CANAL BANK BASS TOURNAMENT: 5 p.m., Canal Bank Club, Diversion Canal, 18499 La. 22. Maurepas. Fee $40/boat, $15/angler membership fee. $5 launch fee. Email Susan Carpenter:
lucysue8780@me.com. TANGI CCA BANQUET: 5:30 p.m., Twelve Oaks, 500 West Texas Ave., Hammond. Tickets $60, spouses $30, youths $25, corporate tables $480. Call Steve Parra (985) 974-1896 or … Continue reading →

Young writers and photographers have until 5 p.m. July 12 to submit entries for the Louisiana Outdoor Writers’ Association’s annual Youth Journalism Contest. There are two writing divisions: Junior Essay is open to boys and girls ages 7-13, and Senior Essay is for writers ages 14-18. Essays must … Continue reading →

Coastal anglers are resting easy after chalking up the first big springtime speckled trout catches, and folks are getting ready for Friday’s opening of the Grand Isle Speckled Trout Rodeo and Saturday’s summer-long run through the S.T.A.R. So, attention can be shifted to birds, both the state’s largest and a species among the smaller in … Continue reading →

All the hubbub over red snapper might never have happened if the Magnuson-Stevens Act had never been passed. The act was designed to give more power to the folks who would come into the federal system to handle this fishery conservation act in federal waters. Like all folks handed … Continue reading →

Veteran coastal fishermen have found that live bait and braided line are not a productive combo for catching trout and redfish. Use a fluorocarbon leader on braided line to get more strikes on live bait.

tides Weekly tidal ranges for Shell Beach at Lake Borgne, South Pass of the Mississippi River, Grand Isle at Caminada Pass and Caillou Boca south of Cocodrie: Shell Beach South Pass Grand Isle Caillou Boca HI(R) LO HI(R) LO HI(R) LO HI(R) LO Fri. 7:05p (1.1) 3:40a 12:32p (1.1) 11:44p 1:57p (0.9) 12:54a 2:17p (1.2) 1:30a Sat. 2:39p (0.9) 4:33a 11:53a (0.9) 11:41p 12:45p … Continue reading →

FRIDAY NIGHT COOKIE JAR BASS TOURNAMENT: 7 p.m.-midnight, Morrison Parkway Public Landing. Fee $30/boat. Weekly Friday night event through Sept. 13. Call Guy Perkins (225) 293-3402. STAN BROCK’S BLACK & GOLD CLASSIC: 8 a.m., May 17, Sporting Clays Shoot; May 18, Saltwater Fishing Rodeo. Bridge Side Marina, Grand Isle. Fees … Continue reading →

If you’re wade fishing, make the first casts of the morning before you step into water. There are big trout near the beach, and you’ll run them off when you wade into the surf.

The first solid reports are trickling in from the coast this week, and it looks like we’re in for some can’t-miss opportunities on speckled trout in the next weeks. Better yet is that the action has picked up coastwide, although east of the Mississippi River lags behind the Central Coast and the Big Lake … Continue reading →

Bassmaster Elite MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Sunday’s final top 12 from the four-day Bassmaster Elite tournament held on the Alabama River with anglers, their hometowns, number of bass weighed in parentheses (5-bass daily limit), total weight in pounds and ounces and prize winnings. Also listed are the heaviest bass and heaviest one-day stringer, … Continue reading →

The battle between the Gulf states and the multi-layered federal fisheries management system has carried into the halls of the U.S. Congress now that Sen. David Vitter and Congressman Bill Cassidy filed companion bills in the 113th Congress. The two Louisiana Republicans want to limit the power of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, the … Continue reading →

Happy Mother’s Day. Much of what we enjoy in the outdoors is directly related to our mothers, maybe more than any of us know. Statistics abound tracking the dramatic decline in our country’s number of hunters to the rapid increase of single-parent families. Yes, there are … Continue reading →

Using a Carolina Rig on spinning tackle is a better choice for using live bait for coastal trips than baitcasting reels.

RED STICK FLY FISHERS PROGRAM: 7 p.m., Louisiana Resource Center for Educators, 5550 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge. Call Greg Brignac (225) 810-8645. Website: http://www.rsff.org. CANAL BANK BASS TOURNAMENT: 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Aug. 25 with Aug. 31 “classic.” Canal Bank Club, Diversion Canal, 18499 La. 22. Maurepas. Fee $40/boat, $15/angler … Continue reading →

Poor weather through the first months of the year is one of the reasons Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Enforcement Division bosses have charted a dramatic decline in boating fatalities across the state. Lt. Col. Jeff Mayne, the LDWF’s Boating Law Administrator, said he believes there’s another factor, the years upon years of a state law … Continue reading →

tides Weekly tidal ranges for Shell Beach at Lake Borgne, South Pass of the Mississippi River, Grand Isle at Caminada Pass and Caillou Boca south of Cocodrie: Shell Beach South Pass Grand Isle Caillou Boca HI(R) LO HI(R) LO HI(R) LO HI(R) LO Fri. 2:41p (1.5) 12:07a 8:57a (1.5) 7:42p 10:26a (1.2) 9:23p 10:46a (1.6) 9:59p Sat. 3:18p (1.5) 12:35a 9:27a (1.5) 8:20p 10:58a … Continue reading →

