Louisiana Sportsman

October 24, 2026

This high school pair’s differences make them a stronger bass fishing team

February 5, 2026 Don Shoopman

Cade Whittington and Gage Dowers, both juniors at Sulphur High School, complement each other well and are a great bass fishing team.[…]

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.[…]

Despino’s Tire Fishin’ for Kids Bass Tournament announces Phoenix boat as top prize

January 31, 2026 Don Shoopman

Despino’s Tire Fishin’ for Kids Bass Tournament is scheduled to be held this year on March 14 at Toledo Bend.[…]

Johnny Fulkerson's 11.23-pound bass, which he carefully cradles in both hands, was caught on Jan. 22 off a pier at Cypress Bend Resort. The "hawg" was weighed at Living the Dream Guide Service. (Photo courtesy Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program)

Prairieville angler lands 11.23-pounder at Toledo Bend

January 29, 2026 Don Shoopman

Johnny Fulkerson’s 11.23-pound bass was caught with some help from his friend, Jim Bob Jackson, on Jan. 22 at Cypress Bend Resort.[…]

Bill Lewis Lures' new Big Gizz has been catching bass of all sizes, mostly big, ever since it was unveiled at ICAST 2025.

The Bill Lewis Big Gizz

January 26, 2026 Don Shoopman

Bossier City’s Nick LeBrun intends to catch plenty of bass with the Bill Lewis Lures Big Gizz he got his hands on in early November.[…]

Jason Pittman makes a cast into a shallow canal where reduced current and sun exposure speed up water temperature changes.

Solving the bass spawn puzzle

January 23, 2026 Keith Lusher Jr.

Jason Pittman of Covington learned early that the spawn translated to catching big bass. He has three go-to setups for shallow-water fish.[…]

Tater Reynolds of Florien caught this 11.06-pound bass on Jan. 7 at Toledo Bend. (Photo courtesy Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program)

Huge Toledo Bend bass runs off “little” brother, winds up in Tater Reynolds’ boat

January 18, 2026 Dan Kibler

Tater Reynolds of Florien caught this 11.06-pound bass on Jan. 7 and weighed it in at Buckeye Landing Marina on Toledo Bend.[…]

Gene Kidder of Opelousas caught this 11.9-pound trophy bass on Dec. 18 at Toledo Bend. (Photo courtesy Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program)

Angler’s last-chance cast yields personal best bass at Toledo Bend

January 3, 2026 Nick Vaccaro

Gene Kidder of Opelousas was fishing with his son when caught this 11.9-pound trophy bass on Dec. 18 at Toledo Bend.[…]

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.[…]

An angler shows off a couple largemouth bass he caught. When waters turn cold, bass often go deep in the main river channels.

Dig deep for bass

December 31, 2025 John N. Felsher

Tempting largemouth bass in frigid conditions might take considerable endurance and persistence, but any cast could bring huge rewards.[…]

LSU-S bass angler Miles Smith with two bass he caught while fishing solo in a B.A.S.S. collegiate bass tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn.

Miles Smith finds success after move to LSU-Shreveport

December 19, 2025 Don Shoopman

Miles Smith, 21, is a proud member of one of the top collegiate bass teams in the country at LSU-Shreveport.[…]

LDWF to release Florida Largemouth Bass into Lake Buhlow

December 8, 2025 From News Reports

The LDWF will release 140 adult Florida Largemouth Bass into Lake Buhlow on Dec. 10 as part of efforts to enhance the lake’s bass population.[…]

Living the Dream Guide Service fishing guide Barrett Bennefield holds two recently caught “hawgs” on a fishing trip at Toledo Bend.

Find fish around wood cover on Toledo Bend

December 5, 2025 Matthew Loetscher

December is a transitional month for bass. Tweak your approach to a winter pattern to get bass to bite on Toledo Bend.[…]

Louisiana’s first stakeholder-driven black bass management plan

November 30, 2025 Chris Macaluso

For the first time in state history, freshwater fisheries biologists are working with bass anglers to develop a black bass management plan.[…]

LDWF announces Statewide Black Bass Angler Survey and requests participation

November 22, 2025 From News Reports

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries invites Louisiana bass anglers to take part in the Statewide Black Bass Angler Survey.[…]

As eighth-graders, Chase Muller, left, and Drew Todaro showed what they can do together by finishing second in an LHSBN tournament’s Junior Division out of Doiron’s Landing. They were and still are captained by Todaro’s father, Vincent Todaro, center.

These bass fishing teens are ready to rise to the occasion

November 7, 2025 Don Shoopman

Hahnville High School’s Drew Todaro and Chase Muller are the first bass anglers from Hahnville High to qualify for nationals.[…]