Freshwater Fishing

Cold crappie won’t hit crankbaits?

Let me tell you from first-hand experience the winter crappie pattern is on over at Chotard. Seems that every winter season on this beautiful, hidden-away crappie paradise located north of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River, there is a day or two where the fishing is so outstanding that it is hard to describe.

New Year’s Eve was a day with a couple of things dead-set against it — namely a very high and rapidly rising river stage. Plus, to beat all, it was the day of the dreaded full moon! And, if you’ve ever read any of my stuff, you know my personal feelings about the full moon phase and how I think (make that thought) it detrimentally influences the crappie bite.

Now, I’ve said many times here that I personally don’t think the rising river keeps Chotard white perch from biting. Just because the river is rising doesn’t mean they stop eating. Well, brother, they ate on this magical day. […]

Fishing

Roll the dice for speckled trout in February

Capt. Robert Brodie with Team Brodie Charters, who has his boat based at Biloxi’s D’Iberville Marina, says you can find the big speckled trout in the coastal rivers and other species around the rivers during February.

If you’re hunting large trout, go up the Biloxi or the Tchoutacabouffa rivers, and look for the trout in deep holes and bends in the rivers. They’ll be holding near the Jack Watson Power Plant, Bernard Bayou and Gulfport Lake.

But remember, if you go up the coastal rivers looking for speckled trout, you’ll either be a hero or a zero. You may limit-out and have one of those glory days catching 3- to 7-pounders, or you may catch only five to seven trout.
[…]

Deer Hunting

Deer Dynamics: Post-Rut

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part two of a 12-part series in which renowned wildlife photographer Tommy Kirkland gives readers an inside look into the private world of whitetail deer.Click here to read more on Deer Dynamics: Post-Rut […]

Other Hunting

Hype for Snipe

As duck season fades away and deer season wanes, most hunters begin to retire to their warm homes to recuperate after a long season. A few may go afield for late-season rabbit hunts and a February squirrel or two, but few have wingshooting on their minds this late in the year. […]

Inshore Fishing

The secrets of Cat Island

Cat Island, only 7 miles from Long Beach Harbor, may have the best and most-dependable fishing year-round off the Mississippi Coast. One of the advantages that anglers have who go to Cat Island to fish during January is that they always can find protected waters there with speckled trout and redfish. […]

Freshwater Fishing

Fish in a Barrel

Every angler who has ever wet a hook has an idea of the perfect place to catch fish. For some, it might be a private farm pond, for others it may be a secret set of coordinates out in the Gulf. The one thing these perfect places have in common is that when you go there, you catch fish. […]