Home atchafalaya basin landing airboat swamp tours. Spanish mossdraped cypress trees, drooping willowlined bayou banks, mucky, murky backwaters and palmettolaced ridges make up as much of the landscape as sugar cane fields, oaktree bottoms, towns and cities. Its on the atchafalaya basin, one of the most interesting fisheries in the united states. Places like the nearby shell oil canals and the zigzag canals were productive. The atchafalaya basin spreads across 1 million acres of south louisiana. Bass were essentially trapped in the canals and their shallowwater homes were obvious to anglers. From twisting bayous and vast marshes to fields of sugar cane and the wild atchafalaya basin, our area is a complex ecosystem home to alligators, black bears.
The atchafalaya basin is an eerily beautiful 800,000plusacre swamp wilderness, the storybook version of mystical south louisiana wetlands. From twisting bayous and vast marshes to fields of sugar cane and the wild atchafalaya basin, our area is a complex ecosystem home to alligators, black bears, numerous fish and birds. Tesoro marine terminal, atchafalaya river tide chart key. Before reaching the gulf, the mississippi meets up with its distributary, the atchafalaya river. Dec 15, 2004 the rest of the basin east of grand lake and the atchafalaya river a including popular fishing holes such as the shell cuts north of flat lake, zig zag and reed canal off of big bayou pigeon a are legally inaccessible to the public. Map of atchafalaya basin focal area by roy hewitt, usfws.
But to fully comprehend and appreciate the magnificence of the atchafalaya, you must journey back to when the atchafalaya was as. Apr 26, 2012 keep your fish hooks baited and your appetite ready for some of lorettas delicious fried catfish. The atchafalaya basin is the nations largest river swamp, containing almost one million acres of the nations most significant bottomland hardwoods, swamps, bayous and backwater lakes the atchafalaya river meanders from near simmesport southward past pierre part down to morgan city and the gulf of mexico. The basin encompasses approximately 374,000 acres of fresh marsh, bottomland hardwoods, cypress swamps, and open water. Atchafalaya nwr is located in the lower atchafalaya basin floodway system in st. Houma louisiana fishing charters light tackle charters. The louisiana department of wildlife and fisheries ldwf manages about 1. The tournament was the second of five regularseason louisiana division events and earned borne 200 points in. If youre in south louisiana and want to catch some bass or panfish, all you need to do is head to the atchafalaya basin.
Fishing crickets under slip cork will yield lots of bream and goggleeye in the atchafalaya basin this summer. Oct 05, 2016 the last central open is coming up at the end of the month. Borne bags bfl win on atchafalaya basin flw fishing. Giant shell cracker and bass at the mill pond duration. Besides the main channel of the atchafalaya river that runs the length of it, the basin has major and minor bayous, pipeline and. Enjoy the beautiful photographs of one of louisianas pristine wilderness areas. I just got back from the atchafalaya basin on a houseboating vacation.
Hunting and fishing regulations for the refuge are determined by louisiana department of. I took my boat as well but the fishing wasnt very good due to some recent storms there according to the locals. Growing up and fishing the atchafalaya river basin i grew up fishing for catfish in the atchafalaya river and for bass in the bayous of the atchafalaya basin. Had the river gotten the best of the engineers in 1973 the mississippi would not be the same river todayit would have forced a new path down the atchafalaya basin, a. With that being said, it is no wonder that the waters around and below terrebonne parish are so rich with fish and wildlife. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. Atchafalaya river fishing reports recently shared catches and fishing spots. Most of it looks fishy enough to hold a bass with every cast. Not so much covering water but really slowing down the lure presentation since the fish got hard to catch. The atchafalaya basin is a unique combination of wetlands, bayous, marshes. Hi there, please consider registering for an account. View all hotels near atchafalaya basin bridge on tripadvisor. Crazy to think we have sharks in the freshwater of the atchafalya basin. The festival began in 2007 and has always been a free event.
Registration is free, only takes a minute and will allow you to access members only boards. If you need fishing tackle, or are looking for a fishing guide or fishing charter please visit tackle, guides, charters. There are 22 firing lanes 8 rifle with 100 yard range, 14 pistol lanes with 2 dedicated handicap, and an archery tower. Watch graceful egrets take wing, glimpse an alligator slide into the water. Water from parts or all of 31 states drains into the mississippi river, and creates a drainage basin over 1,245,000 square miles in size. Apr 17, 2010 huge shell crackers from the atchafalaya basin. It has been said that the atchafalaya basin is one of north americas greatest remaining estuaries.
I had two good places to go bank fishing but they have posted both of them so there is no longer any fishing there. Located in south central louisiana, it is a combination of wetlands and river delta area where the atchafalaya river and the gulf of. Billy billeaud caught 371 to finish ninth at the atchafalaya basin. Alligators, nutria, beaver, and numerous species of water fowl just to name a few. Not being from this area it is hard to find good places to go bank fishing. Houma is located in terrebonne parish, which is centered between the mississippi river and the atchafalaya river.
