160 Louisiana Sportsman^ | April 2015
Since they are competitive anglers, Frederick and Broussard use
tackle that is most effective in getting redfish into the livewell quickly.
So light tackles isn’t their bag.
“It is important in a tournament to get an upper-slot redfish to
the net as fast as you can while fishing with a light action rod,”
Frederick said. “The quicker you get that fish in the livewell, the
better chances you have in keeping it alive for the weigh-in.
“Whipping a big red in on a light-action rod was tough in the
past; it was an ordeal for both the fish and the angler.”
So they opt for 7-foot, medium-heavy Duce rods with spiral,
micro guides.
“The spiral wrap with the use of micro guides are designed to
reduce torque and friction, allowing us to retrieve heavier redfish
quickly and with less effort,” Frederick said. “And we get longer
casts as an additional benefit.”
Both anglers use Shimano reels that are spooled with 40-pound
FINS Windtamer Situational braid. They do not use leaders when
fishing redfish competitively.Frederick will dog-walk topwaters for slot redfish, and he is fond
of Heddon Saltwater Spooks and One Knockers.
“When there’s activity on the surface, reds will smash topwaters,”
he said. “I use them with confidence here on Sabine Lake.”
When baitfish are not moving on the surface, Frederick and
Broussard use Egret Baits’ 3 1/2-inch Wedgetail Mullets in colors
appropriate to the stain of the water. As a rule of thumb, they
use darker colors in heavily stained waters and lighter or natural
colors when waters are lightly stained to moderately clear.
“When we know the baitfish are present but not on the surface,
that’s when we use Wedgetails,” Frederick said. “Redfish will be
attracted to that fluttering, vortex tail. And they can pick up those
vibrations from varying depths.”
Broussard often uses Wedgetails under an oval, Cajun Thunder
Popping Cork when Frederick is throwing topwaters.
“In the spring of the year, I will pop it and let it sit for a bit,”
Broussard said. “Then I will retrieve it slowly, and then pop it again
and let it sit for another few moments.Tackle, lures and
presentation
337-229-0034 • Loreauville, La.
Frederick and Broussard use a
variety of lures to keep Sabine Lake
redfish swinging into the boat.