Louisiana Sportsman

Live-Bait Barataria

June 21, 2011 Jerald Horst

Except for the glittering lights of Lafitte on one side of the bayou and Barataria on the other, the night was pitch-black. It was a beautiful sight on Bayou Barataria.[…]

Take Home Angler: Marty Duhon

June 21, 2011 Chris Ginn

Munkey Junk ends every set they play with Cheap Trick’s first-ever Billboard Hot 100 hit “Surrender.” The chorus repeats surrender, surrender, but don’t give yourself away.[…]

With spillway closing, Lake Pontchartrain enters next phase

June 18, 2011 From News Reports

Last Saturday (June 11,) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began closing the Bonnet Carre spillway. Closing 20 to 30 bays per day (river stage permitting), the structure may be entirely closed in a couple of weeks.

With the closure comes the next phase of impacts to Lake Pontchartrain. Lake users are asked to contact the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation if they happen to encounter anything out of the ordinary so the foundation can track locations of events.[…]

Boat crash leaves one dead, one injured near Hopedale

June 16, 2011 Andy Crawford

A boating accident near Hopedale left one person dead and another injured early this morning (June 16).[…]

Grand Isle hotspots produce more fish

June 15, 2011 Jerald Horst

Grand Isle is a perennial favorite because it’s a consistent producer, but there is so much water around the barrier island that fishermen can get overwhelmed. Here are some options to consider.[…]

Portion of Atchafalaya Basin reopens to all boat traffic

June 14, 2011 From News Reports

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has reopened all boat traffic for a four-mile long stretch in the Atchafalaya Basin in St. Martin Parish starting at noon today (June 13).

The department closed an area from the Henderson levee on the west side to the Butte La Rose levee on the east side to all boat traffic on May 26. The width of the previous closure ran from the Interstate 10 Bridge on the south side to a line 1/2 a mile north of the bridge on the north side.[…]

Oil slick being investigated out of Baptiste Collete

June 9, 2011 Andy Crawford

Capt. Ron Price was heading out to Breton Sound to put his clients on some fish this morning (June 8), but was surprised when he came across an oil slick about 2 miles northeast of Baptiste Collette.

“It stunk really bad,” Price said.

Photos and a short video showing the slick are being obtained by LouisianaSportsman.com, and will be posted as soon as possible.[…]

Rig-jumping in Lake Borgne productive despite river water

June 8, 2011 Chris Ginn

Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne have been getting an underserved bad rap since the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway several weeks ago. Nervous anglers have been watching the mud line creep eastward across Pontchartrain, but those in the know have discovered that mud hasn’t as shut down the trout bite.

“Guys in Venice have been dealing with mud for as long as they’ve fished down there,” Capt. John Falterman with Therapy Charters said. “And that hasn’t stopped them. They’ve learned that beneath the ugly surface is the green water that trout love. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.”[…]

Artificial reef completed north of Grand Isle

June 8, 2011 From News Reports

Construction of Louisiana’s largest artificial inshore reef at the eroded Independence Island wrapped up Monday (June 6), the Coastal Conservation Association Louisiana announced.[…]