Swimming Slither Rigs with Shaw Grigsby

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Oh So Ready to Make Some Casts

Since leaving home five days ago, Nathaniel and I have spent a tremendous amount of time watching other people fish, taking photos of fish and fishermen, eying waterways and talking about lures, rods, reels and fishing trips. Today we were even waterfront in Lake Charles, supposedly with redfish and speckled trout within casting distance of the shore.

Our full fishing day doesn't come until Sunday, but I think there might be a window or two tomorrow where we can get out for a few hours locally and cast from the shore or wade a little. Just in case, I'm rigged and ready with my starting offering and have a whole line-up behind it. Rumor has it Lake Charles is rich with baitfish that the trout like to chase around, so my starting pick is a BOOYAH Boo Rig matched with Strike King KVD Swim-n-shiner a on a 1/4-ounce Egret Baits jighead. Lures waiting in the wings include a Bomber 14A, an Egret Baits Bayou Chub and a Vudu Shrimp.

Early Sunday we're moving just south of here to spend a day on Lake Calcasieu with Calcasieu Charter Service. Word has it that Big Lake, as Calcasieu is often known, has been producing great mixed catches of redfish, trout, sheepshead and more, with some good quality fish in the mix. I've fished there before, but it has been several years, so I'm eager to fish it again.

Paris Fishing

OK. I'm talking about Paris, Tennessee. Of course, I probably don't need to say that. With that particular Paris being on the banks of Kentucky Lake, half the folks who read this blog might think about bass or crappie fishing on the big lake before the Eiffel Tower or other French landmarks when they hear mention of Paris. In truth -- exception if I were somehow afforded the opportunity to take my daughter Sarah to the across-the-pond Paris, I'd much rather be headed toward Fish Tales Lodge on Kentucky Lake than France.

Good thing. Truck will be pointed toward Tennessee tomorrow morning for a couple of days of fishing and photo work with the Strike King pro staff. I actually won't fish much and may not fish at all. It's a gathering of pros and writer for the purpose of shooting photos and videos, doing interviews and spending time with guys like Mark Rose, Kevin VanDam and Shaw Grigsby. I've attended the same annual event several times in the past and always drive a way with a lot of good material. Most is long term, for magazines, but watch for blogs about the outing, stories on FINS'nTALES, new videos on the YouTube channel and updates on my facebook page.

From Paris, I'm headed south toward Lake Charles, Louisiana, which is Cajun Country and therefore a more genuinely French culture. More on that to follow.

On the Road Again

Photo by Alan Clemons

Tomorrow begins an excursion of work, school and play for Nathaniel and me. Stop No. 1 is the Buffalo River, a spectacularly scenic Ozarks river in Northern Arkansas. We'll float the Buffalo and stay in a cabin with friends (with Nathaniel adding evening front porch music) before continuing north to Branson to fish for trout on Taneycomo and then attend the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association's annual conference. At SEOPA, Nathaniel is most looking forward to an event called Breakout and to "Pickin' and Grinnin'" after the final evening's banquet. Our last stop will be Kentucky Lake, where we'll do photo work with Strike King's pro staff.