Louisiana Sportsman

Capt. Frank Dreher likes to downsize his tackle and free-line croakers so specks don’t spook in the ultra-clear water on Grand Isle beaches this month.

Minimal tackle key for Grand Isle beach bite

August 13, 2018 Joel Masson

No matter what kind of fishing you’re doing in the marsh, finding clean water is almost always helpful.[…]

LDWF investigating two separate weekend boating fatalities

August 13, 2018 From News Reports

Two men died in separate boating accidents Saturday, one in Lake Pontchartrain and the other in Iberia Parish, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.[…]

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2018 state recreational red snapper season will close at 11:59 p.m. tonight, Aug. 12.

LDWF: Red snapper state season to close tonight

August 12, 2018 From News Reports

Today’s the day.

Sunday is likely the last day for recreational red snapper anglers to get in a 2018 trip — according to a press release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the state season will close tonight ( Aug. 12) at 11:59 p.m.[…]

The LDWF reported a big increase in the red snapper harvest estimate this week, which now stands at 87 percent of the recreational allocation through July 29.

LDWF: Red snapper landings jump to 651,000 pounds

August 10, 2018 Patrick Bonin

If you’re looking to make a red snapper trip this summer, you better hurry.[…]

Capt. Nick, Kimmie and Cooper Poe are all smiles after boating a big tripletail. Jeff Poe, Nick’s father, advised anglers fishing anywhere from the beach to the near-offshore rigs to target any trash floating on the water because it could be a tripletail

Big Lake beach fishing

August 8, 2018 Don Shoopman

With speckled trout fishing success up and down this year in Calcasieu Lake, particularly during a summer plagued by high west winds, it’s time to point the bow of the boat to the beach from Johnson Bayou to Holly Beach.[…]

Capt. Hook poses with some Breton Sound hammers at the dock.

Stay on the move to find Hopedale trout

August 8, 2018 Rusty Tardo

Hot. Sizzling, searing, scorching, broiling, roasting — all describe our summer weather, and the trout don’t seem to like it any more than we do. Perhaps it’s why they pulled a disappearing act in June and have had anglers scratching their heads ever since.[…]

Get an early start, keep an eye on the radar and take advantage of the falling tide for Lake Borgne trout this month.

Beat the heat for August specks

August 7, 2018 Joel Masson

Fishing is all about stacking as many odds in your favor as possible, and something you should certainly put in your favor this month is leaving the dock early. Not only do you beat the heat, but you also get a much better speckled trout bite, according to Slidell guide Capt. Matt McCabe.[…]

Marsh Man Masson vid: Which soft-plastic is best for speckled trout?

August 6, 2018 Todd Masson

There are more varieties of soft-plastic paddletail lures on the market than boats, outboards and trolling motors put together. Each manufacturer constantly develops new colors and styles in hopes of catching anglers’ attention as they side-step down the aisles of their local tackle shops. But do these lures actually catch fish?[…]

Big Lake trout fishing has been off and on this summer, but there are plenty of redfish to keep your rod doubled.

Big Lake fishing is ‘best of the season’ right now

August 3, 2018 Andy Crawford

Farmers might be bemoaning a lack of rain in Southwest Louisiana, but Capt. Erik Rue sure isn’t complaining. That’s because low rainfall levels have allowed salinity in his home waters to soar.[…]

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is cautioning the state's deer hunters about the use of urine lures, which are unregulated by state and federal agencies and according to the LDWF, could potentially contain chronic wasting disease.

LDWF cautions hunters on using deer urine lures

August 3, 2018 From News Reports

As hunting season approaches, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is cautioning deer hunters about the use of urine lures because the products could potentially contain chronic wasting disease. […]

Wes Rollo (left) and Hunter Owens of Natchitoches Central High School took the lead on the first day of the 2018 Bassmaster High School National Championship on Kentucky Lake with 19 pounds, 11 ounces.

Natchitoches High leads after Day 1 at Bassmaster High School National Championship

August 3, 2018 From Bassmaster.com

Cutting short their fishing time proved beneficial to Natchitoches Central High School anglers Hunter Owens and Wes Rollo during Thursday’s opening round of the Bassmaster High School Series National Championship at Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. […]

A Ville Platte man admitted to shooting and killing a male whooping crane with a .22 caliber rifle in Evangeline Parish on July 25, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

LDWF: Ville Platte man admits to shooting whooping crane

August 2, 2018 From News Reports

A 52-year-old Ville Platte faces violations of the Endangered Species Act — which bring up to a $50,000 fine and one year in jail — after admitting to shooting and killing a male whooping crane in Evangeline Parish on July 25, according to a press release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.[…]

Landings estimates from LA Creel indicate about 70 percent of the state's recreational allocation of red snapper have been caught so far. leaving about 213,000 pounds remaining before the season is closed.

LDWF: Red snapper harvest now at 530,300 pounds

August 2, 2018 From News Reports

Through July 22, Louisiana’s recreational anglers have harvested slightly more than 530,000 pounds of red snapper — or 71 percent of the state’s annual private recreational allocation of 743,000 pounds.[…]

Prairieville's Tyler Brockman caught these two 5-pounders on back-to-back casts on Friday while fishing with his dad, Steve Brockman, in Lake Pelto. The larger of these fish went 5.27-pounds, and should put him on the CCA STAR leaderboard.

Bounce around for solid Cocodrie trout

July 30, 2018 Andy Crawford

Trout fishing out of Cocodrie is a bit different this year, and it took Prairieville angler Steve Brockman a couple of trips to figure things out.[…]

Marsh Man Masson vid: Short run to big snapper, and a surprise fish!

July 30, 2018 Todd Masson

For me, the peak of summer comes near the end of its second month, during the annual Faux Pas Lodge Invitational Fishing Rodeo, headquartered at Venice, near the mouth of the Mississippi River. It’s an event that attracts some of the best anglers in the region, who compete to catch the largest speckled trout, tuna, wahoo and more, but I’ve never actually entered the rodeo.[…]

The 2018 World Waterfowl Calling Championships facilitated by Team Real Duck will be held all weekend long starting tonight at the La. Outdoor Expo at the Cajundome in Lafayette.

World Waterfowl Calling Championships this weekend in the Cajundome

July 27, 2018 From News Reports

If you’ve been brushing up your calling skills in anticipation of duck season this fall, you can see how you measure up this weekend at the Louisiana Outdoor Expo in the Cajundome in Lafayette.[…]