Burp; Yawn; I had my fish- fry

Well, I really did it: first time in my life I bought fish. We celebrated Mom's and Baby Sister's birthdays ( and Earth Day too, I guess). The store- bought catfish were good too... and cheaper and a whole bunch easier and more convenient than the ones I caught. As it turned out, I would have had plenty catfish without the purchase. I could have also thawed some other fish from the freezer so I wouldn't run short, but they were not large ones and I didn't know how well the bony game fish would go over.

I was pleased with the outcome... thanks, sisters for your marvelous dishes. I also fixed Corn Maque Choux and some black- eyed peas perked up with a hint of oregano. Fish fries often include hush puppies and french fries, but that seems an overload of fried stuff; more grease than we need. Also, fix- ahead side dishes released me from the deep- fryer... all I had to cook was the fish.

Fishing Report

Here' s my boy with a catfish. The bass and brim are still not cooperating with me. I have made the threats... multiple times. Well, I finally broke down and set a trotline; took my son to Butte La Rose after work last night; got off at 9:00. I set a short line out just after midnight, ran it once during the night and again at first light. It's good for a kid to learn about such things; trotlines don't seem very sporting but can be productive when needed. I suffer no great moral pangs about line- fishing; just don't feel it confers the bragging rightsI seem to relish; it's a food- gathering technique. I much prefer to take my fish on fly tackle, and pursue them almost exclusively by that method. I have a sense of guilt about my other old fishing gear being neglected and unloved, but I guess everyone must make choices and compromises.

This morning, we cast bass bugs and and tried a variety of smaller flies but only caught a couple small brim.

Happy Easter, everybody

I had a pleasant visit to City Park Lake this morning; slipped over there early for a few casts. I put a new fly line on my reel yesterday and just had to try it out. I had won the new line in a raffle at the flyfishing conclave and it's a fancy one. I never would have bought such an extravagance for myself and it turned out to be very satisfactory. My Dad liked double- tapered fly lines, but I never cared for the ones I tried and was skeptical about this one. It is a double- taper, super- premium, high- floating, teflon- impregnated, 7- weight wiz- bang, high- price job. Well, it handles nicely, floats plenty high, it's limp and lays out straight; those are particular areas that my previous trials fell short. This line is a little heavy in the belly, but that loads my little fast- tip rod well, and seems to add a bit of wind- bucking punch, so I'll make up my mind to like that heavy feel. There in my City Park new- product- testing laboratory, I found good performance with several sizes of flies, wet and dry. I even gave the line a stretch- test on a nice little bass, about a two- pounder.

Took my boy to Butte La Rose yesterday and we caught nothing. Nobody else was catching fish either, and I hear the same from other locations. A few fish hit our flies, but they were very small. Seems the bigger fish are not moving into the shallows and edge structure... I don't know!

River trail at Tickfaw

These signs are at the far end of the park... at the canoe put- in. The proclaimed 17- mile wilderness trail seems a long daytrip to me, and I don't think they will let you camp (I may need to ask). I'm amazed that the river winds that much!

Trail damage at Tickfaw

One of the fallen trees had been cut off of the boardwalk. Another forest giant, toes- turned- up, lies in the background. There is surprisingly little litter on the forest floor.

Pretty morning at Tickfaw State Park, but no fishing

I took my canoe this morning for a visit to the Tickfaw river. I'm trying to catch some fish to fry, and Tickfaw was my choice to avoid crowds and powerboats and stay out of the gusty winds that have been so prevalent. It was a lovely morning, cool and clear and low humidity. When I got to the park entrance, they told me that I wouldn't be able to reach the river. The water in Gum Bayou was too low to access the river, and there were branches and treetops from the storms blocking the way. I spent a couple of hours walking the trails and boardwalks. The trees are leafing out and blooming; the birds are really busy. I walked out to the canoe launch at the far end of the park; the river was low and very clear. The understory was relatively free of fallen limbs, but there were many large trees down. I watched some hawks for a while... some kind of kite, I think. There were three of them, and I couldn't quite figure out the situation. The female was preening and calling from a high perch and the male flew in several times and mounted her. The third one looked similar to the female and just sat there, in a nearby tree. Perhaps it was a juvenile; I am doubtful whether that male would have several mates at the same time. I will try to post a few pictures later... still can't make them work from the home computer.

Atchafalaya explorations

I went back to Bay Begnard... just had to have a look at that cut into Bayou Loin. I believe that this picture is the connecting water. Notice the "gate guardian" perched on that snag. I didn't remember that blue herons were so brightly colored... guess it's their breeding plumage. I saw lots of them! The garfish were making huge splashes all around me, mostly under bushes and limbs. They must be spawning, too. I saw a few small sacks of eggs attached to underwater sticks, but not the large balls of them... different species, perhaps. I was excited to locate that cut, but it was choked with a mass of grass that I couldn't get through; exotic species are the bane of the Basin. There was a likely- looking campsite right at the juncture; I must check the maps, but I think it may be OK to camp there.

Nobody was catching fish; there were lots of people partying and boat- riding... even back in my "secret" spots. The gusty wind was really troublesome, although I even took extra gear along for ballast. I gave up the idea of spending the night and came on back to town. The Interstate was a parking lot again, stretching west of the river... same as last trip... maybe that's a pattern and my forays should be eastward or south. I had sworn off fishing the Basin on weekends, but make exceptions because I need the fish. I'm glad to have Daylight Savings Time back; now I can launch some weekday ventures. All things considered, it was an interesting trip, if not very productive.

