Inshore Fishing

Fish deep in the mornings, shallow in the afternoons for Cocodrie trout

Trout have been sparsely distributed throughout the marshes, bayous and lakes of South Louisiana for the past few weeks. Madison Bay and Lake Bordeaux out of Chauvin haven’t been exceptions to this transitionary period.

According to Capt. Scott Walker, cooler water temperatures have caused the fish to stay in deeper water early in the mornings before moving toward shallower flats and oyster reefs in the afternoon.[…]

Fishing

Is there an electric outboard in your future?

We fishermen have seen all-electric boats come and go, but most of these vessels have been small, slow and had limited carrying capacity that make them best suited to ponds or protected lakes.

Electric outboard motors with from five to 10 horsepower are available from several makers, and electric primary propulsion outboard motor systems for open utility and pontoon boats have long been available from manufacturers like Minn Kota and Torqeedo.[…]

Fishing Tournaments

Mississippi’s Pace claims sole possession of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic lead on the second day

A consistent Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., not only kept his first-day lead in the Bassmaster Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, he pulled away from the pack by 7 pounds in the second day of competition for $500,000 and the biggest trophy of pro bass fishing.

Pace shook off the angler who tied him for the lead Friday, Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J.[…]

Fishing Tournaments

Iaconelli, Pace tie for Bassmaster Classic lead after first day of competition

Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., and 2003 Bassmaster Classic champ Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J., tied for the first-day lead at the 2013 edition of the world championship of bass fishing on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.

They both brought 21 pounds, 8 ounces to the scales at Tulsa’s BOK Center on Friday, the first of three days of competition for the $500,000 top prize of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.[…]

Columns

Sheep herding

Mark Sagerholm is an avid kayak fisherman and a self proclaimed “sheep herder.” Sagerholm has developed a great respect for sheepshead — what many Louisiana fishermen consider trash fish.[…]

News Breaker

359 rigs slated for decommissioning, leading scientist says action is detrimental to red snapper plan

The number 359 has taken on a new meaning for some Louisiana anglers and conservationists: That’s the estimated number of Gulf of Mexico rigs and platforms scheduled for removal this year, according to a release by DecomWorld distributed on Jan. 15.

And according to Dr. Bob Shipp, chairman of the University of South Alabama Department of Marine Sciences, that number is way too high because removal of any decommissioned rig is premature, if not blatantly detrimental to reef fish habitat.

“As a fisheries scientist, I think it’s a very big mistake,” he said.[…]

Fishing Tournaments

ALBC adds youth division to tournament offerings

The state’s largest non-professional bass-fishing group has added a junior division to its offerings in an effort to add new blood into the sport of tournament bass fishing, the Association of Louisiana Bass Clubs announced recently.

Participants in the ALBC’s junior division will consist of young anglers 14 to 18 years of age who are enrolled in high school.[…]

Bass Fishing

Poverty Point Reservoir produces second 12-pounder in a week

Ken Chapman of Crowville had initially planned to fish a bass tournament on Saturday, but the 30-year-old angler inadvertently turned off the alarm instead of punching the snooze button.

“Well, guess I’ll be going to Delhi this morning,” the angler said to himself when he did finally wake up.

In retrospect, the angler admitted that was one of the best turn of events that has ever occurred to him.[…]