Archive

Fishing

It’s that time of year again; time to revisit the fishing trips of the year. 2011 was a tough year to follow, but I’ve got to admit 2012 was pretty awesome. From cutthroat to swordfish, I’d do it all over again if I could. Plans are already coming together that might have me pretty busy through Spring; fishing more new water, targeting all kinds of new fish. I’m definitely looking forward to what’s in store for 2013. So, here’s to the new year and all the exciting possibilities that come with it. First a look at 2012, click on any picture below to read the accompanying report.

January – I didn’t do a whole lot of fishing in January, we moved into our new house that month. The fishing I did do was in the neighborhood pond where I caught a few nice bass and my first catfish on the fly.

IMGP6682

February – I went public with this blog back in February and finally got back on the water in the kayak for Mardi Gras. Had a pretty good trip, catching redfish, sheepshead, and black drum.

IMGP6752

March – The bass fishing in the neighborhood really heated up in March, started catching more bluegill as well. Spent my birthday over at Hodges Gardens and made the first wade trip of the year for spotted bass. Squeezed in a day of fishing while on a work trip to OBX and some marsh fishing in preparation for Paddlepalooza, which was March 31st. March was a very busy month.

IMGP6851

IMGP6942

IMGP6916

IMGP6974

IMGP6965

IMGP6988

April – April Fool’s Day was a great day for reds and drum, but the highlight of the month was the swordfishing trip I went on over Easter break, it was pretty wild. Finished out April with an IFA tournament and JazzFest  down in New Orleans.

IMGP7015

IMGP7051

IMGP7103

IMGP7117

May – May was a pretty diverse month, starting with a trip to the marsh with Pops, the reds weren’t so cooperative but the drum were. Next up were the cats in the neighborhood pond. Then I made a couple of wade trips for spotted bass and hit a private farm pond with a neighbor. Finished the month in North Georgia on Memorial Day weekend wearing out the wild trout on dries.

IMGP7152

IMGP7156

IMGP7189

IMGP7255

IMGP7260

IMGP7274

IMGP7330

IMGP7350

June – Fished a good bit locally in June, sticking to the neighborhood and local ditches looking for roughfish. Made a wade trip later in the month and found the longear in full spawning regalia.

IMGP7423

IMGP7444

IMGP7467

I’ve been participating in something called the “One fish per month challenge” on the Southeast Fly Fishing Forum for a few years now. It’s a fairly simple challenge that just requires you catch a fish with a fly rod each month of the year. It’s not too hard to keep up with as long as the weather and the fish cooperate. After all I can usually find/make time to fly fish at least once a month. Last year it evolved into trying for a different species each month of the year. I made it to December, then couldn’t catch something different, what a bummer. This year I was able to accomplish my goal though, so below is 12 months of 12 different species on the fly. Not too many exotics this year, shoot, everything except the coldwater trout were caught in Louisiana, but that’s a testament to the diversity we have here. Now that this is accomplished, I’ll have to mix it up next year, maybe a different fresh and salt species each month. Or how about a different species every day of one month – that would be tough. I’m open to suggestions….

January – Channel Catfish

IMGP6688

February – Black Drum

IMGP6756

March – Largemouth Bass

IMGP6921

April – Spotted Gar

IMGP7029

May – Brown Trout

IMGP7350

June – Longear Sunfish

IMGP7448

July – Spotted Seatrout

IMGP7479

August – Sheepshead

IMGP7540

September – Greenback Cutthroat Trout

IMGP7693

October – Sand Seatrout

IMG_0311

November – Red Drum

IMGP7819

December – Green Sunfish

IMG_0437