With all the water in our state, especially in the southern parishes, you could easily believe our fishing options are endless.
Not today. Now that the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers are claiming their springtime share of runoff from dozens of states to our north (east and west, too), the vast areas of water in these two major river systems are limiting the places where we can fish — no, not just fish, but catch fish.
Places like the Atchafalaya Spillway, the marshes and run off the Mississippi River south of Buras and down to Venice along with several oxbow lakes still connected to the Mississippi are far too high and muddy to make it a worthwhile fishing trip.
Not too many years ago, the Verret Basin would soak up thousands of fishing hours during the spring rises, but, for whatever reason, fish populations in Lake Verret and surrounding waters aren’t what they used to be.
For folks east of Baton Rouge, that meant usual springtime excursions to the Florida Parishes rivers and bayous — the Amite, Blind, Tickfaw, Tangipahoa rivers, the three runs of the lower Pearl River and the southern end of Bayou Lacombe.
For Baton Rouge and west, it was False River and the waters reachable from Jack Miller’s Landing west of Plaquemine.
Those last two spots produced last weekend.
False River and the annual Kiwanis bass tournament produced a winning five-bass, near 19-pound catch for Larry Jarreau and Brogan Gurr — the big bass, a 7-pound, 8-ounce lunker, came from the second-place team of Richard Brister and Nick Brister.
And, the Junior Southwest Bassmasters put its stamp of approval on the Jack Miller’s area, notably around Grand Bayou, where 23 young anglers and their adult “guides†brought in 76 weighable fish (12 inches or longer) with club boss Jim Breaux reporting that many other small bass were caught.
Breaux said all weighed fish were released alive and the top producing lures were “(plastic) frogs, spinnerbaits early, creature baits and Baby Brush Hogs, later in the day.â€
The note on False River is a shad spawn is underway and the best action comes between first light and 9 a.m. After that, jigs and soft plastics around brush piles have produced limited action.
Rain in this week’s forecast will help freshen the water in most areas, but we’re not supposed to get so much rain that it will send local rivers too high to inhibit catches.
Your help needed
Wildlife and Fisheries’ Enforcement Division is asking anyone in our state selected for this year’s 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey to complete this mail-out and return the survey, which is done every five years and funded by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust funds.
The 50,000 questionnaires will be divided among the 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine the number of boaters, boats types and how often they use their boats.
The target is to improve boating safety and give a chance to provide both positive and negative experiences on the water.
Duck art
The subject for the 2027 ¶¶Òõh Waterfowl Conservation Stamp is the wood duck.
It’s the fourth time this colorful species has been selected for the ¶¶Òõh duck stamp.
The artist has to submit an original, unpublished work with a signed and notarized artist's agreement and a $50 entry fee during the submission period, Oct. 19-26, 2026.
Entries should be addressed to: ¶¶Òõh Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,
Attn: ¶¶Òõh Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Program, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.
Judging will be held Oct. 28 in Baton Rouge.
Need more? Email Jason Olszak: jolszak@wlf.la.gov
Big move
The U.S. House took a big step for hunters and fishermen last week in passing a key part of The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025.
In addition to improving access to public lands, the bill prohibits bans on lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters unless such regulation is consistent with state law and supported by science. Already protected are migratory waterfowl and birds on public lands where non-lead shot is required, and has been for more than two decades.
The bill has moved to the U.S. Senate.
Send your photos
This year the Gulf Council is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is calling outdoorsmen to participate in a special Gulf Fisheries Photo Contest.
The contest is to highlight “the people, places, and marine life that define fisheries in the Gulf region,†in a number of categories — best overall photo, best recreational fishing photo, best commercial fishing photo, best historical photo, best marine life or habitat photo and best coastal community photo.
To be eligible, the photo must be taken in the Gulf region, must be original and must be submitted in digital format (high-resolution image preferred). The photographer must secure permission from “any identifiable individuals in the photo. If a subject is a minor, permission must be granted by a legal guardian.â€
The deadline is 4 p.m. April 30 to website: