I guess it had to happen. After all fishing and hunting kind of go together just at different times of the year and with different equipment. The thrill of coming home with “game” is the same though and if one group of outdoorsmen/women do it then it is only natural for the other group to fall in line soon.

At reference is the way anglers are now going after their favorite type of fish. They are now finally enjoying the phenomena that deer hunters went through several years ago. Remember when everything changed in going after the elusive white tail buck?

One winter everyone was sitting on an open platform of two by fours up in a fork of a tree that was accessed by planks nailed about a foot apart on the trunk. The next they were sitting in “shooting houses” complete with windows, doors, heaters and even recliners to sit on.

For fishermen their comfort improvements were more subtle. First there was the angler going after an ice chest full of their favorite species sitting on a cushion on the bench of an old “john” boat that most likely had a small outboard motor attached. If you were really “fancy” you had a trolling motor in the front which is where you sat while casting. Otherwise you propelled yourself with a short paddle.

Soon the small aluminum boat were replaced by wide fiberglass renditions that had “fishing decks” aft and rear along with live wells and along with depth finders and a tackle box of every kind of artificial bait that was ever thought up. Powering the craft were large outboard or even a pair of inboard motors that you guided from the “cockpit” fully equipped with running lights and a steering wheel.

Another step has now been taken for the angling community in the Floating Fishing Platform as shown below. This is an inflatable 10 x 10 fishing platform that includes a tent complete with electronic hookups in the middle to allow you to get out of the sun and catch your favorite show, a comfortable recliner/chair to cast from and even a “Porty-Potty” on the side. Don’t forget the mounted grill to let you enjoy your catch while still on the lake. What will they think of next?

Regardless of how you got after the “lunkers” see below for north Louisiana’s premier outdoorsman Glynn Harris recommendation on how to get a good stringer at some of the area’s favorite fishing holes.

FISHING REPORT 6-3-20

BLACK BAYOU – Bass fishing has been fair on plastic frogs fished around the grass. Bream fishing continues to be good on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow. Contact 323-8707 for latest information.

OUACHITA RIVER – A good many bream are being caught in the backwaters on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing has been best in the river south area and in the river lakes on shiners and jigs. Bass are fair in the mouth of the cuts. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass have been fair early mornings on topwater lures fished around grass and up the creeks around the grass on a variety of lures such as soft plastics, topwater lures and spinner baits. Crappie are on the flats and have been fair to good on shiners and jigs fished 8-10 feet deep in 12-14 foot deep water. Bream are around bedding areas and hitting crickets and worms around the lake. Catfishing has been good on set hooks baited with bream with lots of smaller channel catfish caught fishing off the banks with cold worms and night crawlers. For latest reports, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has been good especially at night fishing around lighted piers on shiners. Bass have slowed down a bit and have only been fair this week. Catfishing has been good on both trotlines and limb lines for flatheads with noodles and trotlines working on channel cats. Small bream are best baits to use for flatheads. The bream are biting worms and crickets just off the banks in 5 foot water. Stripers have improved with some caught around the piers on shad imitations. For latest information, call Tim Loftin at Kel’s Cove at 927-2264.

CANEY LAKE – Bass fishing has been fair to good with tournament anglers doing pretty well over the weekend with some nice fish in the 7 and 8 pound range caught on Shaky heads and crank baits. Bream fishing continues to be good fishing the shallows with crickets and worms. Crappie are better at night around lighted piers using shiners for bait. Catfishing has been fair to good tight lining or using noodles baited with cold worms. For latest information contact Bateaux on Caney Lake at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE POVERTY POINT – Bass have been fair with a few nice ones to around 7 pounds caught on soft plastics. Catfishing continues to be good on cut shad and cold worms. Bream fishing has been good on worms and crickets. Crappie are slow to fair on shiners and jigs. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318-878-0101.

LAKE ST. JOHN – No report. For information, call Ken Mahoney at 318-201-3821.

LAKE YUCATAN – Water is high and rising. No fishing reports this week. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.

LAKE BRUIN – No report. For information, contact Carlos Gray at 318/766-0075.