Luling fisherman lands his catches from a kayak

Bob Faucheux of Luling loves to fish for redfish in the marshes of south Louisiana and for speckled trout along the coast. But he isn’t your ordinary fisherman.

Instead of using a 20-foot hull and a 150 hp. outboard motor, he fishes from a kayak.

He packs one or two of them on top his car and regularly heads down Bayou Lafourche to fishing country.

He often stops between Leeville and Fourchon, puts his boat with a capacity of one into the roadside ditch and paddles his way through the streams in the marsh to promising territory.

If he has company, they board two kayaks and keep in touch through cell phones.

“Hey, Bob. Just caught a 10-pounder due east,” says his friend. Bob then heads for the described territory and joins in the fun.

Sometimes, Faucheux will go out early in the morning and stay until mid-afternoon.

It can be an invigorating but relaxing experience, he says. He can lay back in his kayak and dangle his feet over the sides into the water as he takes a rest from fishing.

Faucheux owns four kayaks, ranging in length from 10 to 16 feet.

He usually uses the 12- or 14-foot kayaks for fishing since they are steadier when pulling in a fish.

He keeps a small tackle box and stands up two rods and reels in holders behind the driver’s seat. In front of him is a collapsible ice chest that carries the limit when full. He usually fishes with dead shrimp.

His kayack allows him to travel in one-foot of water. On a windy day, he anchors by poking a stick, attached to the kayak by a rope, in the water bottom – – no anchor needed.

He usually catches three to six pounders in the marsh with an occasional 10-pounder.

His double paddle allows him to stroke on both sides of the kayack which helps steer him straight ahead.

He calls the paddle his “engine” which takes him five or six miles a day from pond to pond.

When Faucheux wants to fish for specks, he launches on the beach at Grand Isle and casts in the surf, usually following the birds.

The fisherman pulls his kayaks up to the top of his garage on pulleys for storage.

It’s much more fun to fish by kayak, Faucheux claims.

One may not cover as much water but the excitement of going places not accessible in a bigger boat makes it well worthwhile.

And when you catch your limit, that’s it, whether the boat is big or small.

 

About Allen Lottinger 433 Articles
Publisher Emeritus

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply