By Capt. Raymond Griffin

Hello from Cajun country! I hope everyone had a great summer season fishin all the great waters of the Gulf coast. Now that it's fall and winter not far behind, most of us are re-focussing our techniques whether we're hunting for red fish, trout, or those furry four legged creatures that roam the woods. I can't help you on the four legged creatures but I can point you in the right direction if you're wishin for some big reds or big trout this fall season.

First, let me share a story with y'all that happened recently. We had a big group from Birmingham and Tuscaloosa with the Miller Brewing Company come down here to Laffite, La. to get in on some of that great fall fishin action. Well, the day before they were supposed to arrive a BIG cold front started blowing through. I mean 30 to 40 mile an hour winds. I called the leader of their group and said DO NOT come. The fishing will be terrible! But as most die hard fishermen will do, they said "We ain't scared, we're coming anyway"! Sure enough, they showed up fired up and ready to go. The next morning we left the dock at daylight in 25 mile an hour winds. We fished HARD all day long and only caught 6 fish (I won't tell you about the big one that got away!) The moral of this story, when all else fails, try what the guide says!

Fall and winter fishing can be some of the most productive fishing of the year, but you have to be smart and watch the fronts as they move through. As most fishermen know; fronts, especially cold fronts, affect fishing more than anything else. As a rule, two to three days before a front and one to two days after a big front are great fishing. Here's my theory, it works for me and the 6 guides that work with me. We believe that in the shallow waters of the Gulf coast marshes that we fish in, as a windy cold front starts to move in, the fish go on a strong feeding frenzy. As the pressure and winds build I believe that the fish start to move to deeper areas and just hold. We have proven this time and time again. In the shallow waters that we fish in, as the winds build the water gets dirty, the fish can't see to feed and I believe that it also affects their ability to smell too. So they go deep and just lay there.

Can you remember the last time you went fishing a couple of days after a big storm? It seems like no matter what you throw at them, they eat! Remember the group from Alabama that I told you about earlier? Guess what, the day after they left we had 6 boats go out and every boat had a limit of red fish and black drum by 9:00 that morning! So here are some tips to remember for fishing late fall and winter months. First, always be aware of fronts that are moving in or that have just passed. Second, remember that water levels are 1 to 2 feet lower than normal, be careful! That point you love to fish will still hold fish, just fish further out. Third and probably the most important, use BAIT! If you're too proud to put a piece of shrimp on your hook, stay home. The water is dirty and cold, the fish are moving slower and are deeper. Take some bait with you and I guarantee you'll have great results!

I am wishin each and everyone of you have a safe and happy holiday season. I hope you catch all the fish that you can eat and put the rest back to catch another day. I am wishin that all of you that want to "go catchin" not "fishin" come see us down here in Cajun Country. And please don't forget to go "buyin" not shoppin" for your favorite sportsman at our friends Mark's Outdoors! See y'all on the water,

Capt. Raymond Griffin 1-800-741-1340 www.griffinfishing.com