Wading vs. Boat Fishing the Chandeleur Islands

[@thingsthatzachsees]

I'm taking my first trip to chandeleur this weekend weather permitting of course. And your videos have been super informative, especially on the safety precautions getting out and back successfully. I love the content, tight lines and stay safe out there!

[@JonMillerFishing]

Have fun!

[@garybarrere7552]

Sting ray story: I 14 and my cousin Cathy14 fished every day of the summer of 1962 in Pass Christian from a 17 foot cypress skiff , row boat. 20 minute row out to a reef in 6 foot of water. Bait shrimp were 3 lbs. for a dollar. We also had four crab nets around the boat. We caught specks, sand trout, channel mullet, and big blue crabs. I had an old man neighbor who hated to lend you anything. After signing away my life he lent me an old rusty cracked handed hammer to smash hard head catfish heads in. Well I caught a good size sting ray and had his head up on the gunnel to give him a head ache. The hammer went in so deep it stuck. The sting ray tail tip curled up and touched the back of my hand and o turned loose of the hammer and kaplunk it fell out of the rays head and into the gulf. Well me and Cathy were sure we would have to sell the rights our first born children to pay for the hammer.Well we lost all the joy of the trip and decided to up anchor and row in. I was pulling up the last crab net and low and behold there was that old rusty hammer. I would give anything to be 14 again with Cathy a pound of bait shrimp in the old skiff going fishing.

[@JonMillerFishing]

Good story! Davy Jones doesn't give up his treasure easily.

[@dixie3087]

Great story

[@getore100]

Really like your videos. Brings back so many memories that I miss so much. I no longer live in the area but go back twice per year. Quick question: i recall that the boat ride to those islands was pretty long in open water. Been really thinking about buying that boat...REALLY like it. Can you make that long run on 1 tank of gas and, weren't you concerned about the wind kicking up and having to get back in rough waters? Also, would you feel comfortable taking it out to the mud lumps out of southwest pass, Venice?

[@JonMillerFishing]

Yes, to get to the Chandeleur Islands you have to cross around 20 miles of open water, but this varies depending on where you launch from. There are basically 4 routes to take: from Venice, from the the MS coast, from Hopedale, and from the launches on the north shore of Lake Borgne. With my boat I use the last option, and launch from La France Marina. This is not the shortest route but there is no ocean swell on this route. I would never take my boat to the Islands if there was a chance of storms or high wind. The boat can handle 3 ft waves, although the speed will be low, so you would not want to travel long distances in water that rough. The forecasting of weather and wind is sophisticated enough now that they don't get the forecast grossly wrong. This year there has been no chance for me to travel out there with my boat, and that is a reality of doing the trip in a skiff. I need to take 5 gal. of extra fuel on the trip, and I use around 15 gal. My on board tank is 12 gal. I also keep track of my fuel during the trip. If necessary I can reduce speed down to 25 mph and significantly increase my fuel milage. My normal speed is 27 mph. I am not familiar with the mud lumps out of SW Pass. I would keep in mind that travel is slow in ocean swells and that ships kick up quite a massive wake. The Cayenne is very buoyant so it can ride over some pretty big wakes, but still caution is advised.

[@getore100]

@@JonMillerFishing Jon, thank you for your reply.

[@mikelocke1620]

Steelhead. I was obsessed with them in another lifetime.

[@JonMillerFishing]

What a powerful fish!

[@davidroyer2908]

Outstanding video! It’s Paradise in the Chandeleur Island chain.

[@sumrica]

Back when I went out there often, I would do well on the surf side of the island. I no longer know the lay of the land at Chandeleur. But, if there's a cut you could motor into to get you close to the island, the walk to the surf side wouldn't be so butt kicking...especially if you could find some land to walk on.

[@tealnexttimebond8859]

I’ve caught more trout over 25 “ out of my boat than u can count.

[@karlrockvoan1587]

You are a brave fella to go out there in that little boat , I’ve gone out in boats bigger than that and got caught up in a storm that came out of no where, good luck on your next trip out there

[@JonMillerFishing]

Yes thunderstorm season is a dangerous time. I won't go out beyond a certain distance from the marsh during that season. I have hunkered down in the marsh many times and let storms pass over, but it's bad news if you're stuck in open water. That only happened to me one time!

