Volume 26 Number 8 - August 2006

FEATURES:

	Discovering D’Arbonne This lake doen’t get the praise of some other Louisiana gems - and that’s just the way regulars like it. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the eighth installment of a 12-part series exploring the best bass-fishing areas in the Bayou State. ... Chris Ginn

	Focus Factor What will you have atop your rifle this deer season? Will it help you take that buck of your dreams, or will it hinder your abilities? If you don’t want to invest in good gear, don’t ever borrow it. ... Todd Masson

	Jinx of the Ugly Boat Not even bad mojo can stop the trout action right now in Breton Sound. I told my old buddy, Glenn Sanchez, over at the Breton Sound Marina, that he owed me a trip. A good trip. It’s a debt he has owed me for a long, long time, and it was debt he couldn’t escape, because I wouldn’t let him. ... Rusty Tardo

	Knee-Deep in fish Beat the heat by dipping into a North Louisiana creek, where the waters are cool and action is unstoppable. Don’t you love those dog days of summer? The electricity meter is spinning like crazy trying to keep up with the humming air-conditioning unit, and the very thought of spending a day in the boat is about as appealing as a root canal. ... Terry L. Jones

	Nighttime Freaks There’s no better time to target trout, bass and tuna this month than after the sun has melted into the western horizon. You wouldn’t think country music star Mark Chestnutt and 1980s rap group Whodini would have anything in common. ... Chris Ginn

	Scientific Sherlocks These two researchers are gaining clues about the mysterious migraton habits of cobia. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part one of a two-part series examining cobia migration patterns. Part two will appear in the September issue. ... John E. Phillips

	Skeeter Beaters Point your bow to Mosquito Bay, and you’ll find it’s not bugs that are doing all the biting. In August, when the temptation hits you to run for the air-conditioning, run for the sunscreen instead. ... John K. Flores

	Spade Raid Don’t pass up the shallow-water rigs on your way offshore. Instead, load the boat with hard-fighting and tasty spadefish. The specks were finished spawning — scattered and scarce. Tides were low, so the reds were fickle and elusive on the inside. ... Humberto Fontova

	The Thick of It Just a little bit of work now will guarantee trophy-buck success later in the season. Most deer hunters live in the moment. They want to find and take big bucks this weekend. ... John E. Phillips

	The Waiting Game If you want to catch bull reds, you’ve got to put in the time, but that makes it all the more special when the rods double over. “Get the net” is the phrase most often heard echoing across the waters that surround the beach community of Grand Isle this time of year. ... Susan Gros

	Venice Shocker Bass anglers just knew the famed bass fishery at the mouth of the river had been wiped out by August’s salty surge, but to their delight, they’ve discovered that’s not the case at all. It was a shocking sight: Grass was matted on the point of the little trenasse north of Main Pass. That was unexpected in Venice, after reports that Hurricane Katrina had ripped up any vestiges of submerged vegetation. ... Andy Crawford

	Wadefishing Wonderland Calm days are best, but even when the winds blow, there are spots to catch fish in the Grand Isle surf. It was 5:30 in the morning, but John Engelsman was climbing off his bicycle after riding to the Grand Isle beach to check out the conditions as the sun’s first light leaked over the horizon and buddy Larry Langlois cooked bacon and eggs for ... Andy Crawford