Photo by Tom Evans.

A year and a half after hurricanes Katrina and Rita blasted the Louisiana coast from Lake Charles to Slidell, the state of bass fishing is as good as it's ever been in some places -- and slowly festers along in others.

The Interstate 10/Interstate 12 line across south Louisiana serves as kind of a border between worthy bass fishing and suspect bass fishing. With the exception of a few rivers in the Florida Parishes, this line generally divides the state between the haves and have-nots. Few areas were affected by the storms north of this line, while areas southward got beaten, battered and bruised.

Northern bass fishing waters weren't totally unaffected by the storms, however. Although they didn't get smashed by wind, tidal surge or saltwater intrusion, they did see an increase in fishing pressure as southern anglers traveled north to find something to catch.

Northern anglers may find fewer boats on the water this year, though, because time, the main thing that the southern waters need to rebound, is slowly moving onward. Time will allow fresh water to push the salt back out. Time will allow spring rains to flush out systems with floodwaters. And time will allow baby bass to grow up and replace the bass that were storm casualties.

A few southern areas were already showing promise by last summer, and a few were even down right decent by the fall. Fisheries biologists across the southern part of the state spoke about the waters in their charge with a grim tone. The bad was still too fresh in their minds, the good still too far away. They couldn't suppress their optimism for too long, though, as they realized that the farther that the storm sisters recede in the rearview mirrors of their memories, the better things will get.

Northern fisheries biologists spoke with passion about the lakes in their districts, and they all had several favorites that they expect to be productive in 2007. A few of the usual favorites have had their share of ups and downs, while some of the big names are making a comeback.

NORTHWEST
This section of Louisiana arguably offers some of the best bass fishing in the state. It has a variety of waters to suit any angler's taste. However, biologist James Seales believes that a few offer anglers a better chance of getting bit.

"Caddo is always a good place to go," Seales pointed out. "The spring is a great time to fish the lake, and you always have a few trophy fish caught then. The lake is cypress studded rather than completely filled with trees like Bistineau. Spring fishing is best around the trees around the Jim's Bayou area."

Hydrilla is present in Caddo, and Seales reported that Giant Sylvania has been found, which is a pressing concern. "We making efforts to get the Sylvania and some of the hydrilla under control," he said. "But the lake is as good as it has always been. We haven't been getting any complaints from the anglers."

Lake Bistineau is coming off two back-to-back drawdowns, and according to Seales, there should be a strong spawn with some good recruitment this spring. Even though the lake has been drawn down two years in a row, guide Russ McVey sees it coming back strong.

"I've seen the lake bottom, and I've seen it 7 feet high," he said. "I've seen it have lush green grass, and I've seen it have nary a sprig. It doesn't matter what happens, though. This lake has always rebounded -- and, in my opinion, it always will."

Seales expects the Red River to be as strong as ever this year. The river gave up a giant 13-pound largemouth last year, and the proliferation of the hydrilla along with the stocking of some Florida bass makes this a potential big bass hotspot in the future.

"The best fishing generally isn't until the water stabilizes during the later part of the spring," Seales said. "But Pool 5 offers a fantastic opportunity to catch lots of fish from then on."