Louisiana Sportsman

Bull reds swarming east side of Buras right now

August 17, 2018 Andy Crawford

We left Riverside Marina about 6:45 a.m., cutting through the ribbon of marsh on the east side of the Mississippi River and heading out the California Point.[…]

Capt. Marty LaCoste likes throwing double-rigged Matrix Shad lures in green hornet, avocado and purple haze for August specks.

Slow but steady

August 17, 2018 Joel Masson

August can be a slow month for speckled trout fishing, but in the Dularge area this month, local guide Capt. Marty LaCoste expects it to be really good.[…]

Louis Laville of Baton Rouge caught this 4 ½-pound bass in June while fishing with John Dean.

Nighttime is the right time at Toledo Bend

August 16, 2018 John Dean

Getting bites during the heat of the day in August could be a challenge for bass anglers at Toledo Bend.[…]

A jig is a very effective spotted bass bait because it casts well and quickly reaches bottom.

Spotted bass are an aggressive, competitive lot; but even a robust school sees peaks and valleys in its feeding. When this happens, you certainly have the option of giving them a rest and returning later. However, Bassmaster Elite pro Gerald Swindle would first try a little spot stimulation strategy.[…]

Pizzolato nets every fish — no exceptions.

A crappie hot dog

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

Very few people can tell you the exact day they got serious about fishing, especially one with 70 years tucked under his belt.[…]

The tapered end of a wooden chopstick makes a perfect cork peg for Dave Pizzolato because it floats.

Tip of the day

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

Dave Pizzolato discards the plastic pegs that come with his corks and replaces them with the tapered tips of wooden chopsticks. “If the peg comes out, plastic sinks but wood floats,” he grinned.[…]

This chunky 3-pounder couldn’t resist a white swim jig and trailer after it struck at and missed a black Spro frog on the previous cast.

Frog follow-ups

August 15, 2018 Kinny Haddox

Frogs can’t do it all by themselves. But fishing frogs in combination with other lures is the most productive plan of attack. That’s especially true when a bass blows up on a frog, but misses it. When that happens, Tyler Stewart has three very specific baits he follows up with.[…]

Pizzolato exclusively uses Salter’s Jiggin’ Poles. Note how close he has taken his boat to the pilings he is jigging.

Pizzolato’s Top 7 tips for Old River

August 15, 2018 Jerald Horst

1) Learn to tight-line. Using a cork doesn’t allow fishing to be done deep enough to fish the 12 to 14 feet needed on the most important fish-holding structure — piers and pilings in front of camps.[…]

This bluegill taken by Greg Babin may be small, but could be a big winner in a species-related contest.

Tippets

August 15, 2018 Catch Cormier

August is the last full month of “SweatFest 2018,” the festival nobody likes to celebrate. While a combination of hot water and high tides make for tough fly fishing, late summer does offer a few unique opportunities.[…]

Tyler Stewart is busy landing largemouths in the heat of summer on a topwater frog.

They built a better frog

August 15, 2018 Kinny Haddox

Frogs are becoming more popular fishing lures because they are a more realistic representation of a real frog, said professional fisheries biologist Mike Wood. In other words, they’re building a better frog.[…]

Big bass like this one have helped Tyler Stewart make a big splash his first year on the FLW tour.

Stewart’s an angler to keep an eye on

August 15, 2018 Kinny Haddox

You might say that motocross’s loss is bass fishing’s gain.

The largemouths might not like that, though. If you’ve paid attention to pro bass fishing this year, you know why.[…]

Rio Grande chichlids are an invasive species that has spread throughout the southeast. They are beautiful and tasty little creatures, but they compete with native fishes and therefore, by law, cannot be returned to the water alive after being caught.

Be on the lookout for Rios

August 15, 2018 Chris Holmes

Rio Grande cichlids are an invasive species that has spread throughout the metropolitan New Orleans area. Found in fresh and brackish areas, they are becoming a more common catch by anglers fishing for bream and sunfish. Rios are more aggressive at defending their territory, and the concern is they could possibly totally displace native bream. […]

New gear reviews

August 15, 2018 Chris Holmes

Reel Steady Rod Stabilizer

Designed to add stability to heavy offshore fishing rods, the Reel Steady is a great addition for kayak anglers who need all the help they can get. Be it snapper or tarpon, fighting these bruisers from the seated position of a kayak makes handling heavy rods even more difficult.[…]

Pogy prudence

August 15, 2018 David A. Brown

Prior to a recent mangrove snapper trip, Capt. Ross Montet loaded up with fresh pogies he cast-netted in the West Delta. He started in open water, but found he was chasing fast-moving schools that were outrunning his net in the 10- to 12-foot depths.[…]