Louisiana Sportsman

July 14, 2026

Trout start heading out to the coast and barrier islands in late spring to spawn, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find some in the coastal lakes and marshes.

May: A Kayak smorgasbord

May 14, 2021 Chris Holmes

While good kayak fishing can be had year-round in coastal Louisiana, May could be the best month for comfort and variety.[…]

Racket Blade gives Stanley Jigs an entry into the bladed jig market

May 1, 2021 Don Shoopman

The Racket Blade, Stanley’s entry into the bladed jig market, is a rocket with plenty of racket attached to intrigue bass.[…]

Angler Drew Gregory was targeting largemouth bass when this longnose gar hit a spinnerbait in the tailrace below a dam, a common area for this species to search for prey.

Species Spotlight: Longnose gar

April 29, 2021 Brian Cope

Longnose gar are found almost everywhere. They are one of the most prehistoric fish swimming in North American waters.[…]

Trout ignore structure? Better notify the Trestles

April 23, 2021 Todd Masson

The Lake Pontchartrain Trestles show anglers exactly how speckled trout can use a piece of structure effectively.[…]

Trolling with a kayak is a great way to fool speckled trout in the spring.

Don’t forget trolling as a spring kayak-fishing technique

March 26, 2021 Chris Holmes

Pedal power and trolling motors make trolling a winner for spring kayak fishing. It is fairly easy to learn and can be highly productive.[…]

A purple/chartreuse Wedgetail made by Egret Baits hands out of the mouth of a redfish that gobbled it up along the Gulf Coast. (Photo by Chris Berzas)

Lure Review: Egret Baits’ Wedgetail

March 26, 2021 Don Shoopman

Egret Baits’ Wedgetails catch plenty of redfish and flounder, as well as speckled trout, from Corpus Christi, Tex., to Florida’s Panhandle.[…]

Wild turkeys: It’s tough to add birds

March 26, 2021 David Moreland

Habitat improvement is a key to efforts at building a huntable turkey flock in your neck of the woods when April arrives.[…]

Spring fishing: Time for hard plastics

March 26, 2021 Todd Masson

Twitch baits take center stage with Louisiana anglers when April arrives and big speckled trout are on the prowl.[…]

Species spotlight: Shellcracker

March 23, 2021 Brian Cope

The redear sunfish, aka shellcracker, chinquapin or yellow bream, is identified most easily by the colorful edge around it earflap.[…]

SB-57 MDJ Series crankbait

March 1, 2021 Don Shoopman

Bass pro Mark Daniels set out to design a square-bill crankbait. The Bill Lewis MDJ Series SB-57 is the result.[…]

A nice flock of hens visited the author’s small property this winter; he’s hopeful a few will come back this spring to nest, and perhaps, a tom will tag along after them.

Follow your hens, the gobblers will

February 23, 2021 David Moreland

Before turkeys go on the nest, one of the best ways to track gobblers is to keep tabs on the hens beforehand.[…]

For many decades, bass in south Louisiana were only found in freshwater lakes and canals having been driven from the coastal marshes due to saltwater intrusion. However, due to the effects of natural and man-made river diversions combined with hurricane protection projects, the waters are switching back to brackish and the bass have spread throughout the area.

Kayaking for green trout

February 22, 2021 Chris Holmes

Coastal kayak anglers have a relatively new, green target: largemouth bass, aka green trout can be caught alongside redfish and trout.[…]

Blue catfish in this size range make fine table fare. Many anglers prefer this size for eating over larger ones. (Picture by Brian Cope)

Species spotlight: Blue catfish

February 19, 2021 Brian Cope

Blue catfish are highly adaptable and live in almost any type of freshwater; lakes, ponds, creeks, swamps or rivers.[…]

When the water is cold and low, post-up where you can fish the outside turn of a bayou. The tide scours the bottom here and the water is deeper and concentrates the fish.

How to have successful winter kayak trips

February 8, 2021 Chris Holmes

If you’re cold, they’re cold. Adapt to changing conditions and fish accordingly. Look for deeper water and fish slowly.[…]

Clyde Folse has added to his line of crappie-fishing products a jighead he’s been using for 25 years.

Lure Review: Hamma Heads

January 26, 2021 Don Shoopman

Crappie Psychic’s Clyde Folse debuts the flat jigheads he’s been using to put crappie in the boat for decades.[…]

Capt. Ronnie Daniels with a red caught while fishing the Biloxi Marsh. (pictured by Brian Cope)

Species spotlight: Redfish

January 22, 2021 Brian Cope

Red drum, commonly referred to as redfish, are one of the most popular species of saltwater fish throughout the southeast.[…]