RIVER PARISHES CCA BANQUET: 5:30 p.m., Jerusalem Shrine Center, 1940 Ormond Blvd. Destrehan. Call CCA (225) 952-9200. FRIDAY NIGHT COOKIE JAR BASS TOURNAMENT: 7 p.m.-midnight, Morrison Parkway Public Landing. Fee $30/boat. Call Guy Perkins (225) 293-3402. FLY TYING CLASS: 9 a.m.-noon, Ascension Parish Library, 708 … Continue reading →

What? Another cold front? OK, so not as cold as last week’s chilly surge, but one that will bring rain just in time for the weekend. And your chance to get after the speckled trout that showed up on the Pontchartrain bridges and the bluegill that have been inhaling crickets in the Lake … Continue reading →

La. Saltwater Series LAFITTE — Saturday’s results from the Louisiana Saltwater Series-Redfish Tournament held out of SeaWay Marine with anglers, total weight on their 2-redfish catch in pounds and prize winnings. Anglers were limited to catch redfish with a minimum length of 16 inches by less than 27 inches long: Continue reading →

Buying a quantity of crickets for multiple bream-catching trips? You can keep the crickets alive by slicing a new potato in half, then put the pieces in the cricket box to provide food and water.

The sites for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ 3rd annual Boating Education Lagniappe Day set from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. You must preregister for the state-approved Boating Education Course at each site by calling the telephone number for LDWF district offices for each site: Cabela’s, 2200 W. Cabela’s Pkwy., Gonzales. … Continue reading →

Looking for David Cavell?
Corey Wheat? You’ll find them now in the Lake Verret Basin for the next in the Media Bass-South Louisiana Team circuit’s next tournament. That’s OK with them because there’s lots happening there bass-wise, bream-wise and shad-wise “Right now the shad are spawning. A lot of people don’t factor that into their … Continue reading →

Hope you read front-page headlines Wednesday and Thursday. If you did, you know we have a new
publisher. John Georges calls New Orleans home and wants to expand The Advocate’s presence in the Crescent City. Just want to let you know he also wants us to maintain, if possible … Continue reading →

SPECKLED TROUT SEMINAR: 6:30 p.m., Grace Presbyterian Church, Roselawn Boulevard, Lafayette. No fee. Last in five-seminar series covering fly fishing for trout, redfish, flounder. PUBLIC WATERFOWL HUNTING FORUM: 6 p.m., Monday, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Substation, 2510 Viking Dr., Bossier City; 6 p.m., Wednesday, second floor, Courtroom of the … Continue reading →

Studying tides and tidal highs and lows is more important for the spring through the summer because inshore saltwater species will tend to move to surf on barrier islands on a rising tide.

It's May, and the topic of the day and month for the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is shrimp, namely the spring inshore season. After hearing reports from Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' biologist Marty Bourgeois, the commission voted to follow the LDWF's recommendations during Thursday's commission meeting in Baton Rouge. It means shrimpers in the Terrebonne-Caillou bays and Vermilion-Teche zones will … Continue reading →

Most caterpillars are not pretty. Unless you’re in dire straits, they’re not appetizing. But most of them make beautiful butterflies, and, in May and June, they provide fishermen with a sign that reads, “Stop here and catch lots of fish.” “The caterpillars are in the trees, and they look like they’re going to eat all the … Continue reading →

When was the last time you’ve witnessed a 40-something degrees morning in May? Maybe Saturday morning’s forecast of 48 degrees is something you can put in the memory banks and tell your grandkids about the May days back in e_SSSq13 when a cold front blew into south Louisiana. While all … Continue reading →

Saturday’s start of the spring squirrel season comes with the warning that ticks numbers are up in Louisiana’s forests. Take appropriate precautions for you and your dogs.

Calendar LOUISIANA WILDLIFE & FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETING: 9:30 a.m., Waddill Outdoor Education Center, 4142 North Flannery Rd., Baton Rouge. Set spring inshore shrimp seasons. LAKE CHARLES CCA BANQUET: 5:30 p.m., Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles. Call CCA (225) 952-9200. SHATTERIN’ CLAY FOR GAITWAY: Hunter’s Run Gun Club, Port … Continue reading →

tides Weekly tidal ranges for Shell Beach at Lake Borgne, South Pass of the Mississippi River, Grand Isle at Caminada Pass and Caillou Boca south of Cocodrie: Shell Beach South Pass Grand Isle Caillou Boca HI(R) LO HI(R) LO HI(R) LO HI(R) LO Fri. 4:34p (1.0) 8:27a 1:44p (0.9) 1:24a 2:52p (0.7) 2:56a 3:12p (1.0) 3:32a Sat. 3:38p (0.9) 7:48a 9:33a (0.8) 1:32a 10:59a … Continue reading →

