Features from April 2021
Live bait gets most of the attention, but sheepshead will hit a couple of relatively new artificials.
How will Bussey Brake Reservoir fish once it’s up to speed? A couple of local experts help anglers understand what it will take to succeed.
Turkeys often hang out in places you don’t have permission to hunt. Here’s how to deal with gobblers on the next piece of property.
In April, speckled trout are in transition in south Louisiana marshes, following water that’s clear, warming up and high in salinity.
Don’t restrict your fishing to a few hours a day. Get on the water whenever you can, but pay attention to the hints Mother Nature provides.
Don’t get stuck fishing in one spot. Trolling Lake Pontchartrain’s ‘Trestles’ can shake up some speckled trout in April.
Columns - April 2021
- Pedal power and trolling motors make trolling a winner for spring kayak fishing. It is fairly easy to learn and can be highly productive.
- Egret Baits’ Wedgetails catch plenty of redfish and flounder, as well as speckled trout, from Corpus Christi, Tex., to Florida’s Panhandle.
- The redear sunfish, aka shellcracker, chinquapin or yellow bream, is identified most easily by the colorful edge around it earflap.
- Twitch baits take center stage with Louisiana anglers when April arrives and big speckled trout are on the prowl.
- Habitat improvement is a key to efforts at building a huntable turkey flock in your neck of the woods when April arrives.
Outdoor Updates - April 2021
- Three new entries in the Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program in just over 24 hours. It’s big bass time on Toledo Bend.
- Bart Blakelock caught a 10.61-pound Toledo Bend bass that hit a small crankbait on a trip with Joe Norris on March 12.
- Sabine Lake and Lake Calcasieu were spared a severe fish kill by Winter Storm Uri because the fish have access to deep water.
- Hunter Cavalier caught a big 11.9-pound Ivan Lake whopper, his personal best largemouth, on Feb. 12, 2021.
- John Voorhies took this 10-point trophy buck, which scored 191.73, while hunting the Spring Bayou WMA near Marksville.
- Gaven Shelton of Pineville caught a huge Toledo Bend bass on March 13 during a Bass Busterz Bass Club tournament with partner Casey Clark.
- The Pointe Marina and Grill of Slidell was revamped with a brand new live bait and tackle shop for fishermen.
- London Rosiere was fishing in Venice when she hand cranked and landed not one, but two whopper swordfish just minutes apart on Feb. 25.
- Tyler Stewart caught the new Bussey Brake Reservoir record largemouth bass, a 12.74 giant, with a Googan Bandito Bug on March 16.
- Cheyenne Nicole Wheat, aka Pickle, of Poydras is the newest addition to the 12th season of History Channel’s series Swamp People.
- Lunker Toledo Bend bass were caught the last weekend of February by Chris Ebel of Many and Jason Courville of Hemphill, Tex.
- ULM’s Jacob Andrews and Connor Nimrod came in first place in the B.A.S.S. Nation Louisiana College Championship on Caney Lake.
- On Feb. 12, 1994, Greg Wiggins was fishing Caney Lake with fishing partner Mark Smith when he landed a monster 15.97-pound bass.
Hot Spots - April 2021
- Post-spawn bass can be tough, but Northshore anglers like Patrick Engerran are rarely skunked when using these techniques.
- April should be a good month for fishing the Pointe a la Hache area for nice speckled trout, redfish and bass.
- April is a great time to catch spawning crappie on Cypress Lake. According to Wesley Miller, they will be around reed beds and piers.
- Read the wind and the birds for a crack at April’s Dularge speckled trout. Use these tips from Capt. Travis Miller.
- According to Bill McCarty, April is the perfect time to fish cypress knees for Bay Wallace goggle-eye in south-central Louisiana.
- Guide John Dean says April is his favorite month to catch bass on a Carolina-rigged soft plastic at Toledo Bend.
Field Notes - April 2021
- A big pile of fresh fish filets is a whole lot easier to manage with an organized approach to fish cleaning.
- After 2 years on high-school circuit, Lily Girouard and Sadie Guidry are on their way to the High School B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship.
- MOJO decoys are made for a tough environment, but taking a little extra care of them can help them last longer and be more dependable.
- This is a sweet and savory fish dish that is sure to knock your socks off. It will have you licking your plate for the praline sauce.
- Capt. Ted DeAgano III always builds his rigs with a lighter jighead and smaller bait in front, with a slightly larger bait behind.