Louisiana Sportsman

October 17, 2026

Chicot Lake’s bigger bass often wind up in the hands of Brad Romero, a New Iberia native who lives in Lafayette. Romero goes there in May to take advantage of the lake’s deeper waters as the days get hotter.

Choose Chicot Lake in May

May 4, 2026 Don Shoopman

Brad Romero said it’s game on for bass fishing at Chicot Lake near Ville Platte when the calendar flips from April to May.[…]

Big smiles are contagious after “hawgs” are hooked and boated, as this proud young fisherwoman and her happy father prove after just such a catch while fishing with Living the Dream Guide Service guide Brandon O’Neal at Toledo Bend.

Spring fishing at Toledo Bend

May 3, 2026 Matthew Loetscher

If Toledo Bend’s pool level stays around 168 feet, Matthew Loetscher expects pretty good fishing success for both bass and sac-a-lait.[…]

Nice-sized speckled trout can be caught by anglers of all ages during April at Calcasieu Lake, according to Calcasieu Charter Service owner and veteran charter boat captain Erik Rue.

Anglers can rely on the West Cove to deliver trout

April 2, 2026 Don Shoopman

One of Erik Rue’s top choices for speckled trout fishing in April would be West Cove on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway.[…]

This lady angler wore a big smile after getting her hands on a big crappie while fishing late last spring with veteran Living the Dream Guide Service guide Matt Loetscher at Toledo Bend.

Toledo Bend is the total package in April

March 31, 2026 Matthew Loetscher

Anglers will find quality bass and crappie fishing opportunities take center stage in April at Toledo Bend.[…]

Steve Danna holds a pair of crappie that were caught at Lake D’Arbonne. (Photo courtesy Steve Danna)

Lake D’Arbonne turning hot for big slabs

March 30, 2026 John N. Felsher

One of the top crappie lakes in Louisiana, Lake D’Arbonne should produce some excellent crappie catches this spring as the water warms.[…]

As the water begins to warm, trout in Vermilion Bay go into a transition phase. Look for sunny banks with some tidal movement and bait. (Photo by John N. Felsher)

As water warms in the spring, fishing action heats up at Vermilion Bay

March 10, 2026 John N. Felsher

Troy Nash with South Louisiana Redfishing said the Vermilion Bay system south of New Iberia can produce good fishing all year long.[…]

There’s a good reason Lake Boeuf is one of Levi Thibodaux’s favorite places to fish for bass during March. He caught this lunker in 2022 while flippin’ a Texas-rigged soft plastic in the “jons” (reeds).

Lots to love about Lake Boeuf this month

March 8, 2026 Don Shoopman

Levi Thibodaux, a LSU-Shreveport senior majoring in business, doesn’t mind sharing his knowledge on where and how to fish Lake Boeuf.[…]

Derrick Uzzle is prepared to figure out what the Cross Lake crappie want each time he heads out in March.

Flexible anglers will be successful at Cross Lake

March 5, 2026 Justin Adkins

As crappie begin transitioning toward spring patterns on Cross Lake, success often comes down to patience and time on the water.[…]

Brandon Thompson Jr. of Springfield caught this 7-pound bass while attending the Living the Dream youth bass camp on Toledo Bend.

March is special at Toledo Bend

March 2, 2026 Matthew Loetscher

The bass spawn definitely gets underway on Toledo Bend in March, and bass anglers can get their hands on more and more double-digits.[…]

Trevor Huval, right, and Briley Lebeouf hold four of the sac-a-lait they caught on a trip to Lake Arthur.

Erath angler shares how he catches a mess of fish at Lake Arthur

February 2, 2026 Don Shoopman

Trevor Huval enjoys pulling sac-a-lait and bass from Lake Arthur during February. He’s fished the region for most of his life.[…]

Matt Loetscher, a veteran guide at Toledo Bend, shows with this catch that the best time of year to get your hands on a “hawg” is in February.

The best month at Toledo Bend

February 1, 2026 Matthew Loetscher

February is mainly pre-spawn time on Toledo Bend, but don’t be surprised to find some big bass up on a bed.[…]

It’s tuna time off the Louisiana coast. Anglers show a catch of yellowfin tuna they caught while fishing out of Venice. (Photo courtesy Hunter Caballero)

Cold water means hot action for tuna and wahoo out of Venice

January 5, 2026 John N. Felsher

January offers Venice fishermen some of the hottest offshore fishing all year for yellowfin tuna and wahoo.[…]

Matthew Loetscher grips the lip of two crappie he caught last January at Toledo Bend. The Living the Dream Guide Service veteran guide finds the crappie anywhere from 25- to 50-feet deep, usually suspended around standing timber.

Big crappie are the stars this month at Toledo Bend

January 2, 2026 Matthew Loetscher

Plenty families take extended holidays in December and January to catch crappie on Toledo Bend with Living the Dream Guide Service.[…]

Bundle up to ward off the elements and you can catch nice-sized speckled trout like this one caught by a fisherman did aboard Capt. Tommy Pellegrin’s boat.

January trout fishing out of Cocodrie or Dularge

January 1, 2026 Don Shoopman

Veteran charter boat captain Tommy Pellegrin of Houma knows just how good the speckled trout fishing gets at Cocodrie and Dularge[…]

Matt Migues holds a 3-pound speckled trout that bit his soft plastic bait this year in Vermilion Bay. In December, he’ll look for fish like these and bigger in The Cove.

Vermilion Bay is the perfect place to target December trout

December 18, 2025 Don Shoopman

Matt Migues shares some of his top fishing destinations to target speckled trout in and around Vermilion Bay.[…]

Joey Jeanfreau caught this hefty trout in the MRGO on a Rapala Twitchin’ Mullet.

Chalmette gets hot when it’s cold

December 11, 2025 Rusty Tardo

The Chalmette area waters remain a great place for colder weather anglers to catch a variety of highly prized fish.[…]