re: Dock/bank fishing NOLA area

I just got home from trying my luck in the Mississippi River and flopped. I tried 2 areas that I've caught nice catfish in the past and struck out in both.

I first tried in the Arabi area off Friscoville Ave. and got one nice bite and when I went to set the hook on the fish my damn reel broke clean off where it attaches to the rod.

It was an Abu Garcia Black Max 60 with the carbon fiber body on a Shakespear Ugly Stick rod and it snapped clean off the rod. Needless to say I couldn't land the fish since there was no getting a good hold on the reel with one hand and cranking in a fish with the other, so I cut the line and put that rod on the side.

After another half hour with no bites I picked up and headed to the Industrial Canal and tried my luck there and didn't even get a bite.

Last time I fished the Industrial Canal I caught four 20+ lb. cats, 2 flathead and 2 blues, but it wasn't happening today.