News Breaker
Trout, redfish action heats up in Lake Charles
Go downtown, so to speak, to catch speckled trout consistently in December on Calcasieu Lake.[…]
Bass Fishing
Caney Lake’s big bass in the holiday spirit
What happens when angler Sontus Mitchell and big bass are both on the prowl in December on Caney Lake? Let’s just say it’s a merry Christmas for the fisherman — but the fish probably feel more like the Grinch. […]
Bass Fishing
Bass tournament anglers all smiles at Toledo Bend
Like other bass fishermen up here in late summer and early fall, I was getting wrapped up in the “grass thing” — punchin’, droppin’, flippin’, whatever you want to call it — and trying like heck to get bit on topwater.[…]
Bass Fishing
Hit the cypress trees at Bayou Bartholomew Lake
Brett Preuett spends his time traveling thousands of miles making a living catching bass on the pro circuit. So what does he do for relaxation when he comes back home to Monroe? He grabs a friend, sheds his pro fishing jersey, doesn’t worry about catching a limit and just goes bass fishing for fun, of course. […]
Columns
Cubera snapper
Some people call them “menacing.”
But pound for pound, cubera snappers probably are no meaner than red snappers, themselves well-known bullies. […]
Bass Fishing
Bayou Black bass in transition but very catchable, anglers say
The day dawned with thick fog blanketing the waters near Bob’s Bayou Black Marina, but that didn’t bother Kurt and Adam Cook. The uncle/nephew fishing team knew they didn’t need to go far to put fish in the boat.[…]
Columns
Hoyt takes a big step
Hoyt Archery’s 2018 flagship hunting bows are the most innovative to come from the Salt Lake City-based manufacturer in many years. Hoyt has redesigned their bows from the ground up, giving them a much-needed overhaul — and adding a lot of new technology.[…]
Bass Fishing
Venice bass thick, Prairieville angler says
Bass-fishing reports from Venice have been pretty crazy, and Prairieville angler David Cavell said it’s better than you’ve heard.
“When (the water) turns green, it’s how many do you want to catch,” Cavell said.[…]
Field Notes
DIY duck blind dog stand
When constructing and preparing land-based duck blinds in the marsh, we go to great lengths to ensure the hide is both comfortable and functional. But adding a retrieving dog to the mix brings additional considerations and challenges. The dog must be integrated into the hunt, but in a safe way that also hides him from circling birds. […]
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Ducks down on the Delta
At exactly 6:09 a.m. what was obviously a hen gray duck hovered close in over the coot decoys. Chip Crews chopped it down with one shot.
Dawn would be late coming under the leaden skies.[…]
Contents
Mid-season mastery
While December may be the chronological middle of the road for Louisiana’s deer season, it could be the beginning, middle or end of your season depending on where you hunt as it pertains to the stages of the rut.[…]
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Clear-cut answers — How to kill more deer in piney woods thickets
“Hunting’s for MEN!” Artie yelled, shaking his fist.
Then he turned, pointed at the tractor and plow in the shed alongside the camp, and yelled: “But farming’s for WOMEN!” […]
Bass Fishing
The murky Mermentau
Steeped in a mixture of legend and historical fact — with some folklore thrown in — the Mermentau River in Acadia Parish just might be a pearl amongst many fishing gems in Southwest Louisiana.[…]
Contents
Cold Calcasieu options
On a chilly 39-degree December morning, Big Lake’s Ray Christy had a smile on his face when he launched from the public landing at Riverside Park in Westlake.[…]
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Beating the bridges
As December rolls around — and lots of Lake Pontchartrain anglers are in deer stands and duck blinds pondering awkward office Christmas parties, lame bowl game matchups and how much fried turkey they can consume in the coming weeks — Capt. Kris Robert stays laser-focused on what he does for pretty much the other 11 months of the year.[…]
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Cover: December 2017
Shreveport’s Scott Gill busted this impressive 158-inch Claiborne Parish 8-point on Nov. 1.[…]