Ahhhh, to be a fishing guide. Being able to fish for a living truly is a magnificent way to go through life. You get to spend most days outdoors, with some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet as your office view. Your performance is measured in the number of fish on the line and the number of smiles of the faces of your customers.
Enter old man winter and your wonderful way of life is blown away with an unforgiving northern wind. Below freezing temperatures, 20-30 knot winds, no water in the marsh and small craft warnings keep most fishing guides on land most of the winter months. Even though winter down south is only two or three months, it can seem like eternity for a guide. So, the question is, what does a guide do when he cannot fish? Since they were not that difficult to get in touch with, we asked some of the region’s finest guides, “what are you doing this winter?”
Capt. Charlie Thomason – Bayou Charters – Hopedale, LA:
“I spend almost all winter getting ready for the upcoming year. I fish when I can, but I am going to a lot of boat shows with my sponsors. I like to get my paper work together for ordering new boats and motors, and getting my stuff together for this years redfish tournaments. When I am fishing I never keep regular hours, so wintertime allows me to get a lot of work done on the phone. My seminars take up a lot of my time so January is a great month to just get everything in order for the busy season right around the corner. Even though I may not be fishing, I am still working as hard as I can.”
Capt. Damon Mcknight – Super Strike Charters – Venice, LA:
“From the 2nd or 3rd week in November to the 2nd week in January, I am guiding duck hunts. The weather is usually too rough to fish, but is great for shooting ducks. From mid January on, I am back on the water looking for tuna and wahoo till it warms up for the other species (tuna, cobia, marlin, etc). The tackle and boats can always be improved so I spend a lot of time getting everything ready for the upcoming year. What down time I have in the winter I spend updating all my licenses and permits for the upcoming year.”
Capt. Danny Wray – Calm Water Charters – Grand Isle, LA:
“Hell, I love the winter, not for the weather, but for the fishing! Kayak fishing is great this time of year even though the weather may not be. Give me a good day after a hard north wind and I am guiding trips out of the kayaks. I am going to set up on a natural drain from a pond and fish the mouth of it. A mud minnow on the bottom to a redfish there is like taking candy from a baby. I just dress for the occasion with light weight chest waders, jeans and long johns and I am ready to go. I may run 6 to 12 days a month, but most of those trips are groups from up north. They think it’s summer time down here compared to what they have to deal with.”
Capt. Troy Wetzel – Louisiana Offshore Fishing – Venice, LA:
“Most of the winter I am working on my boats or remodeling houses to flip. I do get to have some fun in December when I go bow hunting. I go hunt in Del Rio Texas every year with my good friend John Ulmer, he is like a brother to me. We met from a mutual fishing buddy and have become great friends over the years. Every winter from December 17-22 I go hunt on his ranch that has axis, black buck, and white tail deer. His ranch has a 10 point or better rule, and I did get a 13 point with my bow this year. The deer down there are like roaches they’re everywhere.”
Capt. Rodney Boudreaux – Deep Delta Bowfishing – Bellchase, LA:
“We are not as busy, but we are still fishing and guiding duck hunts. We ran a trip not too long ago in 35 degree weather and the redfish were all over the oyster beds back in the ponds, we shot a mess of them with the bows. We do take advantage of the slow time and go hunting for deer and hogs. We have a hunting club in Panlola Mississippi that we do well at. If we have time we head down river and go hunt hogs.”
Capt. Kyle Jarreau – Shore Thing Fishing Charters – Bay St. Louis, MS:
“I don’t mind the winter too much, I let the other guides work the trips and I go to my deer camp in Kosiuscko, Mississippi. I have been hunting up there with the same group of guys forever. Our camp has all the bells and whistles and a good number of deer to boot. We only shoot 8 points or better so anything we shoot is usually pretty big. I make a few outdoor shows, work on my boat and spend time with the grand babies when I am not hunting. Wintertime ain’t all that bad.”
Wintertime is a tough time to be a fishing guide in this area. Even if you have trips on the books, mother nature may have other plans for you and your crew. The main thing to keep in mind, is that winter will be over soon. We live in an amazing area, blessed with mild and brief winter weather. Make the most of your time off the water so you can really enjoy your time on the water. As always, have fun and be safe.
Captain Sonny Schindler
Shore Thing Fishing Charters
Bay St Louis, MS
228-342-2295
www.shorethingcharters.com