If you fancy yourself to be a fisher — man, woman or child — and you’re not on the water someplace in our Sportsman’s Paradise, then you are missing a grand chance for a memorable day.
While there’s no predicting the exact weather conditions — like Thursday’s blustery morning that turned quiet near noon for those who waited out wind and waves — there’s a good chance to take speckled trout, redfish, bass, sac-a-lait, bluegill, chinquapin and catfish from a lake, bayou, river, reservoir or pond.
And, if you feel the urge to get into this grand sport, Wildlife and Fisheries is bringing its Fishing Course Series to a place near you. Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, Hammond and Houma are on the schedule along with four north Louisiana locations.
The LDWF staff is breaking down the FCS into sessions labeled Intro to Fishing, Beginner Bass Fishing, Beginner Catfishing and Intermediate Catfishing to coincide with late-spring Get Out & Fish! catfish stockings.
There’s also a new class — Fishing Secrets Explained.
Each class is limited to 10 with all ages welcome. You need to preregister. Anyone 18 and older must have a current recreational fishing license and anyone 16 and younger must bring an adult.
Go to the agency’s website for course dates and locations: Lousianaoutdoors.com/events, then go to “Fishing Ed” to see available courses.
If you have trouble, call Joshua Porter at (225) 763-3540 or email: outreach@wlf.la.gov.
Fishing advisories
If you didn’t see the story in Thursday’s newspapers, then you might want to check out the latest state departments of Health, Environmental Quality and Wildlife and Fisheries advisory on fish consumption.
The latest adds updates on 11 waterbodies to the list of places found with what these agencies labeled as “precautionary advisories when unacceptable levels of mercury are detected in fish or shellfish.”
These included Toledo Bend, Lake Maurepas, Bayou Dorcheat, Black Bayou Lake, the Black Lake/Clear Lake complex, Caddo Lake, Corney Lake, Grand Bayou Reservoir, Ivan Lake, Kepler Creek Lake and Vernon Lake.
All told, fish consumption advisories have been issued for 51 waterways in Louisiana and one for the Gulf of Mexico. Consumption is based on an average of eating one-half pound of fish four times a month from these places.
Need more? Go to the state website: ldh.la.gov/EatSafeFish.
Hunting meeting
A reminder about Monday’s 10 a.m. public hearing on the proposed changes to the 2024-25 hunting season set for the first-floor meeting room at state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.
Amendments made to January’s original proposed season dates and regulations will dominate the agenda.
April 30 is the final date to submit public comment on the amendments to Tommy Tuma, LDWF Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or by email: ttuma@wlf.la.gov.
Oops!
Made a mistake last Sunday about the special M1 Garand match.
The match will take place next Sunday at the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range off St. Landry Street in Gonzales. It’s across from the Lamar Dixon Expo Center.
Thanks to the Southwest Louisiana Highpower Club’s Mike Burke for sending along the information to correct this error.