Ask Captain Paul
Who doesn’t want a fishing edge?
Dear Capt. Paul:
Do you have the GPS position coordinates for Vermilion Bay and the Boxcar Reef?[…]
Columns
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Are goliath groupers fish or footballs?
The glamour boy of the grouper family, the 800-pound Atlantic goliath grouper, is becoming the Gulf of Mexico’s latest fisheries management football, to be passed and punted back and forth between recreational fishermen, commercial fishermen, environmentalists and fisheries biologists.[…]
Columns
LWFC should sue for artificial reef funds
When Gov. Bobby Jindal raided the constitutionally protected Artificial Reef Program, outdoorsmen were up in arms. The man who came to office on the coat tails of this state’s hunting and fishing community proved beyond any shadow of doubt that he was anything but “the sportsmen’s friend” he had claimed.[…]
Columns
Turkey patterns and cleaning tips
In turkey hunting, preparation is everything.
So thinking about you guys (and gals) who get all heated up over feathers in the spring, I thought I would write about patterning — and cleaning your guns.[…]
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Contest fraud stinks
Hunting and fishing tournaments and contests are a big part of the outdoor industry. Though I never had any desire to participate in such competitions, many of my friends do and more power to them.[…]
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Preparation meets opportunity
When selecting a monthly topic for Happy Trails, my usual goal is to write about something that will allow me to share the knowledge and experience that I have gained through more than 40 years of chasing whitetails. I also like to provoke thought and discussion about certain topics and issues.[…]
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Redcicles
As we get deep into winter, many kayak anglers hang up their paddle, preferring to wait until the first signs of spring make thoughts of getting back on the water more appealing.[…]
Bass Fishing
Chikara crankbaits
Bass fishermen are tying on a hot product from Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits. Surprisingly, it isn’t a soft plastic like the ever-popular Senko. In fact, it’s a hard bait with an attitude.[…]
Columns
Will you kill a gobbler this spring?
The theme this year for the National Wild Turkey Federation is “Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt.” This is also the theme for the Federation’s new initiative that has set three goals or objectives: conserve and enhance 4 million acres of critical upland wildlife habitat, recruit 1.5 million new hunters, and open access to 500,000 new acres for hunting and other outdoor recreation.[…]
Apex Predator
The Apex Predator brings along an umbrella and fishes rain or shine
With warmer temperatures on the horizon, most outdoorsmen seriously begin hitting the bays and bayous with the arrival of spring.[…]
Columns
Fishcation planning begins now
On the aftermath of Icepocalypse 2014, most flyfishers can’t begin to think about wading a cold stream with snow-covered mountain peaks as a backdrop. But come August, they will think differently. […]
Ask Captain Paul
The Freeport Sulphur Mine near Garden Island Bay
Dear Capt. Paul:
What are the coordinates of where the Freeport sulphur facility used to be on Garden Island Bay? What is the name of the pass they were on: Southwest or South pass?[…]
Columns
When a mullet is king
Kingfish are members of the drum family — the family of redfish and speckled trout — but they bear no resemblance to their family-mates.[…]
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Don’t be stupid: Wear a PFD
Fishing is at the heart of Louisiana outdoor life. Sure, we love to hunt, but that’s only allowed for a few months each year. Fishing season, on the other hand, never ends.[…]
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Manchac swamp stranding shows importance of survival gear
If you’ve ever traveled Interstate 55 south to New Orleans, you have passed over that exotic, and almost mystical area between two of Louisiana’s major lakes — Lake Maurepas, and Lake Pontchartrain.[…]
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Crappie crooks
February can be a little slow, as far as hunting and fishing goes. Hunting seasons are ending. The fish aren’t spawning yet, and besides it’s still pretty cold for getting in a boat.[…]