Patrick Bonin, Author at Louisiana Sportsman

Boats like this one near Pilottown have been running aground on newly formed sandbars that were created when the Mississippi River reached near record-breaking highs earlier this spring and summer. As the river drops, anglers are urged to use caution because of sediment and obstacles deposited during the high-water conditions. (Photo by Sea Tow Westbank)

Mississippi River finally drops — but anglers urged to use caution

After months and months of high water, the Mississippi River has finally dropped. That means fishing downriver in spots like Empire, Buras and Venice. […]

The key to putting fish in the boat is understanding where they will be, and checking tidal flow at crab pots can help narrow down that search.

The best tide indicator

Patrick Bonin

When Chas Champagne, creator of Matrix Shad, heads out in pursuit of fish, he often relies on this tried-and-true, real-time indicator of tidal movement. […]

This trophy trout attacked a Matrix Mullet, a topwater proven to fool even the smartest trophy trout.

The best thing you can do when fishing topwaters

Patrick Bonin

Nothing is more exhilarating than catching speckled trout on topwater lures — and nothing is more maddening than missing fish. Here’s what you need to do. […]

Epic blue marlin bite in the Gulf

Patrick Bonin

Chris Hall has been on lots and lots of blue marlin trips — but none as successful as he and his crew experienced during the Louisiana Billfish Classic. […]

Justin Glover, of Zwolle, shows off the 10-pound largemouth bass he landed Monday, May 13, in the San Miguel area of Toledo Bend.

Zwolle angler lands ‘Perfect 10’ at Toledo Bend

Patrick Bonin

Justin Glover, of Zwolle, caught his first-ever double digit bass, a 10-pound largemouth, on May 13 in the San Miguel area of Toledo Bend. […]

Donovan Stoner, of Atlanta, La., shows off a couple of nice Black Lake bass. Stoner said May is a great month to target postspawn fish before water temperatures really ramp up and summer heat takes hold.

Black Lake perfect baits

Patrick Bonin

Donovan Stoner said he’d focus his attention on the multitude of cypress trees that cover Black Lake, and offered his Top 3 lures for Black Lake in May. […]

Kendall Mullins shows off a stringer featuring a nice limit of flounder from a recent trip in marshes near Big Lake. If you can find a good cut leading into a marsh featuring a drop-off, that’s a great spot to target doormats.

Big Lake flounder run

Patrick Bonin

Mike Malone, president of the Elite Kayak Club, is a firm believer in Berkley Gulp’s chartreuse Swimming Mullet when he wants flounder at Big Lake. […]

John Gillard shows off the 10.98-pound bass he caught on April 27 during the Toledo Bend Oilman’s Classic. The lunker bit a blueberry Texas-rigged Zoom lizard in 2 feet of water in the San Miguel area, and won Gillard Big Bass honors for the tourney. (Photo courtesy of the Toledo Bend Lake Association)

Lizard works on 10.98-pounder during Toledo Bend Oilman’s Classic

Patrick Bonin

John Gillard caught a 10.98-pound bass on April 27 during the Toledo Bend Oilman’s Classic. The lunker bit in the San Miguel area. […]

Photo courtesy of Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program

Big bite not done yet: Toledo Bend yields 11-pounder

Patrick Bonin

Eddie Jarrell caught an 11.15-pound largemouth bass on April 16 at Toledo Bend on a Carolina-rigged watermelon red 7-inch Zoom Magnum Trick Worm. […]

Mike White caught these two mega-trout while fishing Grand Isle last summer.

LDWF tight-lipped on 2019 speckled trout forecast

Patrick Bonin

Patrick Banks, assistant secretary for fisheries, said trout limits for 2019 “probably” would not be affected while the results were being reevaluated by department biologists. […]

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

Patrick Bonin

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. […]