Inshore Fishing
Inshore insights: Top 3 things to do between casts
No one likes losing fish, especially if it can be easily prevented.
So here are a few things I do between casts to ensure my efforts on the water aren’t wasted.[…]
Fishing
Bass Fishing
Marsh Man Masson vid: The tough Tchefuncte
With a couple hours to kill, my son Joel and I took on one of the toughest fisheries in the state — the Tchefuncte River — in search of bass and crappie, called sac-a-lait locally.[…]
Field Notes
Inshore insights: Keep a stocked dry bag onboard this winter
Be prepared with a dry-bag filled with clothes in case you or someone else goes overboard during a winter fishing trip. […]
Inshore Fishing
Inshore insights: Don’t be a one-trick pony
If you want long-term success, you can’t be a “one-trick pony” — someone who can only catch fish one way. […]
Bass Fishing
Square-bills are killer in the basin
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cliff Crochet talks about throwing square-billed crankbaits for bass in January.[…]
Field Notes
Save money, prevent backlashes by spooling less line on baitcasters
Prairieville angler Adam Cook uses fluorocarbon on almost every reel he owns. The fact that it virtually disappears under water is a huge factor.[…]
Catfish
Bayou catfishing
Catfish are available in almost all freshwater areas of the state. Regularly caught in lakes, bayous and rivers, these fish provide great food and sport. However, they also provide an opportunity for kayak anglers to catch some true giants.[…]
Columns
January’s Best Bets
This little lake in the Kisatchie National Forest near Alexandria is a hidden gem for kayak anglers. Motorized boating isn’t allowed, so the 46-acre lake doesn’t get much attention from bass anglers that fish in power boats.[…]
Catfish
New gear reviews
Kayaks are increasingly seeing double duty as great waterfowl hunting boats. While some kayaks are available in camouflage, the vast majority come in solid, often bright, colors. But Yak Gear has solved the problem of hiding you and the ‘yak from a duck’s great vision.[…]
Field Notes
How to prevent, remove wind loops from spinning reels
I have a lifelong hatred of spinning reels, mainly generated by the loops that often form in the spooled line and create real messes.[…]
Bass Fishing
Marsh Man Masson vid: Part 2 of one-boat fish-off
After starting hot and then experiencing a big lull in the middle of our fishing trip, Capt. Justin Bowles and I found fast action on speckled trout, giving us more than enough to weigh in our one-boat fishing competition.[…]
Bass Fishing
Top 3 winter bass baits
Wintertime bass fishing can be tough, and that can cause anglers to look for all kinds of gimmicks and off-the-wall tactics to get bites.[…]
Inshore Fishing
One boat, two friends. It’s a FISH-OFF!
Fishing is always more fun when there’s a competition factor involved. Capt. Justin Bowles and I set out this week to see who could catch the heaviest cumulative weight of three bass and three speckled trout, with the loser paying a time-consuming price.[…]
Bass Fishing
The Super Sally
For many anglers, especially in the South, there have been epic trips with lots of unforgettable “Sally Time.”[…]
Inshore Fishing
Cold weather considerations
Locating winter fish can be challenging, so the last thing you want is to squander an opportunity by allowing the elements to negatively impact your comfort and functional ability. Venice guide Capt. Anthony Randazzo offers these tips to prevent such frustrations.[…]
Fishing
Tippets
It’s rainbeaux trout time. In December, Baton Rouge Recreation (BREC) stocked several of their ponds with rainbow trout. By now, they’ve discovered that aquatic bugs and minnows have more food value than marshmallows. […]