Redfish

Tippets

For contestants in the CCA STAR Fly Division, June is the best tournament month to catch big trout on a fly. At first light, use large poppers. As the morning progresses, move toward submergent flies such as Seaducers, Deceivers and articulated baitfish patterns. Casting an intermediate sinking line will produce more strikes.[…]

Sidebars

Other options for specks

The Lake Pontchartrain Trestles isn’t the only place Capt. John Falterman fishes in June for speckled trout. On calm days, he likes to run out to some of the near-shore rigs, particularly if he’s struggling at the Trestles that day.[…]

Sidebars

Want reds? Head here

One of the most underrated areas in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin is Lake Catherine. Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne receive a lot more pressure throughout the year, but Lake Catherine produces a lot of redfish this time of year, according to Capt. John Falterman.[…]

Bass Fishing

A river runs through it

Todd McElveen and Steven Schilling are hooked on the Bogue Chitto River. McElveen called it “one of the prettiest rivers you want to go on.” Schilling said, “It’s like a hidden gem.”[…]

Bass Fishing

A tricked out boat

Todd McElveen’s river boat started out life as a 16-foot Xpress welded jon boat. But it didn’t stay that way, getting highly modified to adapt it for use in shallow rivers with a jet drive outboard motor.[…]

Bass Fishing

Fish catchin’ stuff

This is tough fishing.

In the blink of an eye, an angler has to see the sweet spot in a pocket around structure, shoot a lure into it and immediately begin his retrieve, all while the current is trying to spin the boat one way or another and hustle it down river.[…]

Bass Fishing

Bird brain

So, you pull into a pocket and you want to see it empty, right? Well, if we’re talking other boats, then yes; solitude is golden. However, the right kind of company can be just what you want — and that means birds.[…]

Bass Fishing

Dazzle ‘em with the Damiki rig

Bass anglers know that few scenarios rival the hair-pulling frustration of suspended fish. Maybe it’s largemouth fleeing heavy fishing pressure on their offshore humps and contour breaks; or perhaps we’re talking about Toledo Bend’s spotted bass suspending in open water because they enjoy being difficult.[…]