Louisiana Sportsman

Above: Noah Jarrett of Hallsville, Texas, caught this chunky bass while fishing in the FLW High School Open on Nov. 4 at Toledo Bend. Jarrett, who fished with Davis Butrum, is the son of Ben Jarrett. The father-and-son found bass in the same patterns as guide John Dean — in shallow areas around peppergrass and milfoil — on buzzbaits, plastic frogs and Flukes in the middle section of creeks keying on channel swings in 2- to 10-foot depths.

Action at Toledo Bend should improve

December 16, 2018 John Dean

A guide to catching bass in December at Toledo Bend.[…]

A guide to winter crappie

December 16, 2018 louisianasportsman

A list of stories full of tips and techniques specifically for winter crappie fishermen.[…]

Soft plastics and spinnerbaits are both effective if you’re targeting redfish out of Lafitte this month, according to Capt. Theophile Bourgeois.

Watch the wind when fishing out of Lafitte

December 15, 2018 Joel Masson

What to do if you want to catch fish in Lafitte in the month of December.[…]

Joe McPherson poses with the 17-point buck he shot on Dec. 9 in Avoyelles Parish. Depending on how the official score shakes out, it could potentially be a new Louisiana state record typical buck.

Potential new typical state record buck downed in Avoyelles Parish

December 15, 2018 Patrick Bonin

Rumors of a new typical state deer record are swirling around a majestic 17-point buck Joe McPherson shot on Dec. 9 in Avoyelles Parish. […]

If you’re a Louisiana hunter headed to Texas and you’re wondering how to get your trophy mounted back home with all the confusing chronic wasting disease import regulations, Steve German’s Taxidermy Art in Westlake has you covered.[…]

December's aerial survey estimates 1.94 million birds this month, about 32 percent lower than the state's long-term average of 2.84 million birds.

LDWF’s aerial survey: Duck numbers down 36 percent compared to last December

December 14, 2018 Patrick Bonin

The LDWF’s December aerial survey numbers reveal about 1.94 million birds this month, about 32 percent below this month’s long-term average. […]

Bethany Gunter shot this big public lands 12-point on the Kisatchie National Forest on Dec. 11. The buck green-scored 156 4/8 inches at the Spotted Dog in Columbia.

Winn Parish hunter downs public lands 12-pointer on Kisatchie

December 14, 2018 Patrick Bonin

A good scouting trip on the Kisatchie National Forest helped Bethany Gunter shoot her biggest buck ever — a monster 12-pointer she shot from 80 yards on Dec. 11. […]

Capt. Nick Rando (right), owner of Fishaholic Fishing Charters, with Allen Buckley and a 45-pound black drum caught on shrimp under a Four-Horsemen popping cork in the Lost Lake area.

Make it a Delacroix December

December 14, 2018 Rusty Tardo

The fishing is fantastic and there’s action to be found all over the inside waters of Delacroix Island.[…]

Chas Champagne caught this 6-pound speckled trout Wednesday morning jigging a tiger bait Matrix Shad in the Lakeshore Estates canal system.

Lakeshore Estates canals give up 6-pound speckled trout on the North Shore

December 13, 2018 Patrick Bonin

Chas Champagne reeled in his biggest speckled trout in a couple of years, when he caught a 6-pounder in the Lakeshore Estates canals on the North Shore Wednesday morning. […]

Michael Guillory poses with his big East Feliciana Parish 11-point he arrowed on Dec. 7.

East Feliciana 11-point arrowed Dec. 7

December 13, 2018 Glynn Harris

Michael Guillory made the most of his opportunity when a big East Feliciana buck he’d been watching for more than three years stepped out within bow range on Dec. 7. […]

Josh Chauvin, the Apex Predator, downed this hog with his new micro .22 Mag, the Little Badger.

Apex Predator: Micro .22 Mag handles hogs

December 13, 2018 Josh Chauvin

In this month’s column, Josh Chauvin details his adventures with his new micro .22 Mag, the Little Badger, which tips the scales at under 3 pounds. […]

Warren Maxwell with two nice Grand Bayou winter crappie.

It’s prime time for big crappie at Grand Bayou

December 13, 2018 Kinny Haddox

Grand Bayou is full of big, broad-shouldered crappie. And this is a grand month of the year to catch them.[…]

Keith Suire shot this big Beauregard Parish 10-pointer on Nov. 7. The buck green-scored north of 150 inches.

Short walk from home produces Beauregard Parish 10-point

December 12, 2018 Glynn Harris

A big buck Keith Suire had been watching for three years in Beauregard Parish finally appeared last month — but it was so close, he almost couldn’t make a shot. […]

Joey Jeanfreau shows off a nice speckled trout, and said Chalmette locations typically get hot from October through about April.

Chalmette fishing action picks up in December

December 12, 2018 Rusty Tardo

Some truly prime winter fishing waters are accessed by three Chalmette area launches.[…]

Marsh Man Masson ventured to his neighborhood swimming pool to put some twitch baits through their paces.

Pool test: Which twitch bait is best for speckled trout?

December 11, 2018 Todd Masson

Marsh Man Masson tests various speckled trout twitch baits in his neighborhood swimming pool — and the results are eye-opening. […]

Brantley Ray of Mound nailed this big Madison Parish 13-pointer at 200 yards on Nov. 10.

Madison Parish 13-pointer makes fatal daytime appearance

December 11, 2018 Glynn Harris

Brantley Ray planned and watched the moon phase, then drilled a big Madison Parish 13-point when he got the opportunity on Nov. 10. […]