Speckled_Tiger
10-27-2011, 11:52 AM
A member suggested to me that it might be a good idea to post some info about a few newbie friendly kayak spots with some basic points of the where/when/how that can be easily located on the forum rather than having to search through old reports or the member map section. I came up with three areas that I personally fish that fit the bill. Hope this helps get some of the new members started. There’s a ton of information to a lot more areas on these boards.
Fourchon Public Launch
This is one of the easiest launches for a new kayaker. There are 5 well maintained boat ramps so you are never rushed, which is great. There is a toll bridge to get down there; see Geaux Pass (http://www.geauxpass.com) for information on how to pay for that as it is an unmanned toll. This is where I cut my teeth kayak fishing and is still the spot I go to most of the time. You won’t necessarily catch limits here but rarely have I come home without a few good meals for the wife and me. For live bait and ice, your best option is to stop at Terry’s Bait in Leeville (a club sponsor and supporter). Rather than taking the right onto the toll bridge, go just past and Terry’s is about a block on the right (cash only).
Heading north, this launch will give you access to interior bays and marshes full of deep water winter spots and shallow flats for stalking reds in the summer. Work all the grass lines a mud flats freely. There will be redfish cruising around searching for crabs and minnows. One important thing to remember in this area is that no cut too small to fish. The reds here have no problem swimming right through the grass to get to a protected pond. I’m not much of a trout fisherman but in the cooler months you can fish the intersections of the bigger canals and pond entrances. The current has created some deep holes with significant drop-offs that the trout seem to congregate to. When fishing these areas I like to fish under a clip-on cork (non-rattling in the cooler months) because there are LOTS of oysters on the bottom and I don’t like getting snagged. The only time I go to bottom fishing is when stalking shallow water for reds or points when specifically targeting flounder. I think top-water baits and bait casting reels are made by the devil to try to get me to give up fishing, just sayin’.
Heading south you get into a bit different surroundings as there are more mangrove trees rather than grass/brush but the same rules apply (admittedly, I usually go north simply because of personal preference due to less boat traffic). You can get to Bay Champagne to chase trout/reds on the sandy bottoms, drag across the beach to get to gulf/surf fishing, or if you are brave you can head the several miles to Bell’s Pass to go after some bulls (do this with caution and with a group. Things can get ugly fast real fast in the pass.) Also keep your head on a swivel when heading through the big channels as it’s a major thoroughfare for power boats heading out to the gulf, not all of them are so welcoming of kayakers “slowing them down and getting in the way”. Also a common newbie mistake make here is to stay too close to the rocks to get out of the way. Don’t get too close because then you end up getting what I call a rebound wake from the rocks. Getting rocked from both sides is a great way to become a member of our prestigious Aquatic Team.
All of the typical artificial baits work well here but for some reason when using live bait I have more luck on minnows rather than shrimp.
Directions from Baton Rouge (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Baton+Rouge,+LA&daddr=Lumcon+Rd&hl=en&sll=29.115641,-90.190812&sspn=0.00449,0.010461&geocode=FavB0AEdIE-R-inLdF8yZzgkhjEdmleR2_EjIQ%3BFZZCvAEd4smf-g&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&t=h&z=8)
Directions from New Orleans (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=New+Orleans,+LA&daddr=Lumcon+Rd&hl=en&sll=29.786365,-90.67969&sspn=2.2834,5.355835&geocode=FVoEyQEdFJ6h-illghGyVKQghjG00yJe6FsG2w%3BFZZCvAEd4smf-g&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&t=h&z=9)
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/tigerpride3183/Fourchon.jpg
Fourchon Public Launch
This is one of the easiest launches for a new kayaker. There are 5 well maintained boat ramps so you are never rushed, which is great. There is a toll bridge to get down there; see Geaux Pass (http://www.geauxpass.com) for information on how to pay for that as it is an unmanned toll. This is where I cut my teeth kayak fishing and is still the spot I go to most of the time. You won’t necessarily catch limits here but rarely have I come home without a few good meals for the wife and me. For live bait and ice, your best option is to stop at Terry’s Bait in Leeville (a club sponsor and supporter). Rather than taking the right onto the toll bridge, go just past and Terry’s is about a block on the right (cash only).
Heading north, this launch will give you access to interior bays and marshes full of deep water winter spots and shallow flats for stalking reds in the summer. Work all the grass lines a mud flats freely. There will be redfish cruising around searching for crabs and minnows. One important thing to remember in this area is that no cut too small to fish. The reds here have no problem swimming right through the grass to get to a protected pond. I’m not much of a trout fisherman but in the cooler months you can fish the intersections of the bigger canals and pond entrances. The current has created some deep holes with significant drop-offs that the trout seem to congregate to. When fishing these areas I like to fish under a clip-on cork (non-rattling in the cooler months) because there are LOTS of oysters on the bottom and I don’t like getting snagged. The only time I go to bottom fishing is when stalking shallow water for reds or points when specifically targeting flounder. I think top-water baits and bait casting reels are made by the devil to try to get me to give up fishing, just sayin’.
Heading south you get into a bit different surroundings as there are more mangrove trees rather than grass/brush but the same rules apply (admittedly, I usually go north simply because of personal preference due to less boat traffic). You can get to Bay Champagne to chase trout/reds on the sandy bottoms, drag across the beach to get to gulf/surf fishing, or if you are brave you can head the several miles to Bell’s Pass to go after some bulls (do this with caution and with a group. Things can get ugly fast real fast in the pass.) Also keep your head on a swivel when heading through the big channels as it’s a major thoroughfare for power boats heading out to the gulf, not all of them are so welcoming of kayakers “slowing them down and getting in the way”. Also a common newbie mistake make here is to stay too close to the rocks to get out of the way. Don’t get too close because then you end up getting what I call a rebound wake from the rocks. Getting rocked from both sides is a great way to become a member of our prestigious Aquatic Team.
All of the typical artificial baits work well here but for some reason when using live bait I have more luck on minnows rather than shrimp.
Directions from Baton Rouge (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Baton+Rouge,+LA&daddr=Lumcon+Rd&hl=en&sll=29.115641,-90.190812&sspn=0.00449,0.010461&geocode=FavB0AEdIE-R-inLdF8yZzgkhjEdmleR2_EjIQ%3BFZZCvAEd4smf-g&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&t=h&z=8)
Directions from New Orleans (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=New+Orleans,+LA&daddr=Lumcon+Rd&hl=en&sll=29.786365,-90.67969&sspn=2.2834,5.355835&geocode=FVoEyQEdFJ6h-illghGyVKQghjG00yJe6FsG2w%3BFZZCvAEd4smf-g&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&t=h&z=9)
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/tigerpride3183/Fourchon.jpg