Louisiana Sportsman

Big bass like this one have helped Tyler Stewart make a big splash his first year on the FLW tour.

Stewart’s an angler to keep an eye on

August 15, 2018 Kinny Haddox

You might say that motocross’s loss is bass fishing’s gain.

The largemouths might not like that, though. If you’ve paid attention to pro bass fishing this year, you know why.[…]

A jig is a very effective spotted bass bait because it casts well and quickly reaches bottom.

Keep the party going

August 15, 2018 David A. Brown

Spotted bass are an aggressive, competitive lot; but even a robust school sees peaks and valleys in its feeding. When this happens, you certainly have the option of giving them a rest and returning later. However, Bassmaster Elite pro Gerald Swindle would first try a little spot stimulation strategy.[…]

The tapered end of a wooden chopstick makes a perfect cork peg for Dave Pizzolato because it floats.

Tip of the day

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

Dave Pizzolato discards the plastic pegs that come with his corks and replaces them with the tapered tips of wooden chopsticks. “If the peg comes out, plastic sinks but wood floats,” he grinned.[…]

Charlie King doesn’t go to the Red without a push pole stowed in his boat.

Tip of the day

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

“A push pole is an absolute must to fish here,” Charlie King half-grimaced and half-grinned. […]

Pogy prudence

August 15, 2018 David A. Brown

Prior to a recent mangrove snapper trip, Capt. Ross Montet loaded up with fresh pogies he cast-netted in the West Delta. He started in open water, but found he was chasing fast-moving schools that were outrunning his net in the 10- to 12-foot depths.[…]

This father-and-son team both took a buck in the same morning. Many clubs are geared toward family participation.

Organizing your own hunting club

August 15, 2018 Capt. Steve Himel

If you think you have what it takes to organize your own hunting club, here’s how to get started.[…]

Pizzolato nets every fish — no exceptions.

A crappie hot dog

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

Very few people can tell you the exact day they got serious about fishing, especially one with 70 years tucked under his belt.[…]

Pizzolato exclusively uses Salter’s Jiggin’ Poles. Note how close he has taken his boat to the pilings he is jigging.

Pizzolato’s Top 7 tips for Old River

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

1) Learn to tight-line. Using a cork doesn’t allow fishing to be done deep enough to fish the 12 to 14 feet needed on the most important fish-holding structure — piers and pilings in front of camps.[…]

Clipping packs of commonly used hooks onto a carabiner keeps the terminal tackle at easy reach.

Tackle organization bolsters efficiency

August 15, 2018 David A. Brown

Wherever you hunt largemouth bass, opportunities can rise and fall quickly, so preparation is paramount. An important element of your readiness is the organization of, and easy access to, your terminal tackle. Hooks, weights, swivels, etc. all need to remain conveniently reachable, lest you miss your chance.[…]

This chunky 3-pounder couldn’t resist a white swim jig and trailer after it struck at and missed a black Spro frog on the previous cast.

Frog follow-ups

August 15, 2018 Kinny Haddox

Frogs can’t do it all by themselves. But fishing frogs in combination with other lures is the most productive plan of attack. That’s especially true when a bass blows up on a frog, but misses it. When that happens, Tyler Stewart has three very specific baits he follows up with.[…]

Tyler Stewart is busy landing largemouths in the heat of summer on a topwater frog.

They built a better frog

August 15, 2018 Kinny Haddox

Frogs are becoming more popular fishing lures because they are a more realistic representation of a real frog, said professional fisheries biologist Mike Wood. In other words, they’re building a better frog.[…]

This bluegill taken by Greg Babin may be small, but could be a big winner in a species-related contest.

Tippets

August 15, 2018 Catch Cormier

August is the last full month of “SweatFest 2018,” the festival nobody likes to celebrate. While a combination of hot water and high tides make for tough fly fishing, late summer does offer a few unique opportunities.[…]

Movement from one pool to the next is done through locks. Although they are very large, built to accommodate barges and tugs, the lock tenders will lock through the smallest fishing boat without hesitation.

Off limits

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

Pools No. 5 and 4 are large complex areas because a variety of habitats and properties were flooded by the 7- to 8-foot rise in water levels that followed damming. The two pools are where Charlie King focuses his Red River guiding efforts, and also where Trent Toups does much of his personal bass fishing.[…]

Navigation buoys mark the river’s barge channel and for obvious reasons, are located outside the ends of toppled wing walls. King stressed that it is dangerous to operate a boat on plane between any buoy and the shoreline.

The big challenge on the Red

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

The Red River system has lots of bass —and it has big bass. Catching fish isn’t the biggest challenge that visiting anglers face. It’s navigation.[…]

New gear reviews

August 15, 2018 Chris Holmes

Reel Steady Rod Stabilizer

Designed to add stability to heavy offshore fishing rods, the Reel Steady is a great addition for kayak anglers who need all the help they can get. Be it snapper or tarpon, fighting these bruisers from the seated position of a kayak makes handling heavy rods even more difficult.[…]

Kaleb Kellum hoists a feisty bream while his dad, James, looks on. A simple cane pole and a box of worms are all that;s necessary for a great day of catching some hard-fighting panfish.

August’s Best Bets

August 15, 2018 Chris Holmes

Saltwater

Where: Grand Isle: Caminada Pass, Barataria Pass and Elmer’s Island beach

What: Bull reds and jack crevalle in the passes, and trout on the beach[…]