What are we doing wrong?

[setty7]

Setty7,

I'm entering my third year of fishing, I feel your pain, man. Although its a challenge, fishing is fun and addictive (not to mention it can be pricey). The guys and gals on this forum are very helpful and a lot of fun. If you haven't already thought about it, check out the fishing club and it's tournaments.

When I first got into fishing I fished nearly each tourny but this has changed since I keep my boat at Sheild's. I fish the east and west flats now nearly every weekend. My wife and I are getting better. My daughter always out fishes us. Keep the faith, keep reading this forum and pay close attention to what works and doesn't when you go out. Move around and try different baits and tactics at different times.

Jigs and floats seem to be the most common late morning and througout the day. My wife only likes to use live shrimp and I generally stick with Gulp! and DOA products. I have way too many lures of all types and I don't have much luck with them. They are fun, however, when a fish hits them. I'm still figuring them out. YouTube has great videos. I also record nearly every fishing show on the air and read at least six magazines a month. One thing I keep talking about but haven't done yet is keeping a log.

Man, fishing is great!!!

haah thanks man!! How do I find out info on the flatts seminar?

[setty7]

worry less about what you read on forums or in magazines ...

That's blasphemy, Showboat.

Lots of good advice on this and your duplicate post Setty. Be willing to experiment with different lures, depths, tactics and you'll improve your catch rate.

And the flats seminar a few mentioned is the Flats Pro Seminar that Capt. Chuck Simpson and I teach every February at Shields Marina in St. Marks. It's designed for all skill levels from beginners to advanced and attendees leave with tips we've learned from our collective 25 years of guiding, plus lots of cool goodies. I'll post an announcement on here and in the Tallahassee Democrat when the next one is scheduled. We've sold out the last two years, however, so sign up early.

Tight lines,
Capt. Dave Lear

Thanks Capt. Dave, may try to get up with someone who knows st. marks and lanark really well and maybe they can help us out.

[setty7]

I agree with every one on here. I have missed both Pro Flats Seminars, due to that favorite four letter word. But I have heard nothing but great things. They do sell out/fill up quick, so be ready to sign up. I have been flats fishing from here to back home in Louisiana for 15 years. I have used soft baits, live baits, plugs, spoons and everything inbetween. When it is slow and all else fails. I tie on a Cajun Thunder with a leader of 18 to 24 " depending on depth, find some grass in about 4 to 6' of water, use a red 1/8 oz jig with a 'nuclear chicken' gulp shrimp and it produces almost every time. Like Momma said, patience is a virtue. Stick with it, it will happen. Good luck.

thanks man! where at in LA are you from? Got family in Thibidoux and Houma

[setty7]

If u come out the lighthouse slip and were 2 go straiggg out of the channel u would run into patties asliand a few miles down. I would suggest downloading google earth on a computer or phone. U can find all the islands and bars or whtever on that. Most of my spots were first found on maps then tried out

thanks, we got a garmin 541s, are the islands labeled on there?

[setty7]

Like what Pa said move around. I keep a kitchen timer on the boat and give a drift 30 minutes, then it's time to move if not catching any fish. If you catch fish on a drift then they stop biting, go back and make the same drift again.

will try that, thank you! should we try getting out there around like 8ish?

[setty7]

Do yourself a favor and contact a local guide. Pay for a day of fishing. When you get done you will have an understanding of how and where to fish. Should cost around 300 or 350 for the day I think. Worth the money for the lesson and you will have fish at the end of the day. Just my thought, the old saying the blind can't lead the blind means something. Go with someone who KNOWS the flats.

will do, went out with Seth Oaks 2 years ago and we tore up the trouts

[fishfalcon]

There is a lot of good advice in the previous posts. Trying different things is a smart plan until you can establish a pattern. I cannot tell you how helpful a fishing log is now that I have been fishing the coast for 7 years. I always note tides, wind and weather and what my catch had in its stomach as well as water clarity and depth and baits used. Now I read my entries from prior years before my trip down to help me formulate a game plan. Start with what worked before and if that fails, find the baitfish and stay in that area/water depth. ALWAYS have a live bait drifting behind the boat. Try to learn a new spot each time out. Try to remember that you are out there for the experience, fish from the store is much cheaper per pound, but it does not taste nearly as good.

[CaptReelThyme]

Setty7---Jefferson Parish, I usually fished Laffite(Barritaria Bay) the big lake, Salvador, Grand Isle, & Cocadrie

[Hit-n-Miss]

Like what Pa said move around. I keep a kitchen timer on the boat and give a drift 30 minutes, then it's time to move if not catching any fish. If you catch fish on a drift then they stop biting, go back and make the same drift again.

will try that, thank you! should we try getting out there around like 8ish?

I like to get there as early as possible especially when it's hot. Like others have mentioned spotty bottom tends to hold more fish. I mark spotty areas as I run to my spots to fish later. If they pan out I will name them. And as you move around vary your depth. Here lately some have found trout as deep as 12'.