Louisiana Sportsman

April 28, 2026

This chunky bass tried to inhale a War Eagle Pro Football Jig, which finally hit the market after ICAST 2023.

Lure Review: War Eagle Pro Football Jig

August 23, 2024 Don Shoopman

The War Eagle Pro Football Jig should be very effective anywhere bass anglers are targeting fish in 10- to 15-foot depths and deeper.[…]

MLF BPT pro Cliff Pace holds a good-sized bass that bit on a CP Craw, one of 12 new soft plastic models offered by his Black Label Tackle artificial lure manufacturing company.

Black Label Tackle’s CP Craw

August 6, 2024 Don Shoopman

Cliff Pace decided midsummer last year to bring out an impressive array of soft plastics for bass anglers to Black Label Tackle.[…]

Lure Review: The Comida SI

July 22, 2024 Don Shoopman

Mister Twister decided a full year ago there was a need for re-engineering the original, ultra-popular Comida.[…]

The 3-inch long YUM Hellgrammite represents the size of the creature as an adult in its larval stage before becoming a dobsonfly.

Lure Review: YUM Hellgrammite

June 20, 2024 Don Shoopman

Bass love the 3-inch long YUM Hellgrammite, which represents the size of the creature as an adult in its larval stage.[…]

Bass like this inhale the new Zoo Pop because they don't expect to see the weedless soft plastic version of a Pop-R worked enticingly in grass or duckseed. (Photos courtesy americanbaitworks.com)

Lure Review: Zoo Pop

May 13, 2024 Don Shoopman

The Snag Proof Zoo Pop has given bass anglers like Cliff “The Cajun Baby” Crochet another weapon to use in grass, lily pads and duckseed.[…]

Ken Chaumont, owner of Egret Baits, smiles as he gets his hands on a nice redfish. Chaumont is proud of the fish-catching ability of the HOT Mullet.

Vudu’s HOT Mullet

April 7, 2024 Don Shoopman

Vudu’s HOT Mullet is the perfect imitation of a small finger mullet, a sought-after food source along any coast for inshore fish.[…]

C.J. Nichols caught this 7-pound bass Jan. 18 in mid-afternoon on a Hammer Trap at Lake Sam Rayburn.

Lure Review – Hammer Trap

March 18, 2024 Don Shoopman

Bass angler Ben South of Pineville knows how effective The Hammer Trap can be on his “home lakes” — Toledo Bend and Lake Sam Rayburn.[…]

The Live Roam'R is effective fished a number of ways, according to Gary Dollahon,
Bobby Garland Brands manager.

Lure Review: Live Roam’R

February 17, 2024 Don Shoopman

The Live Roam’R from Bobby Garland Crappie Baits can be rigged a number of ways to entice crappie to eat in late winter and spring.[…]

A Sucka Punch is lodged deep in the mouth of a nice-sized bass. The Xcite Baits soft plastic punchin' bait was introduced to the bassin' world in January 2023.

Lure Review: Sucka Punch

January 21, 2024 Don Shoopman

Inspired and designed by bass pro Tyler Rivet, the Sucka Punch presents a different profile and a hook slot on the side.[…]

Flashin Assassin

December 22, 2023 Don Shoopman

Crappie fishermen the world over can get their hands on the deadly new Flashin Assassin developed by Collier Thornton.[…]

Frog Guru Baits

November 30, 2023 Don Shoopman

The Frog Guru Baits Glide Frog was designed by Joshua Baudoin with the intent of making a durable and effective artificial lure.[…]

Boom Boom Shrimp

October 19, 2023 Don Shoopman

Aaron Pierce built one of the most popular popping corks, the Four Horsemen Tackle Popping Cork. He’s now created the Boom Boom Shrimp.[…]

YUM Scottsboro Recon Swimbait

September 21, 2023 Don Shoopman

A joint project between YUM Bait Co. and the Scottsboro Tackle Co. resulted in the injection-molded YUM Scottsboro Recon Swimbait.[…]

Matrix 3X Shad

August 14, 2023 Don Shoopman

Matrix 3X Shad’s new tri-color combinations are Matrix 3X Shad Lime Light, Matrix 3X Shad Pink Cosmo and Matrix 3X Shad Purple Patagonia.[…]

Gary Dollahon holds a nice-sized crappie caught while fishing with a Bobby Garland Mayfly a few months ago in Oklahoma.

Bobby Garland Mayfly matches the hatch

July 22, 2023 Don Shoopman

The Bobby Garland Mayfly appeals to crappie or, as much of Louisiana calls them, sac-a-lait, because it looks like the things crappie eat.[…]

The new Speed Freak Full Frame spinnerbait introduced this year by Freedom Tackle Corp., an artificial lure manufacturing company under the umbrella of Mississippi-based American Baitworks.

Lure Review: Speed Freak

June 16, 2023 Don Shoopman

The Compact or Full Frame Speed Freak from Freedom Tackle Corp. was designed to run fast and stay in the water to tempt bass.[…]