Benton Parrott, of Daphne, Alabama, measured a combined limit of 64.50 inches to win the final regular-season event for the Louisiana Division of the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour presented by Hobie Fishing on Aug. 2 at Houma, Louisiana. The angler won a total of $2,791, including a Power-Pole Micro Anchor for his first-place finish.
The two-time IFA Kayak Tour Championship winner hooked his winning fish in the Grand Isle area
“It was hot, but the bull red bite was non stop,” said Parrott. “I had an amazing day on the water.”
The angler threw top-water baits and soft plastics.
“I started early for the trout before the heat shut down the bite,” said Parrott. “Then I fished for bulls for the rest of the day. It was anyone’s to win. I was fortunate to get two great fish today.”
Parrott boated a 20.5-inch trout and a 44-inch redfish, which won him the $100 Berkley Big Redfish award.
Second-place finisher Brendan Bayard, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, measured a 43-inch redfish and a 20.5-inch trout to come in a close second to Parrott. Bayard took home a total of $1,320, which included $100 for winning the Berkley Big Fish award for his trout. Bayard and Parrott tied for the longest trout of the tournament, but Bayard’s heavier fish won the tiebreaker.
Bayard fished a Berkley shrimp under a popping cork early for his trout. The angler reported taking his trout under flocking sea gulls and hooked his bull red with Berkley Gulp!.
Vlad Moldoveanu, of Daphne, Alabama, took home the $500 third-place prize and added another $200 in Anglers Advantage contingency cash. The angler measured a combined total of 61 inches.
Moldoveanu drove the 1.5 miles to the Grand Isle area and traveled three to four miles in his kayak. He planned to fish early for his trout and then concentrate on hooking a quality redfish.
“The day started tough,” said Moldoveanu. “Fish were not responding to my usual baits. By 10 a.m. I had no fish and only two hours left. I had to adjust.”
The angler switched from his typical twitch baits and top-water baits to a working paddle tail on a jighead. Once he made the change, the action heated up and the angler was able to upgrade a few times.
“The IFA Kayak Tour is the toughest kayak fishing event,” said Moldoveanu. “Competition is fierce and it is great to be able to compete and win sometimes.”
By: Palmer Conrad, Palmer Conrad Consulting
