Brunning Wins IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Event at Lafitte, Louisiana
OutdoorHub 08.05.14
Casey Brunning, of Madisonville, Louisiana, measured a combined limit of 66.63 inches to win the final regular-season event for the Louisiana Division of the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour presented by Hobie Fishing on Aug. 3 at Lafitte, Louisiana.
In only his second year fishing the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour, Brunning has already racked up a couple of top-10 finishes to go along with his win in Lafitte.
“I was more than pleased and very surprised with my performance,” Brunning said.
Brunning fished top-water baits and jigs in moving water around points in the Grand Isle area and reported good fishing conditions.
“I had a calm, slack tide with clear water,” said Brunning. “It affected the trout negatively but was a positive for fishing for reds.”
In addition to the guaranteed $1,500 and Power-Pole Micro Anchor for first place, Brunning added $528 in Anglers Advantage cash. The angler also took home the $100 Berkley Gulp! Big Trout award and the $250 Hobie Advantage prize for being the highest placed finisher competing out of a Hobie kayak.
Former 2012 IFA Kayak Tour Championship winner Benton Parrott, of Spanish Fort, Alabama, took second place with a combined 65.50 inches. Expecting big weights, the angler didn’t hold anything back at the Lafitte event.
“The fall event always brings big aggregates,” said Parrott. “I swung for the fences going for a bull red early and then grinded it out for my trout.”
Jumping spots all day to locate fish, Parrott threw spinner baits for reds and worked suspended baits for his trout. Coming from Alabama, the angler cites insights gained from local, fellow competitors as a key to his success in Louisiana.
“Using local knowledge from Brendan Bayard, I fished hard and was able to upgrade fish all day,” said Parrott. “It’s always a great time fishing Louisiana with friends.”
Third-place finisher Clayton Shilling, of Prairieville, Louisiana, won $743 for his combined 62.88 inches. The angler fished in the main passes of the Grand Isle area with top-water baits and jigs.
“I had good, clean water and the bulls were running good,” said Shilling. “It feels great. Anytime I finish in the top five with this group of anglers, I know I’m doing something right.”
The fastest-growing kayak fishing tournament trail in the country, the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing events are catch-photograph-release tournaments, offering inshore kayak anglers from a multitude of states the opportunity to participate in competitive fishing tournaments with low entry fees and minimal travel requirements.
For more information or to become a member of the IFA, visit www.ifatours.com. To discover more about kayaking and Hobie Fishing go to www.hobiefishing.com.
IFA events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Hobie Fishing, Ranger Boats, Cabela’s, Lucas Oil, Yamaha Outboards, RAM, Berkley Gulp!, Berkley Gulp! Alive!, PENN Reels, Spiderwire, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Power-Pole, Amphibia, Arctic Ice, Protect the Harvest, General Tire, Bob’s Machine Shop, Blue Point Fabrication, SuperClean, Progressive, Mustang Survival, iON Cameras, Valley Fashions, Powertex Group and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and Team Lafitte Harbor
IFA Kayak Tour – Lafitte, La. (Top 10)
- Casey Brunning – 66.63 inches
- Benton Parrott– 65.50 inches
- Clayton Shilling – 62.88 inches
- Jeff Robinson – 62.50 inches
- Lance Burgos – 60.00 inches
- Brandon Barton – 59.38 inches
- Wayne Lobb – 59.25 inches
- Doug Menefee – 59.25 inches
- Steve Lessard – 58.75 inches
- Brendan Bayard – 57.43 inches
