Inshore Fishing
Live bait takes some TLC
“I’m all about live bait,” veteran redfish and speckled trout charter guide Herk Bergeron said. “The catch ratio is much better with live bait, especially for bigger fish.[…]
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Inshore Fishing
Grand Isle marinas are a family thing
Buggie Vegas’ Cajun accent and beaming smile have become fixtures for sport fishermen launching or chartering out of Bridge Side Marina on Grand Isle.[…]
Deer Hunting
Top 10 tips for tracking marsh deer
1. Slow down — When trailing a deer in the marsh, you should never be in a hurry. Instead, take a deep breath and be prepared to stay longer than hunters who hunt hard-ground upland regions.
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Deer Hunting
Be prepared to make memories
Alissa Laborde believes the trick to making a memorable hunt is to have everything ready and within reach. When she settled into her stand she made sure all of her gear was placed just right.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Poe’s personal best fly-caught speck
Capt. Jeff Poe doesn’t hesitate when naming his most memorable fly-caught speckled trout of his life.[…]
Sidebars
The story behind Mojo Ducks
The definition of “mojo” is pretty straightforward: “a power that may seem magical and that allows someone to be very effective and successful.”[…]
Sidebars
How Simmons Sporting Goods became South’s largest outdoor retailer
Jeff Simmons came home to Morehouse Parish after college in 1983 and turned to the only thing he knew. […]
Sidebars
Top gear for duck hunting
If you owned your own 100,000-square-foot sporting goods store and had access to any hunting gear in the world, what would you take to the duck blind with you?[…]
Deer Hunting
Small sweet-potato plots work wonders
It’s too late this year to employ one of Bob Watson’s favorite early season buck-hunting strategies, but there’s no doubt you’ll want to put it to work for you next year.[…]
Catfish
Cleaning monster catfish
Cleaning really big catfish — those over 25 pounds — is like butchering a hog. The skin is thick and tough; rib-cage bones are big and defy a sharp knife.[…]
Freshwater Fishing
How to build Derek Logan’s catfishing jugs
It used to be that a catfish jug was just that — a simple jug that could be a used plastic milk or oil container.[…]
Freshwater Fishing
A shared passion for catfishing
Derek Logan told me his wife Rebecca liked to fish. Still, I wasn’t prepared for what I met.[…]
Sidebars
Hard-hitting ammo a must
When it comes to hunting coastal waterfowl, whether in the agricultural rice fields or the National Wildlife Refuge system, a hard-hitting shotgun shell is of utmost importance, particularly where geese are in the mix.[…]
Sidebars
Comfortable accommodations
Lake Charles is located within a 30-minute drive of some from the finest waterfowl hunting on the continent. There are numerous hotels along the city’s Interstate 210 Loop that provide access south to the agricultural areas where duck and goose hunting are part of the fabric of the region.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Paul Brown’s Corky lures still catching big speckled trout
Corky lures are a Texas legend. Originally hand produced in a Houston garage by Paul Brown, the bait became famous for the huge trout that consistently fell for it.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Vinson’s top fishing picks for November trout, reds
Capt. Joe Vinson agreed to share a few fall hotspots that should produce some fish for anglers this month.[…]