Capital City Bass Elite STEPHENSVILLE — Sunday’s top 5 teams from the Capital City Bass Elite tournament held out of Doiron’s Landing-East with anglers, number of bass weighed in parentheses (5-bass limit), total stringer weight in pounds and prize winnings. Also listed are top 5 teams in the Aqua Marine … Continue reading →

FIN-ADDICT FLY FISHERS MEETING: 6:30 p.m., Spahr’s Restaurant, 1400 W. Tunnel Blvd, Houma. Call Stephen Robert (985) 850-0082. Website: http://finaddictflyfishers.blogspot.com. CANAL BANK BASS TOURNAMENT: 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Aug. 25 with Aug. 31 “classic.” Canal Bank Club, Diversion Canal, 18499 La. 22. Maurepas. Fee $40/boat, $15/angler membership fee. $5 … Continue reading →

Every Saints fan knows Stan Brock. He was one terrific offensive lineman for 13 of his 16 years in the NFL. He’s one terrific guy, too. For the past handful of years, he’s figured out a way to direct the effort he gave on the field to the folks who give their all every … Continue reading →

Thursday’s Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting has a full agenda headlined by final public comment on the 2013-2015 resident-game hunting seasons and consideration of opening days of the spring inshore shrimp season for our three shrimp zones. High on that list,too, is an item calling for the LWFC to discuss a … Continue reading →

With the sun climbing in the sky, outdoorsmen need to think skin protection. Sunscreens with a minimum of a SPF 30 rating are suggested for Louisiana’s spring and summer sun.

David Moreland promised David Reynerson that he (Moreland) could come up with a can’t-miss big-buck contest. “People kept telling me that Bowie’s (Outfitters) should have a big-buck contest, but I always thought they were unfair,” Reynerson said. “But Dave told me he had something in mind, and that no one would complain about the … Continue reading →

Just at the time when the coastal guides started to report better-than-average speckled trout and redfish catches, along comes this latest in a series of cold fronts to shake up action for the next several days. Yes, since Sunday, guides were staying inside and catching fish from the lower Barataria area west into the bays and lakes … Continue reading →

CALENDAR BAYOU CHAPTER CCA BANQUET: 5:30 p.m., Houma Civic Center, Houma. Call CCA (225) 952-9200. BASSMASTER CENTRAL OPEN: Red River, Shreveport. First in 3-event series/winner qualifies for Bassmaster Classic. Website: http://www.bassmaster.com. FRIDAY NIGHT COOKIE JAR BASS TOURNAMENT: 7 p.m.-midnight, Morrison Parkway Public Landing. … Continue reading →

Citing the loss of millions of dollars after cuts in their recreational red snapper seasons in federal waters, the chairmen of game and fish commissions in Louisiana and Texas teamed to file a lawsuit Tuesday challenging respective nine-day and 12-day seasons. The lawsuit was filed jointly in the U.S. District Court in Brownsville, Texas, by the Louisiana … Continue reading →

Tip of the Day

Weekly tidal ranges for Shell Beach at Lake Borgne, South Pass of the Mississippi River, Grand Isle at Caminada Pass and Caillou Boca south of Cocodrie: Shell Beach South Pass Grand Isle Caillou Boca HI(R) LO HI(R) LO HI(R) LO HI(R) LO Fri. 3:18p (1.4) ---- 9:11a (1.5) 7:44p 10:35a (1.2) 9:18p 10:55a (1.7) 9:54p Sat. 3:51p (1.5) 12:29a 9:51a (1.6) 8:48p 11:20a (1.3) 10:20p 11:40a (1.8) 10:56p Sun. 4:28p (1.6) 1:23a 10:36a (1.7) 9:53p 12:10p (1.3) 11:25p 12:30p (1.8) ---- Continue reading →

If the issue of red snapper and the recreational fisherman has sparked something near anarchy across the five Gulf States, then the continued raid on the Louisiana Artificial Reef Fund is that same issue on the state level. The background here is that Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration put enough pressure on the … Continue reading →

RUMBLE ON THE RIVER BASS TOURNAMENT: 3 p.m. weigh-in Riverside Academy, Reserve. In conjunction with Riverside Spring Festival. BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES: Final day, Bull Shoals Quest, Bull Shoals Lake, Ark. Third in 8-tournament series to determine 2014 Bassmaster Classic qualifiers. Live weigh-in website: http://www.bassmaster.com. LA. SEAFOOD PROMOTION & … Continue reading →

Using oil of anise and its licorice odor is a good way to hide human scents from unscented soft-plastic baits for both freshwater and saltwater species.