Columns
The building of ‘Beulah Belle’
In the late ’40s and ’50s, the United States was undergoing a boom economy, recovering from restricted materiel supplies that resulted from World War II. […]
June 2013
General
Keeping it clean
LCD screen brightness, contrast and resolution improve with every new generation of marine electronics. Higher pixel counts, new sonar technologies, more-vibrant colors and improved visibility under adverse light conditions let us see tiny sonar and chart details that would have been invisible a decade ago without zooming to enlarge the screen picture. […]
Columns
Managing and protecting the Louisiana black bear
I like bears. I like black ones, brown ones and white ones, and I like the fact they still roam free in some of their original habitat ranges. The wild places just wouldn’t seem quite as wild without the bear. […]
Columns
It just didn’t seem right
A couple of years ago one frosty clear morning in early January 2011, as the whitetail rut was rapidly drawing to a close, I still had not closed the deal on a particular 6 ½-year-old buck that had been on our hit list for the better part of two seasons. […]
Columns
Urban ’yak fishing
For many folks, even kayakers, a fishing trip usually involves packing up and driving an hour or more to popular fishing areas far away from the big city. The hustle and bustle of city life is seldom equated with good fishing. […]
Bass Fishing
Consistent summertime patterns for Red River bass fishing
With all the physical changes taking place at the Red River, it’s nice to know that fishing patterns have remained pretty consistent throughout the years. […]
Freshwater Fishing
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge
Another national wildlife refuge that is an absolute must for canoe and kayak anglers is Lacassine. As in years past, the refuge’s pool that is reserved for non-motorized boats has produced monster bass this spring. […]
Freshwater Fishing
Float plan
Few people utilize a float plan, plain and simple. But they are important to prevent a mishap from becoming dangerous. […]
Inshore Fishing
Proceed with caution when fishing Raccoon Island
Raccoon Island’s productivity comes with a price, especially for anglers unfamiliar with its dynamics — both natural and man-made. […]
Inshore Fishing
H&M Fishing Charters is a family affair
H&M Fishing Charters (985-258-3632) has its roots in a time that predated inshore fishing chartes, Jules Bellanger said. […]
Inshore Fishing
Life on Grand Isle
Arthur Bellanger and his wife Anna Lee are officially the longest-married couple on Grand Isle. Now 83 years old, Arthur first appeared on the island “as a kid, building camps with my daddy.” […]
Offshore Fishing
Back to red snapper fishing basics
Terry Jacobs is what you might call old school. He eschews the myriad scientific thinking with regards to American red snapper, his favorite fish. […]
Inshore Fishing
Best tackle and tactics for Grand Isle speckled trout fishing
Unless their customers request the use of artificial lures, the Bellangers habitually use live bait for speckled trout. They bring live shrimp and live croakers with them on every trip. […]
Inshore Fishing
Pat Bellanger’s tips for Grand Isle trout
• People new to the island should fish the beach and the rocks (breakwaters on the Gulf side of the island). Then venture farther from the island if the weather is good. A variety of fish can be caught at the rocks. […]
Inshore Fishing
High Life Swimmers tough for speckled trout to resist
Every year, as we enter the summer doldrums, trout start to shy away from live shrimp. Old salts say it’s because their mouths get sore from being pierced by so many shrimp horns. […]
Inshore Fishing
Jules Bellanger’s tips for Grand Isle speckled trout
• Hire a guide to learn the area the first time you fish it. […]