Features from February 2020
- Since deer season cranked up last fall, Louisiana Sportsman writers have detailed the stories of almost 40 big bucks harvested across the Bayou State.
- Most boating accidents can be avoided by putting safety first. Take a few precautions and make your fishing trips accident-free.
- Most boating accidents can be avoided by putting safety first. Take a few precautions and make your fishing trips accident-free.
- If two fishing rods are better than one, how about 12. Learn the two most-popular techniques for trolling using multiple rods.
- A woman’s place is on the lake — according to the Lady Bass Angler Association. They are hitting Louisiana waters with two tournaments in 2020.
- Low water levels has slowed fishing for big bass on Toledo Bend over the past year, but things are looking up in 2020. Here’s your fishing guide.
- The return of hydrilla has Caney Lake back in the business of producing trophy largemouth bass, and February is a key time to be on the lake.
Columns - February 2020
- Violations are down in recent years,but some guys still don’t get it right. Oyster poaching highlights Louisiana’s wildlife violators in 2019.
- On cold days, it’s nice to come inside and have a meal that is tasty, filling and warms you all over. This seafood/sausage chowder will do just that.
- Anglers scour media outlets seeking a mountain of information in hopes that their next fishing trip will be more successful.
- Channel catfish are known as the smallest of the “big three” species of catfish. The average size is about 16 inches, or 1½ pounds, but they can grow much larger.
- By always wearing a safety harness in elevated stands, checking equipment and exercising many accidents can be prevented.
- If you pick your days and dress appropriately, chasing blue catfish in Lake Pontchartrain can make for a great day of fishing.
- Rig a Yamamoto 4.5 XL Tiny Ika for bass or speckled trout. It’s the perfect artificial for finesse fishing, as well as power fishing.
Outdoor Updates - February 2020
- On the afternoon of Nov. 29, ATVs inadvertently aroused a big 13-point buck from its bed and Brandon Burke of Mansura was there to capitalize.
- Blake Knoll has his friend, Michael Neal, to thank for helping him scout and get in position for a huge buck on Corbett Farm Hunting Club in Avoyelles Parish.
- Members of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries commission were delivered a wide variety of speckled trout management scenarios by Jason Adriance.
- The Louisiana Sportsman Show is around the corner, and it is time to get your big buck ready for all to see in the big buck contest.
- Corey Harris of Chatham got an early Christmas present on Dec. 16 when he caught a giant lunker largemouth bass from Caney Lake.
- Craig Long took a giant buck on Dec. 8 during a handicapped hunt in Natchitoches Parish put on by the National Wild Turkey Federation Wheeling Sportsman.
- It took three years but Dwaine Sampey was finally able to finish the deal when on Dec. 2, he killed a 10-point trophy Natchitoches Parish buck.
- Over the past 10 years, the damage from nutria and feral hogs has been on the rise in southeast Louisiana. They are reeking havoc on Louisiana’s marsh.
- Chuck Pierson was hunting property in Concordia Parish on Jan. 12 when he downed a big main frame 8-point with two kickers, giving the buck 10 points.
- Kenny Slocum, a Simsboro landscape contractor, killed a big 10-point buck between mandatory church activities in Bienville Parish.
- After following a sparse blood trail, Randy Marks said a prayer and within minutes he was looking at the big buck he killed in DeSoto Parish.
- Ryan Lambert of Cajun Fishing Adventures, who hunts Venice and Buras, will only harvest about 85% of the ducks taken last year which was a down year.
Field Notes - February 2020
- When you’re trapping this season, avoid these common mistakes when using foothold traps, and you’ll catch more coyotes than ever.
- Youngsville bass pro Tyler Carriere depends on a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap to hook up with bass any time of the year, but especially in February.
- When it comes to catching bass in February, things are pretty clear to professional bass pro David Fritts — clear, as in clear water.
- It took Nick LeBrun only a few casts to decide that Bill Lewis’s new SB-57 crankbait was going to be a fixture in his tackle box this year.
- MLF Bass Pro Tour angler and the host of Sportsman TV, Greg Hackney loves to throw a Strike King Thunder Cricket, a bladed jig, in February.
- Major League Fishing bass pro Cliff “Cajun Baby” Crochet of Pierre Part targets February bass with a Crusher Lures Bass Assassin swim jig.
- The Slab Runner, a collaboration between TTI-Blakemore and Bobby Garland, is a dream match for anglers and a nightmare for crappie.
- Darold Gleason, a 37-year-old bass pro who will fish the FLW Pro Circuit in 2020, likes V&M football jig for February bass.
- Fish-tagging programs assist fishery managers in gathering a lot of important data that can reveal migratory behaviors, growth rates, mortality rates, etc.
Hot Spots - February 2020
- Don’t ignore Anacoco Lake when the crappie spawn approaches. This Leeville-area reservoir on the way to Toledo Bend gets very little fishing pressure.
- Milder winter that makes duck-hunting trips real duds can have a silver lining if you’re an offshore fisherman like Tyler Hatrel of Metarie.
- February and March are great months to catch early spring sac-a-lait at hotspots like Lake Fausse Point and Lake Dauterive.
- Keith Bergeron, aka Captain Herk, is convinced that big speckled trout hang out year-round along the beaches of Grand Isle and Fourchon, including January and February.
- Ray Miller said February is when crappie are easily accessible in the Tchefuncte River because the spawn brings them into the shallows.
- There’s reason for optimism among trout fishermen on Sabine Lake. Overall, the lake is in fantastic condition, both salty and clear.
- When Tommy Duplantier of Lafayette talks about his favorite area to catch sac-a-lait in February, he gets pumped up.
- Jeff Bruhl tight-lines crappie jigs to catch slabs this month. It’s a technique that requires a bit of practice because they are notoriously light biters.
- February is prime time to catch big bass at Toledo Bend. Low water shouldn’t slow down the action in what looks like is going to be a great time.