By DON DUBUC

Capt. Dudley Vandenborre will be answering lots of questions April 30 at a Trophy Trout Seminar in Slidell.

And for the umpteen thousandth time he’ll tell the story of the “the fish.” The fish is a speckled trout but not just any trout.

Not even one of the many 7-, 8- or 9-pounders he’s pulled from Lake Pontchartrain’s waters over the last 25 years. It’s the one he caught last Wednesday that will finally place his name among Louisiana’s state fish record holders.

Early that morning with three paying customers aboard, Vandenborre landed a 10.50-pound speck on the bait that he invented – an avocado Deadly Dudley terror tail.

Knowing that fish lose ounces at a rapid weight he immediately brought the fish to his V&G Lures partner Dee Geoghegan who brought the fish straight to Busy B Bait & Tackle on Pontchartrain Drive in Slidell.

He brought it there because he knew they have a state-certified scale, one of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association requirements for approving record fish applications. The fish measured 28 7/8 inches long and 16 7/8 inches in girth. When accepted by LOWA, the fish will occupy a tie for seventh place with a fish caught by Ed Sexton in Venice in April 2000.

“It’s ironic because I was just fishing with Ed the other day and I told him, don’t worry my name will be there right next to yours,” Dudley said. Vandenborre says he can’t remember a year where so many 7- and 8-pound trout have been so plentiful and would not be surprised if any day the state record of 12.38 is broken.

Capt. Dudley will be one of the featured speakers at the Trophy Trout Seminar. Others talking about their respective areas include Capt. Scott Avanzino of Venice; Capt. Scott Simpson of the Mississippi Gulf Coast; Capt. Kevin Aderhold of Venice; Carl Miller, Leeville & Grand Isle and LSU Marine biologist Jerald Horst.

Sponsored by Friends of RodnReel, proceeds will benefit the Lions Club’s Summer Camp for physically and mentally disabled children.

Trinity’s Banquet Hall will host the event and it is located at the Old Spanish Trail exit off Interstate 10. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a buffet dinner to follow.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and are available in advance by calling 504-780-8551 or at www.takeakidfishingrodeo.com or at the door.

Records keep falling

Besides the Lake Pontchartrain record trout, recently there have been a number of new state records set for several other species.

David Coignet of Bourg set a new fifth place speckled trout in the Fly-Fishing Division with a 6.75 catch at Catfish Lake. Gideon LeBreton of Metairie caught a new seventh place wahoo with a 107.25-pound fish he caught in the Gulf.

There have also been two new first places. Erik Butler of Baton Rouge broke the state record for gray snapper (mangrove) with a 14.19-pound catch at the Gulf of Mexico South Timbalier blocks out of Port Fourchon.

Finally, Christina Gault of Pleasant Hill caught a first place white crappie (sacalait) in the Private Pond category. Her fish weighed 2.78 pounds.

Shane Henry also of Metairie placed second with a 219.12 pound yellowfin tuna in February.

To obtain a print or diskette copy of the current Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA) official state fish records contact Bill Ford, LOWA Fish Records Chairman, P.O. Box 8571, Clinton, LA 70722.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.