Louisiana Sportsman

April 28, 2026

Keo Khamphilavong likes to “tightline” a lemon head Matrix Shad on a ¼-ounce leadhead when he’s fishing deeper reefs and reef points along the Gulf side of Marsh Island. (Picture by Photo by Don Shoopman)

Target trout on reefs below Marsh Island

August 31, 2024 Don Shoopman

Keo Khamphilavong starts looking for speckled trout in Vermilion Bay around The Cove, the Hammock and Blue Point in September.[…]

The author takes a selfie with a 4-pound class bass that bit his new creation, a “deep Neko rig,” a 7 ½-inch long Senko he punched in hydrilla in 10- to 13-foot depths on July 20 at Toledo Bend.

Try a Senko in September at Toledo Bend

August 30, 2024 John Dean

Hydrilla beds stacked like they are now around Toledo Bend are thick enough and spread out enough to hold the fish.[…]

Capt. Owen “Big O” Langridge with a redfish caught on big plastic minnows in Venice.

The best month for Venice bull reds

August 23, 2024 Rusty Tardo

According to Capt. Owen “Big O” Langridge, you can catch bull reds all year round in Venice, but in September you’ll catch a lot more of them.[…]

Capt. Jonathan Sanchez caught this 2 ½-pound trout while tightlining a glow Matrix Shad in Bay Eloi.

How to tackle Hopedale this summer

August 3, 2024 Rusty Tardo

Capt. Jonathan Sanchez, a charter guide in the Shell Beach and Hopedale area, shares his plans to fish for speckled trout in August.[…]

Capt. Bill Lake of Bayou Guide Service hoists a redfish he caught on an August day in Buckskin Bayou near Lake Mechant.

Ring the dinner bell for redfish

August 3, 2024 Don Shoopman

Bill Lake found some deep holes holding redfish along Buckskin Bayou located just off Blue Hammock Bayou near Lake Mechant.[…]

Chad Hollier of Lafayette found this 8.1-pounder in the grass coolin’ its fins during the early summer heat. It bit while he was punchin’ a Senko on a trip with John Dean.

Punchin’ and froggin’ at Toledo Bend

August 1, 2024 John Dean

John Dean said punchin’ tactics as well as a hollow body plastic frog bite should be on for bass big time this summer at Toledo Bend.[…]

Calvin native Holden Higgs holds a couple of the summer crappie he caught on Black Lake in Natchitoches Parish.

Black Lake angler has the right formula for summer crappie

August 1, 2024 Justin Adkins

Calvin native Holden Higgs has cracked the code to the hot summer crappie bite on Black Lake in Natchitoches Parish.[…]

Bubbie Lopez lips a chunky bass from Duck Lake on the lower end of the Spillway.

Duck Lake bass

July 4, 2024 Don Shoopman

Bubbie Lopez is counting the days until he can fish one of his favorite spots, Duck Lake, which is just east of the Atchafalaya River.[…]

Shreveport’s Casey Craft holds a beautiful Caddo Lake bass.

You can’t beat Caddo Lake for bass fishing

July 1, 2024 Justin Adkins

While most lakes become less productive in the heat of the summer, Caddo Lake tends to continue producing bass consistently.[…]

John Dean III wears a big smile while gripping the lip of a 6-plus pound bass he caught on a June bug/red Neko-rigged Senko while punchin’ in 12- to 13-foot depths at Toledo Bend.

Summer bassin’ at Toledo Bend

July 1, 2024 John Dean

The way Toledo Bend is setting up, June’s bass fishing action will continue to be good, but July hookups should be even better.[…]

Capt. Zach Hartline of Bayou Boys Charters caught these hefty trout on live shrimp in Lake Anastasia.

Shell Beach, Delacroix Island are solid choices for trout and redfish

June 29, 2024 Rusty Tardo

Charter Guide Zach Hartline said the fishing this summer at Shell Beach and Delacroix for speckled trout and redfish has been great.[…]

An angler fishes off the rocks in Pointe Aux Chenes.

Pointe Aux Chenes is popular June destination

June 8, 2024 Jay Angel

Pointe Aux Chenes provides kayakers and shore bound anglers with some fantastic opportunities to catch fish.[…]

Kywan Housley of Pelican holds up a pair of Cross Lake crappie.

Cross Lake crappie haul

June 8, 2024 Justin Adkins

Pick up a dock shooting rig, and try out a new technique to catch crappie this summer on Cross Lake in Caddo Parish.[…]

Time to move out for Dularge trout

June 7, 2024 Jay Angel

According to Capt. Lloyd Landry, owner of Outcast Fishing Charters, the trout will migrate out of the marsh this month looking to spawn.[…]

Capt. Mark Scardino caught this nice trout on a live croaker fished on the bottom along the beach at Grand Terre Island.

Grand time at Grand Isle

June 6, 2024 Rusty Tardo

Capt. Mark Scardino of Hard Times Charters in Grand Isle, said the trout fishing action started up early this year.[…]

TJ Roussel with a 9.14-pound Toledo Bend bass caught this spring.

Odds are in your favor at Toledo Bend

June 6, 2024 John Dean

John Dean is banking on bass staying in the grass with the shad and bream this summer instead of leaving for offshore waters.[…]