Springtime has come to the Tunica Hills

The countryside is really blooming since my last visit. The roadsides are alive with color of wildflowers. Purple vetch has a pretty hue and I especially like the stretches covered with dense stands of red clover. The air holds a heavy perfume of everything blooming. The woods are filling out with new leaves, with white petals and catkins scattered throughout. I like the autumn, but the resurgence of new life in the spring always amazes me. I was on a quick mission this time and can't play, but this has really fired up my spring- fever.

Fishing time is near

I gave it up and returned to town. The wind was too much and unlikely to abate, but luckily, the rains didn't materialize. The campground was loud with blaring music; I could listen to cajun, country, oldies, rap, or various mixtures. I had expected to overnight there. With rain and blustery conditions likely, I had not taken gear for a wilderness sleep. Next trip, I'll allow for alternatives. I tested a half- dozen hooks on catfish lines; lost the bait but caught nothing. A fly was difficult to cast in that wind, but I gave it a noble effort. Every time the gusts would die down, I would venture out again to try fishing. I had several strikes on both wet flies and poppers, but didn't catch any. Nobody else was successful either, and that usually leads them to excessive boat- riding. I'm hoping another week may put us into prime fishing.

I was pleased to get cell phone reception from the boat launch; I was able to send the blog- post you see below and also to make a call.

Made it to Butte La Rose. Too windy. May set trotline.

Potential paddle- trip

• Camp- 30 17' 26.00" N, 91 44' 20.53" W
• Cut to B. Begnard- 30 18' 00.00" N, 91 44' 11.00" W
• Begnard to Loin- 30 17' 29.81" N, 91 43' 28.09" W
• No- name lake- 30 17' 26.38" N, 91 44' 02.54" W

These are proposed waypoints, taken from the LouisianaMap program. The Yellow path shows the route from launch to the end of Bay Begnard. I especially want to explore that cut leading from Bay Begnard into Bayou Loin. I have never been been through there and was unaware of it until I saw it on a satelite image (didn't have those back in the good ol' days). I have been in Bayou loin, but came in from the Henderson direction in someone's power boat. That bayou name is pronounced "lwen", by the way, and it translates as "far away". Seems a good place for me to visit.

Looking at the map, it occurred to me that one could follow my orange trace, wind through that maze of bayous, portage a couple of times, enter the Atchafalaya near I-10, portage into Bayou Larose, and return to the put- in, making a nice looped trip. I'll have to think about camping options; That's probably a full two- day trip.

Hope to camp in this area

Here is the cut that runs into Begnard Bay. I would like to camp somewhere in this area for easy access. I would also like to explore access from the South end of Begnard, heading East into Bayou Loin. That links into many more fingers of water, but campsites are doubtful in that area. There may also be a hiden lake Southwest of Begnard...white spot on the map. I'd like to check that out, too.

Here is a test email post. From cell phone.

Better results with new phone

Oh Boy, I got a new camping spot!

I checked with the state land office and learned that area I admired is, indeed, open to public access. I' ll take my fly rod, set some lines, and spend a night there soon.

Still experimenting with audio from my cell phone

Atchafalaya swamp trip

I took my boy paddling today, parked and launched at Uncle Dick Davis' campground. I've camped there and fished for a lot of years. There has been renovation of the campground; restrooom rebuilt, new water well, and RV hookups upgraded. Well, I always found a spot to tuck the tent into, but would prefer to be further from civilization. We paddled down to Bay Begnard, wondering about camping possibilities. There is some state land there, so I will investigate further. That hidden lake was always one of my favorite fishing holes. I caught my largest fly- rod bass there. It was isolated and quiet. There was a ditch one could pole or paddle a canoe through to the lake. If water was low, it would require a portage. Now, however, so many power boats have been through, so that the ditch is wide and deep. Now there is boat traffic. It's just not enjoyable to fish public waters on the weekends. Anyway, it was too late in the day and too windy to fish, but we made a few fruitless casts around the stumps and tree- tops.

Waypoints from Butte La Rose trip

Obvious error -101 ft N30.38227 W90.64846

State land 2 ft N30.28450 W91.73577

Landing -3ft N30.30250 W91.73522

Ramp 12ft N30.30167 W91.73523

Parking 11ft N30.26965 W91.70692

What a beautiful day!

The weather was marvelous today, cool and lots of sunshine. Today was Red Stick Day, our fly- fishing club's annual shindig. I saw a talk on marsh fishing in Terrebonne Parish (I did much field work there in my former research- life). Also, there were presentations about fishing Yellowstone; beautiful scenery and good fishing. The function was held at Waddill Refuge; I took a few pictures and will edit them in later.

I finally got an audio test to post from my cell phone; I'm anxious to play with that feature and may soon speak to you from who- knows- where.

Test audio post

Flocks are blooming in the woods

I always enjoy seeing the bright purple splashes scattered around the shady nooks. Spring is really coming on, now. We are having a particularly warm day, today. Birds are singing, bushes are greening, and I notice there is a little more daylight in the evenings when I leave work. I'm getting Spring Fever, ready to go fishing, camping, playing in the sunshine.