Empire of Redfish
September 1, 2010
Except for the red life-vests and yellow hard-hats on the passengers, it mighta been a party barge on the Tickfaw, Tangipahoa or Tchefuncte on a Sunday afternoon.
Chef’s Specialty
August 2, 2010
The fishing was pathetic. Everyone whined and moaned — all except Eddie, who grinned wickedly. His eyes twinkled as he looked around the boat.
Freshwater Superhighway
June 1, 2010
Doc Fontaine’s brother-in-law of the month was visiting South Louisiana from Oregon for a wedding. He also wanted to squeeze in some of the fabulous fishing Doc had been preaching about since they’d met a year earlier.
From the Taliban to Nutria
April 29, 2010
Remember in The Deerhunter when De Niro, after barbecuing the commie with the flamethrower then perforating him with his own AK-47, gets knocked down by a spate of explosions? Then he and his handful of dazed chums get up, look down groggily through the smoke, and see a horizon full of commies charging their way?
Breton Sound Blast
April 29, 2010
You don’t see many houseboats with hot tubs.
Lacombe’s Largess
April 1, 2010
The kayak was a definite tip-off. The fly rod even more so. Now while Eddie and Pelayo talked him up after we parked behind him on Lacombe’s Lake Road, I nonchalantly slipped around to the back of his Prius to view the obligatory “HOPE” bumper sticker.
Easy East
February 1, 2010
Doc’s brother, Toby, seemed perplexed as he chatted with Pelayo’s brud-n-law Zach, in from Atlanta for Mardi Gras.
Swamp Monsters
December 2, 2009
O.K., answer me this: How many of those brochures in hotel lobbies in the French Quarter beckon you to embark on a charming tour of a “5-year-old pure-pine plantation?” Or a picturesque tour of a “10-year clear-cut timber tract?” Or a breathtaking tour of scenic landscape comprising “select-cut timber featuring scenic logging machinery ruts, gorgeous burnt stumps and piles of cut-downs”? Or maybe: “Come with us and gaze bleary-eyed for four hours down a power-line surrounded by monotonous even-growth pines!”
Welcome Wench October 21, 2009
Face a firing squad, and you get a blindfold, right? Now I understood why.
Primary Mast
September 30, 2009
“Here they come,” rasped Pelayo.
Lower Pearl River provides great Louisiana fishing
June 1, 2009
Howling winds forced us to cancel the Buras trip at 5 a.m. with a quick phone call. By 9 a.m., I was climbing the walls and also noticed that the grass needed mowing. Worse, Shirley also noticed that the grass needed mowing. I noticed her contemplating the issue from the front porch, and ran into the bathroom with my cell phone before she saw me.
Bottom’s Up
April 30, 2009
Our party of 12 required two large restaurant tables to accommodate. As the waiter led us through the crowded restaurant to our tables, Eddie — as luck would have it — was the first in line, walking right behind “Sebastian, our waiter for the evening,” who had already introduced himself in a highly officious and animated manner.
Fond Farewell
February 23, 2009
We pulled up, looked around and found we had Joshua’s Marina almost to ourselves.
Saltwater Perch Jerking February 3, 2009
The venison fajitas and sheepshead ceviche were the hit of the evening. As usual for the post-Endymion festivities, Doc Fontaine’s Bourbon street bungalow was packed to suffocation. A long table featured everything from a shrimp mold to marinated veggies to buffalo wings to a dozen wine bottles.
