Fishing Tournaments

Patterson’s Blanco wins Celebrity Pro Bass Challenge, sets event record

When the scales settled Saturday (Feb. 26) during the first daily weigh-in of the 2011 Celebrity Pro Bass Challenge, only two-tenths of a pound separated first and second place. And Patterson’s Gary Blanco headed into the final day with a scant lead.

The weigh-in was held outside of Academy Sports and Outdoors on Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge.

Twenty-four hours later, following the second day’s weigh-in, Blanco’s name remained at the top of the leader board. With that honor, the event’s $10,000 first-place prize money went into his pocket – and Blanco had set a record for the event.[…]

Inshore Fishing

Trollers starting to catch Causeway trout

It looks like inshore fishing for speckled trout is starting to pick up all across coastal Louisiana. Within the last few days, I’ve heard several good reports coming from the waders at Lake Calcasieu, the cork jerkers at Lake Mechant and the jig bouncers at the Lake Pontchartrain Train Trestle. However, the report that most interested me was from the trollers on the Causeway.[…]

Breaking News

Former LWFC member Mouton indicted in alleged influence-peddling scheme

Former Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission member Henry Mouton has been indicted for allegedly accepting nearly $500,000 in illegal payoffs to keep a New Orleans landfill closed, according to news reports.

The 64-year-old Mouton, who served on the Commission from 2003 through 2008, was indicted Friday, the Associated Press reported. He is charged with conspiracy, receiving illegal payoffs and making false statements to federal agents, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said in news reports. Letten also is apparently moving to have Mouton’s assets forfeited.[…]

Bass Rant

A Tale of Two Areas

Well, the 2011 Bassmaster Classic has played out, and I for one will go on record saying that I was wrong. If someone would have told me that Lake Cataouatche would stand up to the pressure of the top anglers in the world, as well as the local hands, during the first pretty-weather weekend of the year, I would have laughed.[…]

BassMasters Classic

Final Classic day a go; no fog in sight

The final day of the 2011 Bassmaster Classic is set to begin on schedule, a departure from the past two days that were delayed due to dense fog at the launch site of Bayou Segnette State Park.

“There’s no fog in sight,” Luling’s Bruce McDonald said while sitting in the boat of competitor Terry Scroggins waiting for the blast-off. “It’s beautiful. It’s completely different than the other days.”[…]