Author Topic: wade fishing in south louisiana (Read 3437 times)

williamlayton · « **on:** February 14, 2003, 11:49:37 PM »

does the south la. coast support-ie physically, as in not muddy-wade fishing. thats about the only kind i really enjoy and i sure do like south louisiana. specifics would be appreciated.
blessings

acearch72 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2003, 05:00:41 AM »

You can wade fish along the coast proper from Grand Isle to Fourchon and drive there in your vehicle.

Further east and west you have to have a boat, but you can wade fish around all of the barrier type islands such as east and west timberlier which have hard sand bottoms. Any inshore island generally have mud bottoms which isn't good for wade fishing.

williamlayton · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2003, 01:13:38 AM »

thanx for the reply- i was unaware the timbiliers was wadable. some of the area out of new iberia, over west of the salt mines, looks real good. im out of a boat rightnow but,recently,was over there looking at a roughneck, they have a dealer here in houston. it's a well built aluminum(sp) flat bottom that i'm really thinking about. i think it's a good ticket for the money. have you had, or any of your friends for that matter, had any experience with them?
blessings

acearch72 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2003, 07:32:01 AM »

I have not heard of that particular boat. Most of the aluminum custom built ones around here are Scully, Hanko or Gravois.

I know several guides here that fish the Gravois but they draw a liitle too much water for me. I prefer fishing in the marsh in shallow water.

As far as wade fishing the Timbliers, many do it but remember you've got to have a boat to get there. The only place you don't need a boat is between Grand Isle and Fourchon. I will say that there are many fish caught this area every year. Mostly trout in the spring/summer.

williamlayton · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2003, 01:15:32 PM »

i'd like to check out those boat builders if you can supply some contact info.
the roughneck is actually a commercial boat--basically custom built- that is made around houma. i too like a shallow draft-sounds as if we fish the same kind of water--- there are several very good shallow draft flats boats built in south texas for flats fishing. they are a little expensive but really nice. mickey gilley's son builds one to die for--but i would have die to to get the money for it--think i'll stick to the al. with a big motor and a four blade prop. oh yea- th motor does not have to have more hp than my truck :lol: :lol:
blessings

acearch72 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2003, 02:26:18 PM »

Strange that I have not heard of this company you're talking about. I'm from Houma.

If you are watching your pennies, don't even bother with the companies I mentioned. They are going to be much more than comparable fiberglass boats from places like Travis Marine or Boat Stuff.

But in case you want to inquire, both Scully and Hanko are Morgan City. You can get numbers from directory assistance I'm sure. I don't know where Gravois is located, but they are big/heavy boats that I'm pretty sure are expensive. All of them that I've seen need more HP than your truck.

It's hard to beat a shallow draft fiberglass hull for fishing this area's marshes.

williamlayton · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2003, 01:49:34 PM »

i just hate to pay 8-10k for a hull-and of course those are the ones i like. the roughnecks i have seen are not that expensive-more along the price of an allwell which is still a consideration.
i don't want to get back into a large heavy, decked out glass boat.
the rough neck- i was there several years ago-is made down in your parts and they can put you in a plane flatbottom that appears to be very rugged for some good prices-around 6k if i remember correctly and that keeps you in the 115 - 150 hp range for a motor. that should include a console, 25 gal tank and some outfitting.
i'm going to keep your names handy when i come down pretty soon and see if i can find them-been saying i was coming down for about two mos.-but it's always something.
blessings

acearch72 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2003, 02:22:50 PM »

Try these:

http://hankos.com/

http://www.boatshoppermagazine.com/manufacturers/manufacturers.asp?category=Aluminum%20Boats

http://www.topboatlinks.com/catagory.asp?Category=Aluminum%20Boats

williamlayton · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2003, 07:14:54 AM »

i agree-the same here with a couple of exceptions. the last boat was a good v boat and it worked well in the swells. i got rid of it for the reason it was a v and it was very poor where i like to fish.
the areas i will fish the most are areas and bays protected by barrier islands-even those larger bays, galveston/trinity and matagorda, can be accessed pretty easily while being protected. two or three miles across are rough but can be done pretty easily if you take your time (15/20 mins.) and if you do not choose to put in behind the island.
it is for the fact of finding a boat that will take me where i fish the most and not an open water boat. now if i fished primarily where you live the considerations would change somewhat. your situation is a little more difficult than mine. your bays down there are largely unprotected. there are some islands but not to the extent of the barrier islands farther south. you are more open and exposed to the gulf--good and bad here.
i still have a longing to try some of your water though. it is so pretty and i really like the folks. got some cousins in grosse tete, false river and st francisville. they came there from an uncle of mine who moved to baton rouge after wwll.
am enjoying the chat and hope to hear more.
blessings

acearch72 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2003, 07:27:16 AM »

