March is by far the windiest month of the year, but there are plenty of great days in between blows. Bull reds school up at the barrier islands and provide all day topwater popper action - It’s absolute insanity.
March, April and early May bring “the crawlers” - redfish slithering in water so skinny their backs stick out and can be seen plain as day. These crawlers work along the grass lines devouring shrimp as they go. You can often see one coming down the bank tens of yards away, giving you plenty of time to make the perfect cast...or psych yourself out and completely blow it. If its too windy for the islands, I’m fishing crawlers.
Summer:
In the early summer you will find me fishing in shallow grassy ponds chasing slot fish where the water is clear and the fish are plentiful. Due to the freshwater influence from the Mississippi River, these ponds are home to shrimp, crabs, bluegill, bass, crawfish, and a variety of other redfish forage making for fat and happy fish that turn a beautiful golden/copper you just have to see to believe.
Later in the summer, when the weather is hot, the fishing gets hotter. Bull reds and crevalle jacks begin to school along the outer fringes of the marsh starting as early as July, increasing in numbers as the summer progresses.
FISH FROM A TOP OF THE LINE POLING SKIFF
WITH LOUISIANA LOCAL CAPT. WILL DEPASS.
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