Piers Picou looks to add to his long list of accomplishments
Piers Picou, a two-time Louisiana Youth B.A.S.S. Nation (LYBN) Junior Bassmaster Angler of the Year, has started another chapter that promises to be just as exciting as his first four years of bass tournament competition.
Piers looks forward to the future as he enters the high school ranks with a new tournament partner and the same boat captain, his father, Conrad Picou of Houma. The teen’s optimism stems from five wins, 17 Top 5s and 29 Top 10s in 36 tournaments since fourth grade.
The 14-year-old Central Catholic High School freshman got a head start on his next chapter with a second-place finish in the Bassmaster Back to School Invitational held Sept. 13 on Wheeler Lake at Decatur, Ala. Picou and Pavali Passi, another CCHS student/athlete who lives in Morgan City, weighed a limit at 13 pounds, 14 ounces.
“Oh, yeah, they did great,” Piers’ father said, proudly. “They had an awesome tournament … and damn near won it. Missed it by just a few ounces (7 ounces).”
The Bassmaster Back to School Invitational was won by Parker Smith and Cooper Anderson with 14 pounds, 6 ounces. The Scotts Hill High School team from Reagan, Tenn., won $500.
Up for the challenge
Piers, who enjoys fishing the Atchafalaya Basin with bone-colored plastic frogs in November, notched another sterling result in his dad’s Ranger Z520C powered by a 250hp Mercury. He took pride in his outing with a new partner.
“It was definitely fun, but definitely a little bit challenging, though,” Piers said. “It was really tough, a really tough bite.”
“It was a case of not giving up,” trying so hard to get the first five bass, which weighed about 11 pounds, in the boat by 9:30 or 10 a.m., the young bass angler said.
“Our first fish was a 4-5. That really helped,” he said about the nice-sized bass he pulled off a large flat near some docks. “My partner caught a 3-13 on a dropshot. That really helped, too.”
On such a hard day of fishing, they had to fish clean. Unfortunately, Piers missed an estimated 3 ½-pounder he said “would have won the tournament.” He called it frustrating.
“It was still a great finish, still cut a check ($250),” he said. “It was a great tournament. Just really tough fishing.”
Conrad Picou, 55, who owns Picou Marine Construction LLC in Houma, was proud of Piers and Pavali. They prefished a few hours upon arrival, then on the next practice day found a major creek arm with water flow and fished to the back to find shad and bass.
“The fish were basically on points and flat banks. They were pushing shad up and gorging themselves,” he said, noting his son and his partner caught most of them on Cajun Tackle House LLC chatterbaits. It took the ½-ounce, translucent white model to get bit.
It was a great start for Piers, who also has won a Bass Tactix National Championship.
Being a good teammate
Piers fished his first three years of competition with Jaxson Plaisance and his eighth grade season with his younger brother, Paxton Picou, a seventh-grader at CCHS. The age difference prevented the younger brother from fishing with Piers in 2026-27, and Paxton is more focused on baseball, according to the elder Picou.
Piers was able to hook up with Pivali and it was a good fit. They talked bass fishing at school and that was the common denominator.
“He’s a little more different fisherman,” Piers said, noting they have different skills, different strengths.
Piers, who’s been fishing since age 2 1/2, looked back on his bass fishing journey and how much he’s improved his game.
“Like, my attitude definitely got better, and just my skills and patience got better,” he said. “I quit playing baseball and stuff (to concentrate on bass fishing).”
Piers’ goal as a high schooler is to win another AOY. He plans to spend a lot more time on the water.
