BayouSlide

I can wholeheartedly concur with the endorsement of Transducer Shield & Saver's products. Here in the land of cypress stumps and laydowns I often serve as the "worse case scenario" tester of their products. Great products and great people to deal with. I would probably break a mount on every outing if not for their product. ? After breaking the mount pole of my Mega 360 on a stump, I can wholeheartedly endorse their reinforcement brace as well. ?

Here in Louisiana, we have a name for that kind of wind: Category 1 Hurricane ?

One more dog photo: Max relaxing in "his" chair at woodcock camp in the Atchafalaya last December.

For what it's worth, my Curado 70 MGL is exactly the same: all four or bird nest city. Only reel I own where I have more than two of the four brakes engaged.

I'll always remember the day I watched a bass of about 2 pounds make a leap of about three feet among the cypress trees of a local lake. In less than 10 minutes, I saw a a bald eagle fly out of the same area carrying a bass of about 2 pounds. Coincidence or destiny? ?

Tricksie and Max recuperating in the trailer from a day spent chasing plains grouse with me, but probably continuing the chase in their dreams.

From this year's trip out west, a scene from near Lewistown, Mont.

Humminbird will replace screens. Same thing, errant crankbait, broke a buddy's and Hummingbird replaced it for a fee.

And here I thought "That's a perfectly good Stutter Step: why haven't I bought one of those?"

Probably half the money I've spent on tackle has been wasted, the problem is, when I look at it all, I can't figure out which half. ?

Welcome from another south Louisiana angler. PS: don't tell anyone about Sherburne, it will be our secret ?

I would have replied a Suicide Shad on an Owner underspin, but got me skunked today ?

Extremely happy with my Phenix Feather light coupled with a Curado BFS, for what its worth.

A scene from the Upper Missouri Breaks in Montana.

Last photo of the day for a while as we hit the road this morning for Montana. I hope to be dining on this, my Fresh Sharptail Grouse Teriyaki, soon. ?

We were fortunate to escape the wrath of Hurricane Ida where I live but the eastern half of the state, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans were not so lucky and power outages are reportedly widespread. My heart goes out to them as I finish prep for our trip out west which begins tomorrow. Here's a scene from last year, on La Barge Creek Road near Big Piney, Wyo.

And let's not forget the generosity and determination of the "Cajun Navy", a bunch of private citizens who took it upon themselves to head to New Orleans with their small boats, against the wishes of authorities, to help and save whomever they could. The hurricane watch for Iberia Parish (Louisiana's version of a county) has been officially ended and changed to a tropical storm watch. Sitting here in AC comfort, watching Fear the Walking Dead, thankful for such good fortune but saddened to know that many people to the east of us were probably not so lucky. Here we had a little gusty wind, the rains haven't yet materialized and, perhaps, a transformer blew a few blocks away. As I say, very fortunate. Sort of like after Hurricane Andrew back in the early Nineties. We were out of power for over eight days and the neighbors had all got together in the midst of the downed trees and debris for a cook out with all the meat in our freezers. The Red Cross stopped by to ask us what we needed: we told them we could use a little ice for more margaritas if they had any to spare. Yes, lucky indeed.

I kinda cheated by posting it on the check-in thread, but that gives me the chance to post another storm surge aftermath (Rita, 2005) here, a modest house in the country probably 20 miles inland that was washed right off its foundation. Winds are starting to pick up and no real rain yet here, but since the storm came in at noon at Port Fouchon directly south of New Orleans, we'll be on the western edge apparently. Did just hear what sounded like a transformer blowing a few blocks over. You're grateful when your community is spared, but your heart goes out to others who proved left fortunate. I was documenting damages in the area for my utility client and the images that stick most strongly in my mind were ones I didn't have the heart to photograph.

Thinking about past storms brought to mind this photo I took in the aftermath of the storm surge of Hurricane Rita, which devastated communities along the coast in South Louisiana in 2005. The real heroes after any storm are armies of utility workers, who leave their own sometimes devastated homes, or come from all around the country to work under near-unbearable conditions of heat, humidity, muddy water and swarms of insects to restore power with bucket trucks, poles and even airboats. To see those first trucks roll into your area after days or a week without power and AC in the Louisiana summer is an answer to your heartfelt prayers. We salute and thank them for their tireless efforts.

Dogs and I had to temporarily postpone our trip to Montana and are prepped and ready for arrival here on the Bayou Teche in South Louisiana. Earlier it seemed the storm center would strike the coast about 50 miles east of here, near the mouth of the Atchafalaya River, with Morgan City and Houma in the crosshairs. But it seems now to be moving further eastward. Ain't our first rodeo so we have seen firsthand and respect the destruction and misery nature can cause at it's worst. Storm surge is a constant threat to the communities to the south of me. Everyone stay safe and keep your heads down till the storm passes.

Straight 7, 8 or 10# Sunline Sniper on spinning rods, 8, 10 or 16# on baitcasters. In both spinning and baitcasters, the lighter line are finesse or BFS setups. My standard is 10# on spinning, 16# on baitcasters. The only mono I use (Trilene XL) is on UL spinning gear.

Anything shad primarily in white and silver, with bluegill a close second.

Tricksie warily eyes the approach of Hurricane Ida. She relaxed once I reassured her we had plenty of dog food on hand for her and Max and lots of Guinness for me ?

You know how to tell when the hurricane has finally passed? The roar of wind has been replaced with the buzz of mosquitos, the hum of generators and roar of chainsaws ?.

We need to get this hurricane over with so I can head out for some bird hunting. I'm gone the minute power is restored ?