Louisiana Sportsman

August 26, 2026

A Sucka Punch is lodged deep in the mouth of a nice-sized bass. The Xcite Baits soft plastic punchin' bait was introduced to the bassin' world in January 2023.

Lure Review: Sucka Punch

January 21, 2024 Don Shoopman

Inspired and designed by bass pro Tyler Rivet, the Sucka Punch presents a different profile and a hook slot on the side.[…]

Flashin Assassin

December 22, 2023 Don Shoopman

Crappie fishermen the world over can get their hands on the deadly new Flashin Assassin developed by Collier Thornton.[…]

Frog Guru Baits

November 30, 2023 Don Shoopman

The Frog Guru Baits Glide Frog was designed by Joshua Baudoin with the intent of making a durable and effective artificial lure.[…]

Boom Boom Shrimp

October 19, 2023 Don Shoopman

Aaron Pierce built one of the most popular popping corks, the Four Horsemen Tackle Popping Cork. He’s now created the Boom Boom Shrimp.[…]

YUM Scottsboro Recon Swimbait

September 21, 2023 Don Shoopman

A joint project between YUM Bait Co. and the Scottsboro Tackle Co. resulted in the injection-molded YUM Scottsboro Recon Swimbait.[…]

Matrix 3X Shad

August 14, 2023 Don Shoopman

Matrix 3X Shad’s new tri-color combinations are Matrix 3X Shad Lime Light, Matrix 3X Shad Pink Cosmo and Matrix 3X Shad Purple Patagonia.[…]

Gary Dollahon holds a nice-sized crappie caught while fishing with a Bobby Garland Mayfly a few months ago in Oklahoma.

Bobby Garland Mayfly matches the hatch

July 22, 2023 Don Shoopman

The Bobby Garland Mayfly appeals to crappie or, as much of Louisiana calls them, sac-a-lait, because it looks like the things crappie eat.[…]

The new Speed Freak Full Frame spinnerbait introduced this year by Freedom Tackle Corp., an artificial lure manufacturing company under the umbrella of Mississippi-based American Baitworks.

Lure Review: Speed Freak

June 16, 2023 Don Shoopman

The Compact or Full Frame Speed Freak from Freedom Tackle Corp. was designed to run fast and stay in the water to tempt bass.[…]

Baton Rouge's Derek Hudnall shows one of the key artificial lures that helped him finish fifth Feb. 23-26 in the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at Lake Seminole in Georgia. Photo courtesy Bassmaster.com

Lure Review: Spunk Shad

May 14, 2023 Don Shoopman

Derek Hudnall of Baton Rouge has been using that Spunk Shad as a trailer for about a year and it has paid big dividends.[…]

This big trout is flopping in the net because it couldn't resist a Quiver Shad.

The Quiver Shad

April 20, 2023 Don Shoopman

Egret Baits designers wanted to build a “shad-style” bait with a boot tail and went all in on that early last year with the Quiver Shad.[…]

Prowler Squarebill

March 25, 2023 Don Shoopman

The Black Label Tackle Prowler Squarebill crankbait does just what its name suggests — invade the habitat to trigger pressured, finicky bass.[…]

Flipping Biffle Bug

February 25, 2023 Don Shoopman

Bass pro Tommy Biffle holds a bass caught on a Gene LaRew Flipping Biffle Bug. A flippin and pitchin’ soft plastic model of popular bait.[…]

Natural Forage Baits are in demand at Toledo Bend

February 2, 2023 Don Shoopman

Natural Forage Baits are in demand by crappie fishermen and, more importantly, crappie, as owner J.R. “Beau” Davidson knows very well.[…]

Bill Lewis Lures’ Scope Stik

December 30, 2022 Don Shoopman

Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part proudly touts the Bill Lewis Lures’ Scope Stik, a jerkbait he’ll fish with extensively this winter and spring.[…]

The Toad Thumper Lure Co. plastic frogs

November 18, 2022 Don Shoopman

The Toad Thumper Lure Company’s Swamper and Thumper plastic frogs make stubborn bass sing a different tune.[…]

JaBoom Beaver Ballz will knock big bass right

October 7, 2022 Don Shoopman

Bass anglers near and far want to get their hands on JaBoom’s Beaver Ballz. The soft plastic makes infiltrating mats much easier.[…]