Louisiana Sportsman

August 25, 2026

Robbie Myars with a nice crappie he caught off one of the many camp docks that are found on the Yucatan. (Photo by Terry L. Jones)

Fishing Lake Yucatan

April 19, 2024 Terry L. Jones

While Lake Yucatan has a healthy population of bream and catfish, most anglers target largemouth bass, white bass and crappie.[…]

Kevin Alleman caught this stringer of crappie using a Bobby Garland Baby Shad on a pink and orange jig head. (Photo courtesy Kevin Alleman)

Crappie under the moon

April 19, 2024 Keith Lusher Jr.

During his crappie fishing career, Kevin Alleman has never let a full moon cancel his plans. If anything, he uses it to his advantage.[…]

The Louisiana inshore waters have a high carrying capacity and can sustainably hold many more redfish and trout than are currently living here.

Enhanced fisheries

April 19, 2024 Jon Miller

While it could be a difficult endeavor, Louisiana stock enhancement through hatchery programs should be given serious consideration.[…]

Cole McCarty with Sea Mac’s Charters in Grand Isle, La. shows off a speckled trout he caught while fishing at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo by John N. Felsher)

Spawning speckled trout

April 19, 2024 John N. Felsher

Hopefully new regulations will keep more spawning trout in Louisiana waters so these highly prolific fish will continue to delight anglers.[…]

LDWF Fisheries Biologist Josh Porter and Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Don Montgomery lead a discussion during an FCS Beginner Bass. (Photo courtesy LDWF)

LDWF Fishing Course Series announces expanded spring and summer fishing class dates

April 17, 2024 From News Reports

The LDWF is continuing the spring season of the Fishing Course Series (FCS) with a full schedule of courses across the state.[…]

Lake Bistineau, or “Big Broth,” is a beautiful cypress-studded lake in northwest Louisiana. (Photo by Terry L. Jones)

The history of Lake Bistineau

April 14, 2024 Terry L. Jones

The Lake Bistineau State Park is a good place to stay when fishing or exploring Lake Bistineau, or “Big Broth.”[…]

Berkley PowerBait Power Swimmer

April 14, 2024 Brian Cope

Available in a range of sizes from 2 inches up to 4.3 inches, the Berkley PowerBait Power Swimmer is effective on multiple species of fish.[…]

Big bull reds like these caught by Brooke and Sam Allen will usually go for a big chunk of cut mullet or half a crab.

Spring redfish basics

April 11, 2024 Ricky Aucoin

April is a great time to get out to your favorite waterway and catch redfish. Live shrimp are one of the best baits to use.[…]

LDWF reminds anglers that red snapper season opens April 15

April 10, 2024 From News Reports

The 2024 private recreational Red Snapper season will begin on Monday, April 15, 2024, in both state and federal waters off Louisiana.[…]

Sam Rachal, left, and Garrett Hooker consistently catch good-sized bass like the “hawgs” they are holding after a day on the water March 4, 2023, in an LHSBN tournament at Toledo Bend.

Bassin’ hot streak for Oak Hill fishing team

April 10, 2024 Don Shoopman

Garrett Hooker of Gardner and Sam Rachal of Elmer, both 17 and Oak Hill High School Bass Fishing Club team members, are riding a hot streak.[…]

Plopper-type topwater lures combine the best of hard body topwaters and a buzzbait. The tail prop gurgles and leaves a bubble trail as the lure is retrieved across the surface.

Break out the kayak and tie on the topwater lures

April 8, 2024 Chris Holmes

Whether you kayak fish inshore saltwater or freshwater species, now is the time to break out the topwater lures.[…]

Ken Chaumont, owner of Egret Baits, smiles as he gets his hands on a nice redfish. Chaumont is proud of the fish-catching ability of the HOT Mullet.

Vudu’s HOT Mullet

April 7, 2024 Don Shoopman

Vudu’s HOT Mullet is the perfect imitation of a small finger mullet, a sought-after food source along any coast for inshore fish.[…]

The warmer waters found in dead ends are inviting to bass right now. (Photo courtesy Sam Jenkins)

Tchefuncte River bass action heats up

April 5, 2024 Nick Vaccaro

According to Sam Jenkins of Abita Springs, a bass tournament competitor, now is the time to seize the moment at the Tchefuncte River.[…]

Tanya Jinks had her hands full with this big trout she hooked and boated in West Cove on the west side of Calcasieu Lake while fishing with Hackberry Rod & Gun.

West Cove is where the specks stack up

April 5, 2024 Don Shoopman

Kirk Stansel of Hackberry Rod and Gun knows the potential this time of year for West Cove. It’s a gold mine for speckled trout.[…]

Penn Spinfisher VII

April 5, 2024 Brian Cope

The Penn Spinfisher VII is one of the smoothest and toughest reels on the market.[…]

Capt. Ryan Vincent caught this 16-pound redfish off a rock point in Bayou Pirogue, fished off the bottom with dead shrimp on a 3/8-ounce jighead.

Lafitte fishing heats up

April 4, 2024 Rusty Tardo

According to Capt. Ryan Vincent of Reel Cajun Fishing, fishing action picks up in April and just gets better after that in Lafitte.[…]