Bass Fishing
A river runs through it
Todd McElveen and Steven Schilling are hooked on the Bogue Chitto River. McElveen called it “one of the prettiest rivers you want to go on.” Schilling said, “It’s like a hidden gem.”[…]
Bass Fishing
A tricked out boat
Todd McElveen’s river boat started out life as a 16-foot Xpress welded jon boat. But it didn’t stay that way, getting highly modified to adapt it for use in shallow rivers with a jet drive outboard motor.[…]
Bass Fishing
Fish catchin’ stuff
This is tough fishing.
In the blink of an eye, an angler has to see the sweet spot in a pocket around structure, shoot a lure into it and immediately begin his retrieve, all while the current is trying to spin the boat one way or another and hustle it down river.[…]
Bass Fishing
Learn to read the water
Not all water on the Bogue Chitto River is equal. Probably 80 percent of it is less than 1 foot deep and featureless, making it fishless as far as bass are concerned.[…]
Bass Fishing
Time your trips to the Bogue Chitto River
When it’s hot, it’s hot. When it’s not, it’s not.[…]
Bass Fishing
Bird brain
So, you pull into a pocket and you want to see it empty, right? Well, if we’re talking other boats, then yes; solitude is golden. However, the right kind of company can be just what you want — and that means birds.[…]
Crappie/Bream
Be a fish listener
Forget being a fish whisperer — when it comes to catching crappie, Nick Young is a fish listener.[…]
Crappie/Bream
Adjusting on the fly is key
Earlier this year, Nick Young and father Jock beat 100 of the best crappie fishing teams in the South to claim the Crappie Masters Louisiana State Championship on Lake D’Arbonne with two seven-fish limits weighing 24.4 pounds.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Just buy it
It’s tax refund time, and many anglers are thinking about buying their first kayak. If your budget allows, certainly consider purchasing a brand new kayak. Kayak fishing has continued to increase in popularity, and so have the prices for new kayaks.[…]
Inshore Fishing
New gear reviews
Invented years ago by the late Doug Hannon, “The Bass Professor,” Microwave fishing guides are a unique line-control system for spinning rods that reduces the line coiling effect, thereby increasing casting accuracy and distance. The initial stripper guide is where the magic happens. A cone shaped guide-within-a-guide knocks down the line coils that naturally come from casting a spinning reel.[…]
Inshore Fishing
June’s Best Bets
Where: Delacroix
What: Bass, with trout and reds as a bonus[…]
Redfish
Tippets
For contestants in the CCA STAR Fly Division, June is the best tournament month to catch big trout on a fly. At first light, use large poppers. As the morning progresses, move toward submergent flies such as Seaducers, Deceivers and articulated baitfish patterns. Casting an intermediate sinking line will produce more strikes.[…]
Bass Fishing
Ride ‘em, cowboy
Before Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits’ Cowboy soft plastic creature bait was unveiled at the 2018 Bassmaster Classic in South Carolina, a few bass anglers were fortunate to have Ron Colby’s latest creation.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Video: Capt. Jakamo talks Breton Sound trout
On a trip late last week with Capt. Jakamo Laboureur, live bait was the ticket at the rigs in Breton Sound for some pretty nice speckled trout.[…]
News Breaker
Marsh Man Masson vid: Complete beginner rakes in the redfish
How anyone could leave South Louisiana is unfathomable, but in July, Madisonville’s Amanda Springer will do just that. True love is calling her far north to the Buckeye State, where she’ll shiver and shake for six months of the year.[…]
Field Notes
Inshore insights: My favorite redfish swimbait
Everyone has their favorite lure.
Usually it’s the lure they always catch fish on (duh), or maybe it’s one gifted to them by someone well-versed in inshore fishing, like their grandfather.[…]