Blown Out in New Orleans
Canal Carp in New Orleans
My son and I were supposed to go on 2-day trip planned in New Orleans. Unfortunately, his flights got all mixed up, so I had to eat, drink and fish for both of us for two days. We will be taking a father/son trip soon back to NOLA to make up for it and eat/fish/drink twice as much.
We had planned on spending Saturday and Sunday fishing the area south of NOLA stalking Redfish, Speckled Trout and maybe a Black Drum.
When I landed it was stormy but when I got up Saturday morning, the area was cool but extremely windy especially south of us where we were heading. We were going to put in at Pointe a La Hache but the wind down there was blowing over 15-20 making sight fishing and casting really difficult, if not impossible. The guide I was fishing with called me early to say it didn’t make any sense to fish south as the conditions were awful. It was also too windy to head up to Lake Pontrchartrain for the same reasons.
He cancelled the day but still wanted me to fish a bit, so we headed to some of the local canals to try something a bit different and kill a few hours.
It was a great example of a guide being honest about conditions and calling off a trip. Most good guides will do this as they want you to have good days. It was an even better experience in that he wanted to still fish with me for awhile at no cost because he knew I had flown up there.
I hooked into this beautiful common carp on a 5-weight rod using a small crawfish pattern. These fish are quite finicky so hard to hook and I was happy to land this one so large. Decent size fish.
The color of the fish was incredible. You can see the color in the photo above but when you look closely you see such a unique pattern of its scales. Just a stunning looking fish even if such a common one. It’s scales really are a great pattern for a painting.
Lunch was oysters and jambalaya – with a few local beers.
Saturday night was spent eating steak and drinking Manhattan’s. Great walk home as two weddings came walking down the street. It’s a site to see a local group having a wedding march in NOLA – music, dancing – just spectacular fun.
NOLA is a special place even if you don’t fish. It has a culture and vibe like nowhere else in the US. You are in a different country. Incredibly nice people, historic sites and ridiculously good food and good times. I don’t think I have ever gone there without coming home 3-5 pounds heavier.