What a special experience!

I’m so grateful to Concord Outfitters for letting me and one of my best friends, Steve Campbell, go on their Louisiana redfish trip. I don’t think I’ve ever been to such a unique fishery both in terms of its expansiveness and the good chance of seeing enormous fish in shallow water.

Steve and I arrived a day early in New Orleans and had a nice dinner and a morning after filled with visiting museums. We also walked down Bourbon Street, which was alive with many college students enjoying the last bits of their winter break. Intermixed were some adults out for a good time.

Quite the scene! One older couple was dressed up as royalty, complete with crowns, purple capes, and leggings. They carried scepters.

We met up the next day with our group, which Casey Breeds headed, and we drove south after a po’ boy run. The scenery became more and more rural as we sped on. We crossed the mighty Mississippi and came to a new world: channels filled with shrimp boats, houses on stilts, and the occasional retail store.

We arrived at our lodging and met the lady who served as the cook and host, who was warm, friendly, and always busy with something. Our rooms were spotless, and each person had their own private bathroom and shower. Uniquely, the lodge featured a fully-stocked bar with all sorts of liquor, beer, and wine. No BYOB needed, and it was a buffet of alcohol. Disney for adults.

The group was convivial and kind. Casey generously checked on people’s gear and handed out some flies that he had made. These turned out to be absolute bangers.

The next morning, we had a manly breakfast of eggs, Jimmy Dean sausage, homemade biscuits, and ample coffee before we headed to the marina to meet our guides. These men worked hard and knew the fishery cold. We fished enormous bays and grass-lined channels. Think of the North Shore or Cape Cod estuaries, but multiply them by one million. The scope and span were unbelievable.

Day 1 was particularly tough with cold, cloudy weather and a bracing wind. Only a fraction of the boats connected with fish, as they were hard to spot and there were many angler errors. The guides poled us mightily across the shallows and through the wind.

Shot windows were only about five to 25 seconds long. The guides called out distance and direction. I learned quickly that redfish have horrible eyesight and that you need to land your fly within a three-foot circle. That the fish moved and changed direction constantly meant that getting tight was a huge accomplishment. Takes sometimes were gentle and at times aggressive. The day reminded me of steelhead fishing in Pulaski: long stretches of boredom interspersed with occasional moments of utter bedlam.

Each day, each angler had about three to seven legitimate shots. I think a decent caster connected 1/3 of the time. So, it was a lot of boating, poling, and constant scanning of water. When at the bow, I always had to be on the ready in case a red appeared close to the boat, which they often did.

Day 2 was ideal: no wind, bright sun. Our boat saw perhaps 100 black drum. Known as “swamp donkeys,” they fight OK and reek. Our guides relented to fish for them only when things were slow.

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And, the redfish.

It took time for me to spot them, as wind chop, glare, and general anxiety made them invisible. But once they came into view, they were luminous, large orange fish that moved gracefully. And they fought like crazy. Some fights were 10 minutes long even with ample side pressure and tight drag. The good news is that we fished mostly with nine-weights and had on 30 to 40 lb. fluoro. We really cranked down to a rod’s butt to apply pressure.

My best fish came on Day 2: a beautiful creature that taped at 37”. Our guide guessed that it was around 20 lbs. I couldn’t believe its power and how it shimmered in the sun. A black drum was also quite hefty and put up a decent fight until it became like reeling in a sack of potatoes. A king cake after another amazing dinner was quite the treat with which to close out a great day. And it was fun to see the Patriots make it to the AFC Championship.

Day 3 had variable weather and was challenging, but the guides did a great job of positioning the boats at the right time when we were within casting distance of good fish and so that we (mostly) could make forehand casts. Steve caught a nice redfish that day, and I managed to get a decent one.

We celebrated with a final dinner: fried oysters, jambalaya, white beans and pork, and blackened wahoo topped with crayfish étouffée. One of the guests had a gift for making a smooth Old Fashioned. For dessert, we had homemade brownies, banana bread, a birthday cake made from scratch, and plenty of king cake leftovers.

Concord Outfitters’ trips are always gems: great trip coordinators from the fly shop, nice anglers, amazing guides, and unique fisheries. I learned a lot on this trip and was able to see some great fish. I most definitely would come back again if the stars align.