<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">It’s only 16 days until Lacassine opens for fishing, and it appears that the impoundment is going to be in good shape.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A drive out there Wednesday showed that there’s lot of water and there is also a good bit of green vegetation. The water level at the old landing (north side) is up to the wire that crosses the concrete slab blocking traffic.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">There is also good news that the entire impoundment will be open for fishing, unlike the start a year ago when the G2 unit — that includes the Twin Sisters, Blue Grove and Black Grove areas — were closed due to a draw down.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Refuge employees also noted that 40-horsepower motors will continue to be allowed in the fishing pool, dispelling rumors to the contrary.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Also, within the next week or at least before the opening of the season, biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will do their annual fish shock survey to get an accounting of numbers (bass, bream, white perch) that can be expected.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AZaphdingbatdot7pt">l</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Even though we did have some cool weather a couple of days last week, spring appears to be here and the fishing trends may be earlier. We contacted two of the area’s top fishermen — Johnny Watkins for bass and Larry Cinquemano for bream — about their expectations for Lacassine.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Watkins said, “With the recent warm weather we’ve had coinciding with a full moon, there’s no doubt that a lot of bass started spawning this past week. The spawn got started early this year due to our mild winter. I think this is great for the bass in Lacassine. When we have a long winter the spawn gets pushed back and the bass are vulnerable when they are spawning.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“This year, at least a portion of the bass will spawn without interruption before the pool opens, which helps in the long-term health of the pool’s bass population. Personally I’ve noticed in the last year or two that the numbers of bass caught are less than in years past. We may not see the benefit of this early spawn right away, but I feel like in a year or two we will see the results, in that bass numbers should be up.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“And that’s very exciting for a guy like me and my family who love to experience the fishing that the pool has to offer.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Cinquemano, who will be 87 years old this week and has been fishing Lacassine for 59 years, said, “Even though we are having good weather, it’s my opinion the pattern for perch will be about the same. The first two weeks I won’t fish ,but later in March, early April, I will be there.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Now, if we get some 80-degree weather so that the water warms up, the bream are going to be coming out earlier and you will be finding the beds. Usually in the early going you pick them up here and there and don’t find the beds until it gets a lot warmer.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~AZaphdingbatdot7pt">l</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">LDWF has been sponsoring information meetings throughout the state in regards to 2016-17 hunting seasons.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">One met last Thursday at the LSU Ag Center at Burton Coliseum and an overflow crowd was on hand.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Even though all seasons of hunting were discussed (deer, turkey, quail, dove, duck, goose, etc.), most of the attention was on duck hunting.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Three zones — Coastal, East and West — have been set. Duck hunting seasons for those zones for 2016-17 are being discussed.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Coastal Zone has taken a different path from a year ago as it now begins at the Texas border on Interstate 10, takes a southern turn down La. 14, runs through New Iberia, where it hits U.S. 90 on to I-10 at New Orleans and then to the Mississippi border.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Both the West and East zones also dip into Southwest Louisiana.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Of concern to local sportsmen at the meeting was the start of the duck season in the Coastal zone, splits set to run Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Dec. 17-Jan. 22. This is the same schedule for the West Zone with the East Zone hunting splits to be Nov. 19-Dec. 4 and Dec. 17-Jan. 29.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Most wanted the Coastal and the West zones split moved back to that of the East Zone.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">All comments were compiled by the LDWF and will be directed to the wildlife commission which will set the seasons.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Anyone who did not make the meeting and has comments, can direct them to Steve Smith at the LDWF (email ssmith@wlf.la.gov).</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Sportsmen can view all purposed hunting seasons and regulation changes at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/action-items.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Representing our area on the commission is Bart Yakupzack, who serves as chairman.</span>