Louisiana Sportsman

October 7, 2024

The 3-inch long YUM Hellgrammite represents the size of the creature as an adult in its larval stage before becoming a dobsonfly.

Lure Review: YUM Hellgrammite

June 20, 2024 Don Shoopman

Bass love the 3-inch long YUM Hellgrammite, which represents the size of the creature as an adult in its larval stage.[…]

TJ Roussel with a 9.14-pound Toledo Bend bass caught this spring.

Odds are in your favor at Toledo Bend

June 6, 2024 John Dean

John Dean is banking on bass staying in the grass with the shad and bream this summer instead of leaving for offshore waters.[…]

Numerous species of fish fall for this artificial lure/live bait tactic. (Photo by Brian Cope)

Lure/live bait combo is deadly

June 1, 2024 Brian Cope

This artificial lure/live bait technique is deadly on numerous species of freshwater and saltwater fish.[…]

Dino Hunstock of Monterey volunteered to captain for the weekend so Travis would be able to compete in the state championship. (Photos courtesy Kylee Becnel)

Reader Report: Stranger steps in to help high school angler in need

May 31, 2024 Field Reporter

Travis Becnel got some help from Dino and Kristy Hunstock to fish the Louisiana High School Bass Fishing tournament on May 5.[…]

Louisiana man wins Big Bass Splash at Toledo Bend by one ounce

May 27, 2024 Dan Kibler

Ryan Hanson of Bernice won the Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash on Toledo Bend with his 10.64-pound lunker bass.[…]

On the evening of May 14, Taylor Gardner, 17, of Elmer caught this 11-pound, 7-ounce bass on Cotile Lake while fishing with his friend, Garrett Hooker.

Late-afternoon invite turns into surprise Cotile Lake lunker

May 25, 2024 Dan Kibler

On May 14, Taylor Gardner, 17, of Elmer caught an 11-pound, 7-ounce bass on Cotile Lake while fishing with his friend, Garrett Hooker.[…]

Doodle-socking

May 24, 2024 Kinny Haddox

Doodle-socking is an old technique for catching bass that is unlike the high end technology laden bass fishing that we are used to today.[…]

Life on the lake never gets boring

May 16, 2024 Kinny Haddox

Take advantage of drawdowns to explore new ground and search for treasures that have been dropped in the lake.[…]

A young boy and girl flank Every Fish Matters Foundation founder Cliff Crochet on May 11 at Veterans Park-Assumption Parish Recreation District 2 in Pierre Part. (Photos by Don Shoopman)

Crochet’s Every Fish Matters Foundation gives out 82,000 bass fingerlings

May 16, 2024 Don Shoopman

Cliff Crochet’s Every Fish Matters Foundation distributed 82,000 bass fingerlings to be released in Lake Verret and the Atchafalaya Basin.[…]

Verda angler lands 13-pound Bussey Brake spawner

May 13, 2024 Dan Kibler

Jerrad Friday of Verda caught a 13.10-pound bass at Bussey Brake Reservoir on May 11. He has caught 16 double-digit bass since March 25.[…]

Bass like this inhale the new Zoo Pop because they don't expect to see the weedless soft plastic version of a Pop-R worked enticingly in grass or duckseed. (Photos courtesy americanbaitworks.com)

Lure Review: Zoo Pop

May 13, 2024 Don Shoopman

The Snag Proof Zoo Pop has given bass anglers like Cliff “The Cajun Baby” Crochet another weapon to use in grass, lily pads and duckseed.[…]

Hunter Hamilton, left, and Tyler Morris, freshmen on the LSU-S Fishing Team, hoist the five bass that won the second Louisiana College Series B.A.S.S. Nation tournament in February at Bayou Black Lake.

Freshmen Hamilton, Morris making their mark on college bassin’

May 9, 2024 Don Shoopman

Hunter Hamilton and Tyler Morris, both freshmen at LSU-Shreveport, topped a 36-boat field of Louisiana college teams in February.[…]

Neal Meche, right, holds three bass while his son, Travis Meche Sr., grips the lip on two other bass during a weigh-in at a bass tournament on Henderson Lake. The elder Meche said Henderson Lake is his top destination for bassin’ during the month of May.

Try Henderson Lake for May bass

May 3, 2024 Don Shoopman

Neal Meche said Henderson Lake and Chicot Lake are his top destinations for bass fishing during the month of May.[…]

This 6-pounder inhaled the Neko-rigged Senko tossed by Mike Randolph of Zwolle during a bass club tournament at Toledo Bend.

Toledo Bend’s shallow water largemouth bite is on this month

May 2, 2024 John Dean

May should be a shallow-water bass fisherman’s dream month at Toledo Bend with the re-emergence of vegetation the past few years.[…]

Chris Nguyen of Monroe enjoys getting out on the water and catching Caney Lake lunkers this time of year.

Patience pays this time of year at Caney

April 30, 2024 Justin Adkins

Local Monroe native Chris Nguyen fishes Caney Lake regularly and shared how he targets these feisty fish in May.[…]

Lafayette man boats double-digit bass in Lake Chicot “dogfight”

April 29, 2024 Dan Kibler

Derek McCauley of Lafayette caught a 10-pound, 5 ½-ounce bass on April 16 during a Tuesday evening “dogfight” tournament on Lake Chicot.[…]