Redfish are among the hardiest and most adaptable fish in the world. It’s almost like they don’t care what water conditions are; they’ll go where the food is, even if they have to forsake comfort to get there.

That’s particularly true in the summer. This time of year, you’re as likely to find redfish feasting on minnows at the bottom of a 20-foot-deep channel as you are to run across them gobbling juvenile crabs in hypoxic water that’s inches deep and scorching hot.

That latter scenario is where a growing body of anglers exclusively look for reds year ‘round, but especially in the summer with its high sun angles and lighter winds. For these anglers, elevation is their friend; the higher they are, the easier it is to see redfish that are farther out, allowing casts before the fish have any idea they’re there.

I’ve committed to improving my skills in that arena this summer, so I borrowed a 3-foot-high, transportable casting platform from David Stewart, owner of Lake Catherine Island Marina in Orleans Parish, and took it out for a test run last week.

Conditions were far from ideal that day, as a stiff wind blew out of the east and, more importantly, the sun kept hiding behind an intermittent cloud deck. But still, it didn’t take long to discover what a complete game-changer the casting platform is.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how it opens a new world for me this summer.

To see the details of last week’s trip, check out the video below.

Like the video? Please give it a thumbs-up, and subscribe to the Marsh Man Masson channel on YouTube. Also, leave a comment below or on the YouTube page. Do you sight-fish much this time of year? If so, what are some of your keys to success?