Louisiana Sportsman

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May 21, 2026

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.[…]

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.[…]

Kade Hillestad, left, and John Kyle Pearce grip the lips of hawgs they caught in January 2024 to finish in the Top 5 at their first MLF college tournament at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida.

ULM Fishing Team members Hillestad and Pearce have banner year

August 23, 2024 Don Shoopman

Kade Hillestad and John Kyle Pearce, ULM Fishing Team members, qualified for three national championship tournaments as a team.[…]

Jaxon Plaisance, left, and Piers Picou smile ear to ear while hoisting the 2024 LHSBN Junior Division Anglers of the Year plaques high at the state championship banquet.

Picou and Plaisance earn back-to-back Junior Anglers of the Year titles

August 8, 2024 Don Shoopman

Piers Picou and Jaxon Plaisance weighed in at least one keeper bass in 26 consecutive Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation tournaments.[…]

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.[…]

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.[…]

Nick Liebel of Belle Chasse is all smiles after clicking bass No. 43 on his fish counter.

Don’t pass on Venice bass

July 26, 2024 Keith Lusher Jr.

Nick Liebel of Belle Chasse, who learned to bass fish on the Mississippi River, said August marks the beginning of prime-time bass fishing.[…]

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.[…]

Reader Report: Bussey Brake gives up two double-digit bass

July 20, 2024 Field Reporter

Casey Taylor and his dad, Lendel, went fishing at Bussey Brake Reservoir on July 5. Casey caught two big bass, a 10-pounder and a 12-pounder.[…]

Tyler Covington, left, and Brantley Tate, both of Walker, show a heavy five-bass limit at the weigh-in during a Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation tournament while fishing with the Walker High School Fishing Team.

Walker duo set to engineer bass success at LSU

July 11, 2024 Don Shoopman

Tyler Covington and Brantley Tate made a big splash in high school bass fishing and both will now fish competitively with LSU Bass Fishing.[…]

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.[…]

Russell Jones with Alabama Guide Services shows off a couple spotted bass he caught on an Alabama Rig holding swimbaits while fishing on the Black Warrior River near in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Photo by John N. Felsher)

Out of State Destinations: Black Warrior River

June 23, 2024 John N. Felsher

The Black Warrior River offers some of the best trophy spotted bass fishing in the nation. Visitors can also find loads to do in Tuscaloosa.[…]

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.[…]

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.[…]