Louisiana Sportsman

May 1, 2026

Chris Lake holds a nice Lake Decade speckled trout.

Lake Mechant is a trout honey hole

December 17, 2018 Don Shoopman

There are two bayous in the northeast corner of Lake Mechant that year after year consistently give up speckled trout in December.[…]

Above: Noah Jarrett of Hallsville, Texas, caught this chunky bass while fishing in the FLW High School Open on Nov. 4 at Toledo Bend. Jarrett, who fished with Davis Butrum, is the son of Ben Jarrett. The father-and-son found bass in the same patterns as guide John Dean — in shallow areas around peppergrass and milfoil — on buzzbaits, plastic frogs and Flukes in the middle section of creeks keying on channel swings in 2- to 10-foot depths.

Action at Toledo Bend should improve

December 16, 2018 John Dean

A guide to catching bass in December at Toledo Bend.[…]

Soft plastics and spinnerbaits are both effective if you’re targeting redfish out of Lafitte this month, according to Capt. Theophile Bourgeois.

Watch the wind when fishing out of Lafitte

December 15, 2018 Joel Masson

What to do if you want to catch fish in Lafitte in the month of December.[…]

Capt. Nick Rando (right), owner of Fishaholic Fishing Charters, with Allen Buckley and a 45-pound black drum caught on shrimp under a Four-Horsemen popping cork in the Lost Lake area.

Make it a Delacroix December

December 14, 2018 Rusty Tardo

The fishing is fantastic and there’s action to be found all over the inside waters of Delacroix Island.[…]

Warren Maxwell with two nice Grand Bayou winter crappie.

It’s prime time for big crappie at Grand Bayou

December 13, 2018 Kinny Haddox

Grand Bayou is full of big, broad-shouldered crappie. And this is a grand month of the year to catch them.[…]

Joey Jeanfreau shows off a nice speckled trout, and said Chalmette locations typically get hot from October through about April.

Chalmette fishing action picks up in December

December 12, 2018 Rusty Tardo

Some truly prime winter fishing waters are accessed by three Chalmette area launches.[…]

Will Shell Beach fishing shine this month?

December 11, 2018 Joel Masson

The keys to having success with speckled trout at Shell Beach this month.[…]

A big bass like this one full of shad caught by Hunter Freeman is why many anglers go to Caney, but it’s the exception rather than the rule this month.

Caney Lake bass offer anglers two choices

November 11, 2018 Kinny Haddox

November is all about numbers of bass on Caney Lake – and here’s how you can catch them. […]

Frank Roberts said the trout transition was delayed this fall, but fish have finally moved inside.

Marsh speckled trout action on fire

November 11, 2018 Rusty Tardo

The trout transition was delayed this fall, but fish have finally moved inside.[…]

Bobby Phillips with a chunky D’Arbonne Lake crappie.

Sloughs still holding Lake D’Arbonne crappie

November 10, 2018 Kinny Haddox

If you want to slay the crappie on Lake D’Arbonne this month, you’ve got to search the sloughs — that’s where the fish will be, gorging on shad and filling up for the winter.[…]

If you’re targeting big fish, Capt. Casey Brunning recommends throwing topwaters this month out of Delacroix.

Delacroix trout can be tricky to track this month

October 17, 2018 Joel Masson

October can be a tricky month for fishing. It’s certainly a whole lot easier than September, but locating fish still can be a challenge.[…]

When action is jam-packed at the Trestles in Lake Pontchartrain, head over to Lake Catherine for specks.

Lake Catherine is a solid choice for trout

September 29, 2018 Joel Masson

Speckled trout anglers hammer the eastern Lake Pontchartrain train trestle every year, and when it’s on, the fishing can be lights out. However, when too much boat pressure gets on the bridge, the fish will turn off faster than they started.[…]

With the Mississippi expected to rise at the end of September, Capt. Brent Roy said he’ll target reds in the bays on the edges of marsh out of Venice.

Old Man River holds all the cards in Venice

September 27, 2018 Andy Crawford

This fall was setting up to be epic for anglers launching out of Venice. The Mississippi River had been nice and low for a couple of months, and its waters were that beautiful shade of green that signals crazy fishing action.[…]

Toledo Bend cool down

September 27, 2018 John Dean

Bass anglers who frequent Toledo Bend can’t wait for hoodie weather in this part of the state.[…]

Chillin’ on the Calcasieu

September 27, 2018 Don Shoopman

Southwest Louisiana’s bass anglers were on Cloud Nine a few weeks ago because the Calcasieu River was in the best shape it has ever been going into September.[…]

Shell Beach in the fall

September 27, 2018 Rusty Tardo

October means less fuel, less heat and better fishing, according to Shell Beach area guide Capt. Jacques ‘Jakamo’ Laboureur (504-303-1494).[…]