Ken,

You are absolutely right. We have some 18' flat aluminum boats at our lease behind Golden Meadow. If the wind comes up you can't even cross the small bays without major pain.

If you want to be flexible and be able to fish where you want without major compromises, a good fiberglass boat with some Vee is best.

I personally have a Bay Stealth and it's the best there is in my opinion. I can go offshore if I want, and I can get into 12" of water if I want. We have a Pathfinder company boat at the lease, and I like the Bay Stealth better.

Of course, they have got pretty proud of all of the fiberglass Bay Boats. Travis Marine sells a lot of FishMaster boats. I hear they are pretty good with a reasonable price.

I used to have a ProMaster before my Bay Stealth. It was the old style hull form without much vee. I hated it. The new ProMasters with vee seem to look ok, but I don't know anyone who fishes them.

acearch72 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2003, 05:17:16 PM »

William,

You should come down and give it a shot over here. I've got a friend that has a guide service. He has almost 20,000 acres of marsh plus the whole GOM, so no shortage of places to fish. Has accomodations on the lease. Think he charges about $400 per day per boat and will take 3, maybe 4 in a boat. Break the cost up and its not expensive and pretty much a certainty to catch lots of reds and/or trout, dependant on the time of year. He also can sell day license so that's only about $5 I think. If you are interested drop me a PM and I will tell you how to get in touch.

williamlayton · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2003, 10:53:56 PM »

the bay stealth is a fine boat-drool, drool-a friend down the street has a 20'er. i still think i'm gonna look for a 18-20' flat botton-it wil fit my needs much better. boats are kind of like guns- there is not a perfect one made for every condition-and everybody has an opinion, which incidentially changes from time to time.
your suggestion for a guide is well recieved. that is generally what i do before i fish a new body of water.
what i have done in the past, and has proved profitable-if spending money is ever profitable-is to hire a guide and not fish, just have him show me the lay of the land, so to speak. that way i get to know the botton, channels, ins and outs so to speak. once i furnished my boat and he just guided me around- that was a good idea. seems i learn more area that way and then when i'm out alone i can manuever around.
i'm gonna get i touch before i come down-soon i hope- a maybe you can give me some directions to the folk you discussed-the boat people i mean.
spring is almost-well it really is here already.
your info has been most helpful and i really appreciete the help-we will keep in touch-my rods got dust on em and i need two new reels.
have you done any good this winter?

acearch72 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2003, 04:42:33 PM »

William,

Mine is a 24 ft'er with a 225 Merc.

Don't think you could find a better all around boat.

Unfortunately I've been so busy with work this winter that I didn't get to do any fishing at all. Took a couple of trips up to my place in Miss. to do a little whitetail hunting and took winter fishing off.

Should get back into it as soon as spring patterns gets started.

Just send me a message when you want to come and I'll set you up with a good guide.

williamlayton · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2003, 06:54:34 AM »

hey guys--well i was wrong again-dang it all- the boat i was talking about, the roughneck, isn't that. it is a boatwright. it is jobbed out in houma--the hull that is-and put together here in houston. well anyway i thought i was right but wasn't. great boat but they are more expensive than i remember being quoted before, so i'm back to a used hull if i can find what i want--no hurry here, just sometimes this year.
the reason for the post is to ask yall a question. has anybody here heard of, has or know anybody who has a tohatsu (sp) outboard? the guy at boatwright has on on his rig. he does'nt sell motors. he said it was the oldest outboard manuf. in japan. he has it on his rig because it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles but it just works--it's also 2k cheaper than others. opinions please.
blessings