All in Fishing
Years ago, many anglers refused to believe redfish, or red drum, would hit lures. When bass anglers fishing in coastal systems began catching redfish on almost anything they threw, many freshwater enthusiasts turned their attention to redfish, also called channel bass.
Everyone hears stories about novice anglers who land lunkers on their first fishing adventures. Sure, anyone can catch a massive fish on any cast, but to consistently catch trophy speckled trout takes work, patience and perseverance waiting long hours for that one big bite.
Whether you prefer fishing in inches deep water, or fishing out of sight of land, few angling experiences compare with seeing a fish in the water, casting to it, manipulating the lure, and watching the fish take.
It might come as a shock to the average tourist, but the real Florida does not come equipped with roller coaster-like rides and mice on steroids. If you're in central Florida and you want to see the real deal, simply drive to Titusville and visit the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR).
When we say Venice, Louisiana is the end of the earth, we mean it. There is a Dollar General, a few gas stations, and two marinas that boast some of the most diverse and bountiful hauls in North America, most especially known for Yellowfin Tuna.
It was the most unsightly glob of bait I’ve ever seen on a hook. First, two nightcrawlers were skewered on a large, circle hook, forming a sort of worm ball, then a trio of frozen rainbow shiners were added. According to the captain, “Sometimes the fish want worms, other times they want minnows, so we’ll just feed ‘em both.”
What? A week’s fishing in Alaska for $1,000? Impossible… but here’s how. When I was a young man I camped with my grandfather for an entire summer in Alaska, and he taught me to be frugal. Often, he would stop along the highway to pick up a blown innertube or a small plank, prompting my question, “What in the world will you do with that?”
In Louisiana, waterfowl hunters have seen a continued decline in recent years. The cause? Well, that’s a topic for another conversation where opinions vary from state-to-state, and from top-to-bottom of the Mississippi Flyway.
Ask largemouth bass enthusiasts to name their bucket list waters, and many would undoubtedly rank Toledo Bend Reservoir high on that list. The largest reservoir in the South covers about 185,000 acres. It runs 65 miles along the old Sabine River channel spanning the Louisiana-Texas line.
Other than slick-talking car salesmen and pretty girls selling raffle tickets, people don’t often “put one over on me” - especially, youngsters. I have nine younger brothers and sisters. But a ten-year-old nailed me good one day after fishing with me on Lake Michigan.
You will find the largest wilderness in the southeastern United States in Everglades National Park. Brackish marsh, tidal creeks of all sizes, saltwater ponds, expansive bays, breathtaking beaches, grass flats, oyster bars, mazes of islands, the open Gulf of Mexico—the range of habitats here will astonish you.
