What lures should anglers put into their tackle boxes before coming to fish here?

"The nice thing there is that it's a flipper and spinnerbait angler's paradise," reported two-time BASSmasters Classic champ and five-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam. "There are some crankbait opportunities, but it's primarily a shallow, stained-water fishery and that's conducive to big baits and big lines. Buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and frogs are the kind of baits that you'll throw to coax them out."

VanDam used similar baits to capture his first Classic title in July 2001. Those same techniques also make VanDam one of the early favorites to capture yet another Classic title when the Super Bowl of bass fishing returns to New Orleans in February 2011.

April
Cobia: Gulf Coast
The hard-fighting cobia is a saltwater species that really likes springtime along the northern Gulf Coast. These fish begin arriving in earnest in the Louisiana coastal regions this month as waters warm out of the lower 60s.

If you're not all that familiar with this species, make no mistake about the fact that cobia are one of Louisiana's top piscatorial predators. Weighing anywhere from the low teens to more than 50 pounds, these fish demand rods, reels and line that are beefy enough to stand up to the challenge.

While many anglers prefer live baits -- especially eels -- others enjoy taking cobia on various hued bucktails, soft plastics or even big saltwater flies.

Whatever your selection, look for cobia around inshore waters near underwater structural features, either manmade or natural. Also, look for single objects in the water like floating debris, markers or buoys.

Wherever you spot the fish, maneuver into a position to sight-cast your bait, lure or fly to the strike zone, and then be ready to hang on for dear life when the cobia takes the bait!

May
Panfish: Statewide
When May arrives, I get excited -- the panfish spawn is in high gear this month in most of Louisiana's freshwater venues. It's time so get the skillet ready!

Up north, Caddo, Caney and D'Arbonne lakes are good spots to try for tasty bluegills and redears. Down south, the vast Louisiana Delta system waters and the Atchafalaya Basin are prime spots to consider. In between, just about any decent size farm pond holds bream.

If you are interested in some of the real fishing action, consider using a fly rod. A fly rod in either 4- or 5-weight model. Add a floating fly line, a 7 1/2-foot leader in 5X strength, and a few small topwater popping bugs in white, chartreuse, red, black or green frog patterns and you're in business.

To keep things a bit simpler, use a cane pole rigged with a small bait hook, a split shot or two and a bobber. While bluegills and redears eat worms readily, my best bluegill luck has always occurred with crickets.

June
Speckled Trout: Calcasieu Lake
To start the summer off, why not head for the state's famed Calcasieu Lake to fish for big "gator"-sized seatrout. This southwestern Louisiana treasure is not too far from Lake Charles and produces good speck fishing around jetties, oyster reefs, underneath slicks and under working birds.

Trout often take a variety of baits ranging from live shrimp under popping corks to Carolina-rigged soft plastics to topwater plugs. They are even susceptible to Clouser Minnow flies tossed on the long rod.

July
Dolphin: Venice
In July, anglers looking for offshore action think of Venice and dolphin. This isn't "Flipper" we're talking about. These are fish also known as mahi mahi or dorado. These beautifully hued blue and gold fish are abundant, acrobatic and among the best table fare on the planet.

Since the best fishing is often well offshore in the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, consider hiring a guide if you're not familiar with deep-water fishing and boating techniques.