I would tell you that you would greatly improve your chances of catching redfish if you put the gold spoon back in your box and use the dead shrimp you mentioned , the cork is my prefered method as I love to see the cork action but don't only think cork , a sinker or even free lined works in the right situations ---------- a jig head lure tipped with shrimp makes a fine meal for a red

a nice chunk of fresh market bait under a cork. If there are any redfish areound you'll get them

If i were you I would go to the end of the road in Point Aux Chene and put in there. There are several little cuts in trolling distance from the marina where u can catch reds and drum (and trout). And yes, shrimp under a cork or on bottom is an excellent way to catch redfish. They also love cut mullet and cracked crabs. Good luck.

TP

ps....there are also several spots along Hwy 1 towards Fourchon where u can put in a canoe and murder the redfish

look for small grass beds or islands in shallow water 2-3'. fish the points.` sometimes you just have to be patient.market shrimp under a popping cork works best for me. my problem when i first started redfishing the shallows is that i would spook the fish off trying to get too close, so stay back and make long cast.

All of the advise already given is great. I think it bears repeating what 2thebream said. Stealth is your friend in skinny water, canoe, kayak, whatever. If you're making ripples or little waves, or if your trolling motor bumps an oyster, that sound carries well over such shallow water. I learned (still learning) how to redfish in Leeville in a 14 foot Cajun Special. I was addicted soon thereafter but learned that noise is the enemy. I personally don't think it takes much for a red to bite, but shrimp def won't hurt. I find they like gold, and red. Good luck. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions, guy. I'm gonna give another try as soon as I get back from offshore. Results, if successful, will definitely be posted

First, throw those spoons and the latest fad lure in the trash. They catch fishermen, not redfish. I find Gulps are the only exception, but only use them if I don't have shrimp or minnows. Just bait on under a cork or bottom.

For catching reds, if water levels are high go back in the ponds until the prop starts hitting mud. If water is low or sometimes average hit points with currents. Keep in mind 80% of their diet is on crabs and they are constantly looking for places where crabs are being swept by. That is the key. Stick and move and put a nice box together, they sometimes school but more often its a few at each stop.

They are hardy fish but extreme water temperature does effect them. Water temps below 55 or above 85 turns them off and they don't feed much.

On the lures.....some people have good luck with them, but I find most people have better luck with bait. In any video showing reds caught on lure, note that they are always advertising the lure being used. That should always raise a red flag.

For those of you scoffing at the idea that gold spoons actually work. Dont be fooled. I can assure that during the hot summer months last year, all I needed and kept were gold spoons in my tackle box and I had my limit on reds just about every weekend for 3 months. I know everyone's fishing experiences are different, but I need to give props when props are due and the gold spoon has a permanent spot in my tackle box.

Everyone forgets about the old time H&H

been around a loooong time and still works fine


http://www.hhlure.com/page2_spinner_lures.pdf

obviously your a little limited in a canoe. That being said now that it is srping it should be no proble finding fish in pont au chene. Just find the clean water and grass etc and usually fishwill be there. When it comes to redfish in general with all the erosion the big schools seem to continually move farther into the marxh every year. Look for ponds with the affore mentioned clean water with or without grass and fish should be found. pretty much the same ponds or sections of the marsh will produce every years unless erosion alters an area. as for as baits we all have our preferences and beliefs on which are best but when you find schooling reds they will usually bite anything. I normally fish with a baby minus one crankbait(last about 10 years anyway) but before that caught almost all on a gold or black spoon. also cant beat spinner baits, black and chautreuse bayou chubs . Other days can catch ton on topwater. And if you want to have fun pull out the fly rod and a popping bug or sinking fly and they will eat that as well.

And always remember that every now in then you will have days where you see hundreds of fish and struggle to get them to bite just how they are

Thanks again for all the advice, guys. Tomorrow, I'm bringing my friend out to fish Hopdale in the canoe. Hope I get him addicted to skinny water fishing. We'll let you know if we get some reds...