Anyone try Louisiana freshwater fly fishing?

[LA CrappieMaster]

My father-in-law has been trying to get me to start doing some fly fishing. Anyone have success with it in North Louisiana? He claims that is the way to go for bream and bass. However, I've never seen him fly fishing.

[bobgill]

I have fly fished for bass and bream, mostly on farm ponds with good results. Used mostly popping bugs and cap spiders. Check out www.laflyfish.com. It's a good local website devoted to fly fishing. Plus fly fishing is a good excuse to buy some new rods.

[jig rig]

My Dad introduced my brothers and I at an early age. Still love it and do it some times. When fishing is slow flies will catch when nothing else will.

[Fish on Line]

I havn't in recient years , but Popping bugs and dry flies became my standard equipment when night Crawlers became Scarce ... when filling an Ice chest with fish you can't get your hand around, they are what Bro calls Chest huggers, They have Destroyed lots of bugs and flies. Slow sinking flies in Crappie bed will work you hard because they dont just push it out of a nest------ Fish On Line --- It came from those fond memories

[Fish on Line]

Chenniere lake close enough for you? I use to fish the area around the end of Walters Lane before they cut the trees. fishing the edges of the Mill Pond was good too. Shooting a Fly in the pockets like a sling shot Would Produce Monster Bream and Red ears

[sneakypete]

Hey TigerFan!
I grew up in Shreveport in the late '50's/early '60's and fly fished extensively on Wallace lake, Bistineau, and Caddo. Since then I have returned to Bistineau, Bayou Dorcheat, and some of the creeks in North Louisiana and done well with bass and bluegills on poppers. Made a couple of good hits on bluegills and redears on Corney Lake a couple of years back, too.
Surface flies are typically used most often in warmwater fly fishing, but I would have some small wooley buggers, fluff butts, and Clouser Minnows for barfish, crappie, and bedding redears.
There are a lot of resources available that can be very helpful. Try my website - laflyguy.com - and laflyfish.com for plenty of information on equipment and techniques. There are also fly-fishing groups in Natchitoches and Shreveport (And possibly in Alexandria) with monthly meetings that are entertaining as well as informative. Those are posted on laflyfish.com. You might attend the Baton Rouge "Conclave" on March 8 and the Natchitoches gathering on May 3 - more thorough data will appear on laflyfish.com.
So you see there are lots of opportunities to learn fly fishing in Louisiana.
Bon chance.
Pete

[deltadawg9]

I grew up in Monroe and West Monroe. I remember watching my dad do it all the time and just wear them out. When we moved to lake Washington in ms we just jig fished and trolled

[Tracker123]

Nice post Pete.

[Tbone]

During the spawn, I've caught a number of white perch on Poverty Point fly fishing (with some flies Sneaky Pete generously gave me). I use them under a strike indicator (aka a very small cork made specifically for flies) and fish about a foot deep along the rocks. Last year I caught a white crappie that would probably rank #3 in the state record but I just haven't done the paper work. I also caught a channel cat that would be the state fly fishing record. I realized a couple of hours after I released him in the water.

You can also make a fairly short drive to Murfreesboro and Hot Springs, Ark. and enjoy some really good rainbow trout action.

[sneakypete]

Thanks Randy - hope the world is treating you OK.
Terry, I got another pair yesterday AM - both females and shallow against the bank, and judging from the state of their eggs, both gravid. I would imagine it's time down here. That means you should be unlimbering that fly rod, because it won't be long for you all. Blue and white for lakes where there are lots of small shad.
Pete