Capt. Brandon Keck of Southern Fly Expeditions guides anglers to the behemoth bull redfish, jacks, and more of Louisiana. Keck recently sat down to take on some questions for the Venturing Angler:
Why do you guide where you do?
I guide in Louisiana because it’s my home, it’s a year-round fishery, and one of the best fisheries in the world. There’s just no place like it.
What is your favorite fish specie?
Overall, I’d say my favorite fish to target is the redfish. There’s so many different ways to target them, each one with its own challenges.
What is your favorite thing about guiding?
My favorite thing about guiding is seeing my angler’s face light up with excitement. Seeing them let loose and have a blast.
What is the most memorable trip you’ve guided and why?
My most memorable trip I’ve guided was with a female angler back in 2014. We didn’t get on the water until maybe 11AM, visibility wasn’t great, but it was calm. This was her first day of fishing ever and she landed 4 nice fish including a huge floating bull redfish she sight-casted to.
What is the funniest thing you’ve experienced while guiding?
I think the funniest thing I’ve experience while guiding was one of my anglers trying to jump from the boat to the dock while we were pulling up at the end of the day. Physics had different plans for her. The tips of her shoes made it for a split second before she fell back into the water unharmed.
What makes your guide service great?
I think what makes my guide service great is simply the way I communicate with the anglers and help them to have the best experience possible from the moment they make initial contact with me until I email them their photos after their charters.
If you had only one day off all year, where would you fish and what fish would you target?
Assuming that day is in the summer, I would fish right here in Louisiana targeting jack crevalle! They are possibly the ultimate sportfish on fly or light tackle.
What are your favorite three flies?
Well, I haven’t been really into a lot of named flies. In general my three favorite are poppers, simple shrimp, and the AlFlexo Crab. The AlFlexo Crab pattern holds a special place in my heart as that’s what I caught many of the coolest fish on out of Alphonse Atoll, Seychelles.
What is the one piece of gear you couldn’t bear to leave at home?
Polarized sunglasses! I’ve gone on the water by myself without any rods or any way to catch fish and I still had a great time watching them do their thing undisturbed.
Do you have any other passions?
I love spending time in the woods. I literally grew up in the woods and have many of my best memories observing wildlife and occasionally making a harvest for the dinner table.
To check out more from Capt. Brandon Keck and Southern Fly Expeditions, please click here.
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Disclosure: Southern Fly Expeditions is in a professional relationship with the Fly Fishing Guide Directory and the Venturing Angler. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.