Patrick Bonin, Author at Louisiana Sportsman

Reefballs like this one, along with large chunks of limestone and some shells, will be used in construction of new artificial reefs proposed for four sites in Lake Borgne and the Mississippi Sound.

New reefs planned for Lake Borgne/Mississippi Sound

Lake Pontchartrain area anglers will soon have four new areas to target speckled trout and redfish after construction of four artificial reefs in and around Lake Borgne and the Biloxi Marsh. […]

Bell City angler lands big 11-pounder at Toledo Bend

Patrick Bonin

John Reber, of Bell City, hooked an 11.14-pound largemouth bass on April 6 near Pirate’s Cove at Toledo Bend. The big fish earned him big bass honors in the Toledo Bend Open Shoot Out that day. […]

How local fireman caught 5 double-digit bass on Lacassine

Patrick Bonin

Lacassine Pool once again opens up to bass anglers in the middle of March. Here’s how one angler — who caught five double-digit bass there last year alone — fishes the 16,000-acre impoundment inside the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Louisiana. […]

Photo courtesy of Toledo Bend Lake Association

No fooling: Texas angler lands 10-plus-pounder on April 1

Patrick Bonin

Craig Broussard, of Fulshear, Texas, had the last laugh when he reeled in this 10.41-pound largemouth bass on April Fool’s Day. […]

Brett Trouille, of Maurice, shows off the 10.03-pound largemouth he caught March 30 in the 12-15 area. The big bass, which was bedded down, bit a white Texas-rigged Zoom Craw.

Pre-front bite means two more 10-pounders at Toledo Bend

Patrick Bonin

An unseasonably cool cold front arriving on March 30 produced two nice lunker largemouth bass at Toledo Bend. […]

Garrett Perkins, of Mamou, poses with the big 10.46-pound bass he caught from a bed on March 25 in the Negreet area at Toledo Bend. The big fish finally bit a Texas-rigged white Cajun Lures Craw after about 25 or 30 flips, he said. (Photo courtesy of Toledo Bend Lake Association)

Mamou angler bags big bedding bass at Toledo Bend

Patrick Bonin

The third time was the charm for Garret Perkins when he targeted a big bedding bass on March 25 in the Negreet area of Toledo Bend. […]

This photo from a foggy morning earlier this spring out of Venice illustrates just how foggy the Mississippi River can get — and why radar is absolutely necessary when heading out in these conditions.

Staying safe in the fog

Patrick Bonin

As if the Mississippi wasn’t already dangerous enough for anglers even under ideal conditions — foggy mornings make things even more difficult. Capt. Jordan Ellis shares tips for anglers heading out on Ol’ Man River. […]

After last winter’s freezes and some tough trout fishing in 2018, Capt. Ronnie Lisotta has great expectations for solid specks like this one this spring.

Pointe-aux-Chenes Trout Cranking up

Patrick Bonin

Guide reveals top 3 areas to fish With the relatively warm, wet, dreary winter Louisiana has experienced so far this year, Capt. Ronnie Lisotta is expecting some serious speckled trout action this spring — and […]

Finishing the day off with pompano put icing on the cupcake for many of Guide Tommy Pellegrin’s March trips.

Pompano pointers

Patrick Bonin

Capt. Tommy Pellegrin of Custom Charters out of Houma said March and April are prime months to put some pompano on ice. […]

Darren Burns, of Moss Bluff, shows off the 10.27-pound lunker bass he landed on March 20 near Mill’s Creek — the first of four lunkers landed on what proved to be an epic day at Toledo Bend.

Four 10-pound bass at the Bend — in a single day

Patrick Bonin

It was an absolutely epic day for landing lunker bass at Toledo Bend on March 20. A grand total of four 10-pound-plus bass were taken to certified scales that day. […]

Missouri angler lands giant Toledo Bend 11-pounder

Patrick Bonin

Bryan Hargiss, of St. Louis, Missouri, landed an 11.14-pound largemouth bass on March 13 in a cove near Holly Park Marina. […]

This Redflex Jeep, outfitted with radar and cameras, is currently in testing mode on Grand Isle. Eventually it will be used to enforce posted speed limits, and violators will receive a civil ticket in the mail, according to Grand Isle Police Chief Laine Landry.

New speed camera in use on Grand Isle

Patrick Bonin

Effective this week, a white Redflex Jeep equipped with radar and cameras is on the island to monitor — and enforce — posted speed limits in Grand Isle:. […]