Steve Smith is the ultimate teacher. The back of his business card is emblazoned with “Things to know before you go!!!!,’’ followed by directions to four information sources to make successful Vermilion Bay area fishing trips on your own.[…]
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cliff Crochet described the prespawn zone as those major stopping points bass utilize before heading into their spawning areas. It’s difficult, he said, to define a specific depth because the range varies by location and habitat.[…]
Tete Butte Reef is a natural reef comprised almost entirely of oyster shells. Most of the shell is dead, and much of the crest of the reef is made up of broken shell hash.[…]
When late-season cold fronts put prespawners in a foul mood, just remember that, despite the interruptive nature of a temperature drop and the dreaded bluebird post-front day, the fish still want to eat.[…]
A veteran long-liner, crappie tournament pro Mark Williams likes to mix things up and dial in what the fish want.[…]
Unlike those shoulder-straining full-size umbrella rigs designed for largemouth bass, the crappie versions won’t send you to the chiropractor after a weekend on the lake.[…]
Working single jigs over brush piles boasts a long history of crappie success, but consider this: For a hungry predatory, if one bait is good, then two is great and more is — well, you get the picture.[…]
Complementing the umbrella rig’s benefit of quantity, you also have an amplified element of experimentation.[…]
Similar to its bass-market counterparts, the multi-bait crappie rig has seen rapidly expanding creativity. Local models and homemade jobs are many, but here are a handful of commercial models:[…]
Persistent, strong winds have plagued fly casters this fall. Here’s hoping December brings calm to the marsh. If it does, sight-casting opportunities for the Spottail Elvis should be prime.[…]
For fly anglers, January can be the worst of times, the best of times. It all depends on the weather and if you prefer quality over quantity.[…]
The average winter temperature range in the bayou state is 64 to 41 degrees during December and 61 to 41 degrees in January.[…]
“Remember: In these cooler months when you’re drifting and casting, you want to stop when you catch one or two keepers or you’re likely to pass up the fish,” Capt. Gerald Ellender said.[…]
All the areas discussed in the main story will hold about 3 to 4 feet of water on normal tide days.[…]
• Fish deeper with spinnerbaits and let them bounce on the bottom once in a while.[…]
Many anglers like adding a little insurance in the form of live shrimp in their livewells when they push off from the dock. And there are times when having the real thing can turn the tide to your favor.[…]