Features from May 2023
Of all the people who fished the last CCA STAR season, no one had a mangrove snapper as big as the 14.05-pounder hooked by Gary Trahan.
Whether you’re looking to fish a tournament or simply have the urge to catch a big catfish, give the Atchafalaya River a try.
The 2022-23 deer season was quite challenging and perplexing. The common theme was that we are not seeing the deer we always do.
We take a look at the entire coast from east to west to see what makes Louisiana’s coastal saltwater fishing the best!
Crappie will settle on the very bottom, literally in the mud. Three pros share their thoughts on how to dig them out.
Kinny Haddox shares the Top 10 items he wanted to take home from the 44th annual Louisiana Sportsman Show and Festival.
Columns - May 2023
- This year, Louisiana’s offshore fishermen will have the chance to take red snapper every day of the week beginning May 26, 2023.
- Is social media is the greatest thing to ever happen to hunting, fishing and the outdoors or is social media ruining them.
- Todd Masson likes to study maps for a day or two before a trip, put together a loose plan and execute it in marsh that he's never fished.
- May offers great fishing for Louisiana kayak anglers, whether you choose to pursue fresh or saltwater species.
- Derek Hudnall of Baton Rouge has been using that Spunk Shad as a trailer for about a year and it has paid big dividends.
- If you were lucky enough to bag a few deer this season, take out a pack of ground meat and get to cooking this Sloppy Doe recipe.
- The Eastern wild turkey is one of the largest gamebirds in North America and is a prized bird among hunters.
- Scooter Lacoste of Morganza has been raccoon hunting for 45 years and has some advice for those wanting to get started in coon hunting.
Outdoor Updates - May 2023
- Danny Diel of Bastrop was fishing at Bussey Brake on April 3 when he hooked a giant 13.84-pound bass out of a flooded bush.
- High school bass anglers Mason McCormick and Alexis Virgillito caught five bass weighing 37.13 pounds March 18 at Caney Lake.
- The CCA Louisiana Statewide Tournament and Angler’s Rodeo (STAR), presented by Chevron, begins on May 27, 2023.
- Two 11-pound-plus bass were caught by Glenmora High School's Shawn Pender on March 25 at Indian Creek Reservoir.
- On March 25, Brendon Sonnier pulled in a 10.44-pound largemouth bass to his father’s boat on Toledo Bend Reservoir.
- Michael Boudin of Prairieville caught his personal best bass, a 13.60-pound lunker, at Toledo Bend on April 11.
- Grand Isle is responsible for Brad Felkins becoming a saltwater fishing addict. A fishing trip with his fiancée, Tay, is one of his favorites.
- Michael Crapanzano and Chris Davis of Hammond were fishing at Bussey Brake Reservoir in March when they each caught 11-pound lunker bass.
- Tater Reynolds of Florien landed his second 12+ pound bass at Toledo Bend during a Game Changers tournament on March 18, 2023.
- The 2023 Louisiana red snapper season will begin May 26 with a three-fish bag limit, 16-inch minimum total length.
- George Tassin, Jr. of Slidell pulled in a gold-colored flathead catfish from Doubloon Bayou on April 7, 2023.
Hot Spots - May 2023
- Larry Doiron of Morgan City points people to the bream fishing hotspots in and around Bayou Cheramie this month.
- With large numbers of baitfish that trout and redfish alike are gorging on this time of year, slicks are a productive means of locating fish.
- The word from Capt. Don Maille is for Hopedale anglers to head to the bigger outside bays for the best May fishing action.
- It’s a great time to throw topwaters at the bass in May at Toledo Bend. It’s just a fun time to chase bass that are chasing the bream.
Field Notes - May 2023
- As a freshman, Dylan Breaux, who is now a sophomore, got the Nicholls State University Bass Federation team going again.
- Anchored by three pristine lakes with incredible places to hike, swim, relax, or fish, Branson, Missouri, is a great place for family fun.
- The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is considering declaring the ivory-billed woodpecker to be extinct. A final decision is expected any time.