Sidebars
History
Although foreign to many Louisiana hunters, layout-boat hunting is steeped in waterfowling tradition, originating in the days of commercial duck hunting in the lakes and bays of the northern and eastern United States.[…]
Sidebars
Inshore Fishing
Tippets
During September, water temps begin to drop. Slowly at first due to radiative cooling, and then increasingly as cool fronts invade the state.[…]
Sidebars
Concealment a breeze in layout boats
Though the odds are already in his favor being so low to the water, Johnny LaFleur goes to great lengths to ensure complete concealment of the boats.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Activities
Sept. 8 — 4th annual Rio Grande Fly Fishing Tournament[…]
Sidebars
Decoy placement critical to layout boat duck-hunting success
Although layout boats aren’t exactly suited for hauling huge quantities of decoys, Johnny LaFleur said he’s usually got room for at least a dozen or two within each boat.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Tippets
Holy mackerel! The influx of salty Gulf water from Tropical Storm Debby has resulted in hot nearshore action on large Spanish and king mackerel. Fly-rodders are having one of the best summers in years for both species.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Upcoming Events
Aug. 3-5 – 62nd annual Terrebonne Sportsmans League Rodeo. Weigh station: East Park Recreational Center, Houma. Scale hours: Noon-6 p.m. on Aug. 4; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Aug. 5. Fly Fish Division has categories for specks and reds.[…]
Cobia
Don’t love hardheads? Cobia do!
Most Louisiana saltwater anglers hold hardhead catfish in contempt, but tough cobia love gulping down the spiked fish.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Chandeleur Island lighthouses that once were
History buffs might be interested to know that three lighthouses once stood on Chandeleur Island, and prior to 1915 there was farming on the island and a fishing settlement.[…]
Bass Fishing
A splash of color
There’s a reason so many of the worms, skirts and trailers we see in the bass-fishing arena are green pumpkin — the color mimics crawfish and all types of finfish forage.[…]
Bass Fishing
Size matters
Like most baits, football-heads come in various sizes and styles, with each made to address certain scenarios. For illustrative purposes, Hackney breaks down Strike King’s trio:[…]
Offshore Fishing
Tracking tarpon focus of Gulf study
There’s more value to a tarpon release then, well, a released fish. That’s where forensic science offers a new tool for tarpon research — a tool that anglers throughout the Gulf of Mexico can help fisheries managers utilize.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Fishing the jetties and other Calcasieu Lake trout options
There are always fish of some type on the jetties in the summer, Capt. Erik Rue said. They might be specks, and they might be redfish.[…]
Inshore Fishing
How ’bout mullet for Big Lake trout?
Mullet, usually striped mullet but occasionally white mullet, have always been popular bait. In recent years, however, they have slipped somewhat in popularity — but not because they don’t catch fish.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Rue’s speckled trout rig
Erik Rue’s live-bait rig is simplicity itself.
It consists of a 6-foot length of 20- or 25-pound-test monofilament or fluorocarbon. Monofilament is a little softer and easier to deal with, but fluorocarbon is more abrasion resistant when fishing around the rocks.[…]
Inshore Fishing
More Big Lake info in Trout Masters Too
Learn more about how Capt. Erik Rue fishes big lake, including his trout-fishing calendar and detailed hotspot maps, in “Trout Masters Too: How the Pros Do It.”[…]