[@ElDiabloLocoPoco]

Spent my first 10+ years being limited to wade fishing, mostly Grand Isle and Fourchon. This was late 70's & early 80's, before all of the rock jetties were added parallel to beach. The luxury of a boat provides the HUGE advantage of being able to move easily to find fish. And staying mostly dry is good too. The rip tides can be[are] a danger while wading, gotta learn to spot them both for safety and for good fishing spots. As an old geezer the only advantage I would now value about wading would be getting into the water to cool off. I always thought the sharks were a problem, lost fish to them a few times. My regular fish pardner always liked to walk out to the first sandbar to be able to fish both sides. I never did that. I was never concerned with stalking the monster fish, just wanted enough to eat. For me that would not be a good enough reason to abandon the boat. O'course that all became moot after moving out of Bigg Swampy. Best trout I ever caught was a 24 inch fatty. The odd thing was that I caught it about 10am on a hot July day off the bridge at Grand Isle. Was fishing a shrimp colored sparkle beetle, jigging it parallel to bridge in shadows on a slow moving falling tide. Thought it was a catfish when I hooked up, and was really surprised to get it over the railing, but she was hooked solid, not quite gut hooked. Very much enjoying your thoughts on the various subjects - and living vicariously through the channel. Thanks. Catch while you can and good fishing!

[@JonMillerFishing]

Good memories! I try to remember that nothing lasts forever, so I should go fishing!

[@captainjoesanglingadventur4894]

Great vid Jon.... Ol Dave.. " Thats enough your not goimg anywhere"... Then he Hoist him in lol... Great stuff. That cork was mi e from a couple weeks ago I got smomed a few times we past you all on our way out just as we entered the MRGO

[@JonMillerFishing]

Sorry I couldn't retrieve your cork for you! LOL

[@robertwalley6692]

I fished out at the islands before KZbin video, great video: I would advise a bigger boat weather gets rough out there.

[@paulhuval6579]

Great video. I use my boggle grip to get the hooks out of the stingray and they work good.

[@garybarrere7552]

Frequently I have to tell my son 30 and grandson 19 , I did not buy my 21 ft. Frontier to wade fish. I can fish 18” of waster. Sharks and stingrays are not my cup of tea. I have good waking shoe and sting ray guards, ok sand bottom, west bay , San Luis Pass, beach wade, but Greens lake red fish hole is too muddy for this 71 yeAr old 250 lbs old man. I wade only when I choose. I have to says it’s a blast to fight a fish and be able to be so stealth. But those moments when the hair stands up on the back of your neck as you notice the man in the grey suit is admiring your stringer of fish, or a ship passing near at Seawolf Park is sucking the water out around you and what goes out will soon come back, quickly be you can get to shore. It will lift you up fill your waders and dump you on shore wet and it’s 4o degrees. Yeah give me my boat and my minn koda.

[@antnyd1099]

Nice videos Jon!! Love to watch u put nice trout in the boat having a small skiff myself most my trout trips turn into redfish trips due to weather wind. Like to stay close around the lake robin area and have room to move around instead of fishing the long rocks parking lot. Have yet to put a really nice box of trout in the boat since I had it but there’s always fall when they come back in. Till then ill just watch u do it. Keep up the great videos stay safe out there

[@redchaserron]

Hey Jon, I've watched a bunch of your videos and have never seen you push poling, if you're not poling, why a poling skiff?

[@JonMillerFishing]

Good question. I could get too long with my answer, so I will be concise. 1. It's a shallow water hull, this is incredibly useful to me. 2. It's low to the water, which is a much better platform for advanced artificial lure techniques. It's easy to get in and out when wade fishing. Also the low profile allows for slower drifting in strong wind. 3. It's designed as a fishing boat. 4. It's light in weight. 5. It's very easy to tow, which should be a consideration if you are trailering as far as I am. 6. The power requirement to push the boat is low, one reason for its lightweight, and I can pull-start the engine. I can work on the engine myself. 7. It's incredibly economical to operate and being lightweight, also economical to trailer. 8. It's not so big, so it cleans up quickly after the trip. This might be a surprising statement, but with the right hull design, a small boat can be a better boat.

[@frankbreck5758]

What model of lowrance are you using?

[@JonMillerFishing]

Elite 9Ti

[@Dcj01]

I fish p.m but would of loved to ride the boat to see how it performed

[@lowtidesskyview8897]

How do you like that rod n reel setup and what gear ratio did you go with on the reel? I have the same reel, im still trying to decide on a rod to go with it.

