Get Signed Up for Louisiana Marshes Trip

Not much time left to sign up for the Louisiana Marshes Trip with our hosts the Contraband Fly Casters (CFC) out of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The trip is scheduled for October 30th and 31st, 2015.

We will be in search of big Reds in the marshes off Lake Calcasieu. Jeff Ferguson, a member of the CFC who has a house on Lake Calcasieu, went out the other morning and whacked ’em again bringing home a cooler full of Reds for the fish fry Friday evening the 30th. Jeff continued to catch and release several more before calling it a day. He assured me the fish are still there although they have moved back deeper in the marshes. I hope they stick around for a couple more weeks.
There is an article outlining the trip in the WindKnots so I’m not going to rewind that here. There were a couple of questions at the last monthly meeting, of the Texas FlyFishers, that I’ll address.

We have a guest house rented that is nearly full. Those fishermen who trailer boats for this trip will have first option on the guest house accommodations (sorry we need the boats). Others will be on a first come first serve basis and that holds true for boat space as well. If there is enough interest I will try to obtain another guest house but they go fast so get signed up ASAP. If that fails there are motels a few miles away but it’ll be more expensive.

There will be the fish fry on Friday night, courtesy of our hosts the CFC, but all other meals, drinks, snacks, etc. are your responsibility. Probably, it would be a good idea to bring a six-pack or your favorite libation to share at the fish fry but that’s entirely up to you.

There are plans in the works for a power point presentation on fishing the Big Lake as Lake Calcasieu is referred to by the locals. Hopefully, this will give you some alternatives if the Reds have left the marshes. A Captain’s Meeting and boat assignments will follow the presentation.
Although this is a fly fishing trip nobody is going to be a damn purist out there. Bring some conventional tackle with you if you’d like. Believe me when I say, the Cajuns would rather Catch and Grill than Catch and Release.

Check online for length and creel limits – they’re different than Texas. The same holds true for your fishing license. You can’t just go to a local bait shop or Academy and buy your license. You need to look into it NOW not when you get to Louisiana. Don’t quote me on it but I think a one-day Louisiana saltwater fishing license is $17.50. In addition to that you must also obtain a one-day basic fishing license which is $5.00. For Texas seniors, who are 65 years and older, there is a Reciprocal Agreement with the State of Louisiana. A Texas resident, 65 years and older, may fish throughout Louisiana’s public waters – both freshwater and saltwater – if they possess any type valid Special Texas Resident Fishing License for Seniors issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Want to sign up? Got questions? Call or e-mail me~ Skip Donovan
skipdonovan1(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
c: 713-822-(zero)(zero)69