Columns
Ruger’s SR22 — Small, accurate, fun
I’m going to let you in on the next big thing in handguns. You get the opportunity to get in on this before the rush, like what happened with the Ruger LCP and the Smith & Wesson Shield.[…]
April 2014
Fishing
Manufacturing luck
The Dallas Fire Fighters Bass Club was formed in the 1970s and as a casual angler just turned serious fisherman I was a charter member.[…]
Columns
Protecting Louisiana’s wild turkeys
Reestablishing wild turkeys in Louisiana was one of the department’s success stories unfolding during my career. Being there to see turkeys return and being able to contribute to the effort were job benefits from my prospective.[…]
Columns
Our kids are the future of hunting
The proper training of kids to be safe and responsible hunters and gun handlers can be as challenging as it can be rewarding.[…]
Columns
Kayak tournaments plentiful in 2014
Everybody has a little competitive streak, and kayak anglers are no different. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of fishing tournaments available across the Gulf Coast that are either specifically for paddle craft, have paddle craft categories or allow using paddle craft to compete in the regular divisions.[…]
Bass Fishing
Two new standout crankbaits
A proven Rapala crankbait moved to the forefront of bass fishing on the biggest stage when it helped produce the 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion three months ago in Alabama.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Timbalier/Terrebonne
This huge estuary extends from the Bayou Lafourche ridge on its eastern side to the lower Atchafalaya River on its western border. Vast tracts of freshwater marsh and swamp lie within its northern boundaries.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Vermilion Bay/Marsh Island
Of Louisiana’s seven speckled trout destinations, this one is hardest to describe (as well as being hardest to fish).[…]
Fishing Tournaments
Gulf Coast Kayak Tournaments 2014:
• March 29 — Boats on the Bayou, New Orleans. New this year, a special kayak division is added to the City Park Big Bass Rodeo. Kayaks will compete for trophies fishing Bayou St. John. Go to www.neworleanscitypark.com/big-bass-fishing-rodeo-and-fishtival for more.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Lake Calcasieu
Lake Calcasieu, locally called “Big Lake,” on the western end of the state anchors a speckled trout fishery known for producing large fish.[…]
Bass Fishing
Light and lenses
Shielding your eyes is essential for optimal visibility, and some of the newer technologies offer notable developments.[…]
Bass Fishing
We’ve come a long way
My favorite sunglasses of all time were a pair of glass-lensed Costa del Mars (that’s what the company name was back in those days). The amber lenses literally opened up a new world to me every time I hit the water.[…]
Bass Fishing
Quiet approach, sudden stops
Bassmaster Elite pro Mark Davis said one of the most important aspects of controlled bed fishing is being able to anchor his boat quickly and quietly.[…]
Freshwater Fishing
Jig-making tips for crappie
Crappie killer Murphy Royer makes his own jigs from scratch.
He pours the leadheads: 1/16-ounce models for heavy brush, 1/32-ounce versions for all-around use.[…]
Bass Fishing
Empty spawning beds not all bad
One of the banes of bed fishermen is empty beds.
The obvious conclusion is that the spawn is over, and you might as well pack up and go home.[…]
Freshwater Fishing
Murph’s crappie-fishing poles
Murphy Royer’s confidence in his fishing is almost startling. During my first conversation with him, he asked me when I wanted to go fishing. I asked when the best time was to make a good trip.[…]