[@JonMillerFishing]

My first trip using the St Croix, Mojo Inshore, 7-0, Med. Lite and I was very pleased with the rod. I will definitely keep fishing that rod. The Concept C is the 7.3:1 ratio. I also like the reel and have been using it for a year. It has some gear noise right now and I intend to take it into the reel shop soon.

[@lowtidesskyview8897]

@@JonMillerFishing thanks for the reply, ill be ordering a rod today an that might be what I end up going with. I made it in the background of 2 of your videos around feb-march fishing the inside. I want to make it them Islands if I can find the right day. Fished treasure bay area last Monday catching 2 man limit an leaving them biting.

[@ryanbourgeois590]

I suggest an ego wading net. Rubber net is easy on the trout if you’re releasing them and hooks don’t get caught up in it. Trebles In the hand are inevitable if you keep handling them that way. Great video.

[@JonMillerFishing]

Good suggestion. I have seen these being used but haven't bought one yet.

[@jsalterxpress.2480]

Watch out for the big trout that love to dart between your legs with a big jerk bait in their mouth especially when using med light rods. Suddenly having to fight a 3 pound trout with the inside of your calf muscles is zero fun. Fun video as always, thanks Jon.

[@JonMillerFishing]

Wow! That's a bad scenario! I will be ready for that. Another reason waders are a better idea than bare legs.

[@jsalterxpress.2480]

Jon Miller I mostly wade fish for a change of pace along Elmer’s Island starting in May, too hot for my to be in waders. I’ll be going soon I hope.

[@mhedges8086]

John, where did you get the satellite image of the sediment from the Mississippi river from in a previous video?

[@JonMillerFishing]

This is probably what you are referring to: ge.ssec.wisc.edu/modis-today/index.php?satellite=t1&product=true_color&date=2020_05_11_132&overlay_sector=false&overlay_state=true&overlay_coastline=true&sector=USA7&resolution=1000m

[@bajabum1987]

@@JonMillerFishing A bit more user friendly access to the same images is zoom.earth. Please lmk if this is useful to anyone reading!

[@ANVICTA]

Where did you launch the boat at and how long was that boat ride to the chandelier island

[@JonMillerFishing]

I have been launching at LaFrance Marina in MS. It's 48 miles from there.

[@Craig-m9r]

I just think it’s so overfished has been for years

[@boashna]

I am not a wader but benefit of wade fishing is that you move and your feet will be the best sonar to find all the dips and rocks in the area further more you create a mud track that other fish can terrace and you force all the creatures in the area move out of their shelter same as watching grasshoppers move in a grass field. down side is it takes more energy to walk and if you ever field your wader with water , you have to cut it open in less than 30 seconds because you become so heavy that you will sink . Plug for my channel: make your engine last longer for free watch my video made on may 2020 Many fisherman die because they fall in a drop off wearing waders . yes you will catch more fish .. my experience is that bigger trouts are less aggressive and lazy and they live in places that are difficult to fish or they would have been caught already by being aggressive .

[@JonMillerFishing]

Another hazard of wading! It does help to have a tightened wading belt because it slows down how quickly the waders will fill with water.

[@johnfontenot4351]

Great vid, but Jon plz invest in some hook removing pliers, if you get a hook embedded in your hand at the Chandeliers it’s not going to be fun, I cringe every time I see you grabbing treble hooks with your fingers. I’m glad to see you using a boga.

[@JonMillerFishing]

There's always a pliers around, that's not the problem. I agree with you and do use a pliers often but apparently not all the time.

[@codyfoster2098]

less talking more fishing next time

[@bigjspec]

Accident looking to happen this guy needs some help

[@JonMillerFishing]

Elwood, you can talk to me in first person. You don't need to refer to me in 3rd person on my channel. If you have a specific question, I'm glad to answer it.

[@bigjspec]

Jon Miller .? Don’t understand if I upset U. But that boat going to Islands big mistake not only for U but boat that will try to help. There are many ways to fish that area without danger. My neighbor died this past year in a plane after fishing Islands returning home. I am speaking from experience retire fishing guide and Commercial fisherman. Sorry and Apologize but I have had to help to many people that take chances and that boat out there upset me. My point others will see and try. U had a 1 in a 100 day that calm. Days may start out calm but that return trip could be bad. My old mentor told me on the water U can only make one mistake. So glad U had good trip and hope many more just trying to help. Best time to fish Louisiana is when New Orleans river gauge is 3 ft and falling trip of a life time Venice La. Be safe enjoyed your video only trying to help. Any help about trout fishing Louisiana I will be glad to help. I would suggest Lake Charles La for that boat and big big trout area.