http://www.LouisianaSportsman.com April 2015 | Louisiana Sportsman 25
field notes
W
alk into any tackle store to grab a few lures and the
choices can be overwhelming. Racks are piled with
all manner of baits that each manufacturer promises
will catch more bass.
So what’s a bass angler to do?
We asked David Langston, who has fished South Louisiana
tournaments for years and now manages Bowie Outfitters’ fish-
ing department, what lures top sales for this month’s fishing.
And he went to work pulling a few lures out.
Here’s what he said will definitely work:- Crankbaits — Is there anything more at home in a Louisiana
swamp than a crankbait? Bounce one of these bad boys off a
laydown, cypress tree or stump, and then just hold on. They
also allow you to cover a lot of water. Of course, Bandits are
a long-time favorite of anglers across the South, but don’t
forget Strike King KVD models. - Stick baits — The words “Rattlin’ Rogue” and “Redfin” make
any bass angler’s knees go weak in the spring. There’s just
not many lures that offer such exciting fishing when bass are
hunkered down next to trees. Casting these lures out and
giving them subtle twitches are sure to end with a huge swirl.
Just remember that patience is a huge part of this game —
the slower these lures are worked the better.- Jigs — These lures have become standard equipment in any
bass angler’s tackle box. They can be fished dead slow or, as
Baton Rouge’s Ken Sherman does, as rapid-fired from target
to target to provoke reaction strikes. And, while real pigskin
trailers are still in vogue in some areas, soft-plastic chunks like
those made by Zoom work well. - Spinnerbaits — You just can’t beat a spinnerbait for covering
water and generating bites. And they’re so flexible — you can
burn them past cover, slow-roll them along the bottom or
bounce them off stumps and logs before letting them drop. Bass
just can’t resist them. There are gazillion choices on the shelves. ■
Top April bass lures
By Andy Crawford