Bass Fishing
Bassin’ at the Basin
Many Atachafalaya Basin bassin’ hotspots west of the Atchafalaya River have been heating up and ought to be red-hot in September.[…]
News Breaker
Don’t pass up the passes for Delacroix’s transition trout
September is considered the beginning of the fall transition, when trout take their initial migratory steps toward the inside marshes where they’ll haunt deeper holes, bayous and canals during the colder months.[…]
Events & Announcements
Chief of LDWF’s enforcement division retiring on Sept. 30
Col. Joseph “Joey” Broussard, the chief of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement division since 2014, will retire effective Sept. 30.[…]
Ducks
Teal hunters give opening weekend mixed reviews
For the first time in years, Louisiana’s teal season opened on a Friday — and with one early cool front under our belts and the highest September aerial survey in the books since 2008 — expectations were high for a banner start.[…]
News Breaker
How to beat the September slump
It’s common knowledge that September is a dreaded “transition” month. That doesn’t mean a whole lot to redfish anglers and those who target freshwater species, but those who passionately pursue slimy specks know the transition is a real thing.[…]
News Breaker
Bust out the old GPS in Lafitte
The advancements in the fishing industry have done almost nothing but better equip anglers so they’re more efficient and catch more fish.[…]
Columns
Sportsman introduces expanded kayak coverage
Kayak fishing is not a fad, a trend or a gimmick. It is here to stay. It is a legitimate segment of sport fishing that continues with extraordinary growth each year. Fishing kayak manufacturers continue to improve, expand and modify their models relying heavily on input from kayak fishermen.[…]
Columns
ICAST Buzz
When paddling or pedaling isn’t enough, an increasing number of kayak anglers are adding electric motors to lessen the physical requirements and/or increase their range. Several companies offer kits and brackets to install traditional trolling motors, but the Bixpy jet motor is a high performance motor contained in a plastic waterproof shell with a small, fully enclosed propeller.[…]
Fishing
A big fish tale
David Prevost’s big day was October 15, 2015. Only two boats were fishing that day, his 31-foot Contender, the White Kap, and Coon Schouest on the Little Coon.[…]
Fishing
How to rig a Coon Pop
Coon Pop heads are made of a bullet shaped lead with a piece of ½-inch PVC pipe with BBs in it glued to the head.[…]
Sidebars
Seven deadly speckled trout sins
According to Capt. Chad Billiot, not catching speckled trout in September is usually due to one or more mistakes people make.[…]
Sidebars
Teal gear this Hunter won’t leave home without
When Hunter Simmons heads to the teal blind, he usually has his Browning Maxus 12-gauge over his shoulder.[…]
Bass Fishing
Frog fishing tackle
FLW pro Todd Castledine trusts his frogging to a 7-foot, 3-inch Falcon Cara swimbait rod with an 8:1 Lew’s Super Duty reel carrying 65-pound braided line. This outfit, he said, affords him the elements essential to effective frogging.[…]
Bass Fishing
Best topwater frogs for different applications
Everyone has their favorite frog, but putting aside the debates over brand and color patterns, we can break down the basic shape/style options based on their applicability.[…]
Hunting
Coastal Wildlife Management Areas
A combination of Mother Nature and state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries technicians and biologists has left coastal Wildlife Management Areas in fair to good condition for hunters before the 2017-18 seasons.[…]
Freshwater Fishing
Crappie dock shooting tips
1) Practice before you go. The concept looks easy, but shooting a lure into the constricted space between the dock and the water’s surface accurately is challenging.[…]