Or if the river is expected to fall down anywhere near that in the next month. This is an amazing feat that was built in the early 1970s and opened to the public in 1973. And, in fairness, i think this years central open schedule deserves some attention, too. Water levels have finally dropped, and that means the runouts are holding. Pumpkinseed sunfish with a bream water was to high i caught 2 small ones and my uncle caught 3 no keepers actually in atchafalaya basin not atchafalaya basin which is not an option of location. The tournament was the first of five regularseason louisiana division events and featured 121 boaters vying for the win, which earned billeaud 200. May through september are typically dryer, and can be hot and buggy. The brittany is a very smart dog, and they train their owners very well.
In the firing range office, not only will you be able to check in and out, but there is also a classroom for firearm training with a kitchen. May 16, 2011 had the river gotten the best of the engineers in 1973 the mississippi would not be the same river todayit would have forced a new path down the atchafalaya basin, a course that is some 20 feet. Sep 08, 2009 if you have never fished the basin and you are not fishing with someone who knows that swamp like the back of his hand, i strongly suggest that you take catts advice and carry a gps unit with you. The atchafalaya basin in south louisiana near pierre part and morgan city is an over flow for the mississippi, atchafalaya and red river. Atchafalaya basin bridge baton rouge 2020 all you need to. In the atchafalaya basin national purebred dog day. The basin, as locals refer to americas largest river swamp, is a near millionacre maze of picturesque meanders and quiet bayous in southcentral louisiana, just west of baton rouge. We have what you need an easily manipulated map, and all the local fishing spots needed to provide a good day of fishing. Teh speed limit might be 70mph, but try to slow down and enjoy the beauty, especially as the sun rises and sets.
Til the atchafalaya river has been close to permanently. Atchafalaya basin fishing reports, water levels, picturesetc. Shellcrackerbluegill fishing trip april, 20 youtube. You can run forever, but its full of mudbars, sandbars and waterlogged logs. Head out for a day of paddling under live oaks dripping with spanish moss, through cypress tree forests in the swamp. July 20, 2018 popular post, zocle feed leave a reply facebook ali provost on facebook friday night, we came across this post from ali provost. In less than a second you can be in a world of trouble. Atchafalaya basin swamp in louisiana, location, facts, size. Riding a motorcycle on this bridge is a whole different experience as one is in the open air, seeing the beautiful. The atchafalaya basin is huge and its habitats are complex. The chinquapin are moving up to spawn around the august full moon, and fishing guide eddie halbrook demonstrates how hes catching them. Giant shellcrackers in the atchafalaya basin duration. Swamp people cracker shellcracker fishin we practice catch and keep here.
Shellcracker bream caught by foul mouthed cracker in louisiana. Flooding may occur in late winter and spring months when the atchafalaya basin flood spillway diverts water into the refuge. The event has raised money to help projects at the churches, including parking lot improvements, building maintenance and repairs. Basin crawfishing depends on the river and the flow to nurture the crawfish and bait to draw them into the net traps. The atchafalaya basin comprises an area of 860,000 acres of swamps, lakes and water prairies. My wife is my fishing partner and she has a skin condition that has not allowed her to get out in the son. The last central open is coming up at the end of the month. It is a maze of natural bayous, cannels, piplines and lakes. Cutting a 15milewide path across south louisiana, it is the largest and last great river basin swamp. Val is an inside dog and her favorite place is on the couch with one of us.
Giant shellcrackers in the atchafalaya basin youtube. Well the early spring shellcracker rush is over and the bluegills are starting to move in with them. That means if you fish there, youa re subject to state trespass laws. This 14parish region in the southcentral portion of louisiana offers unparalleled natural beauty. Chinquapin staging to spawn at grand bayou with eddie halbrook. Theres no better snapshot of the heritage areas bounty than from the water. Is this the year the atchafalaya river captures the. I had to lighten up the weights and slow down the presentation as the tournament progressed, he said.
Atchafalaya basin central bass fishing bass fishing forums. Pics from the atchafalaya basin texas fishing forum. Atchafalaya river fishing near henderson, louisiana. Wondering whats biting in atchafalaya basin right now. Saving atchafalaya a more than 70year effort to control americas largest river basin swamp is threatening the cajun culture that thrives on it by t. Til the atchafalaya river has been close to permanently diverting the mississippi river for 150 years, an event which would be cataclysmic. Among the freshwater fish populating lakes and bayous are black, white. Crawfishing in the atchafalaya basin where and what in. The atchafalaya basin is a unique combination of wetlands, bayous, marshes, estuaries, and river delta area. Fishing in the atchafalaya basin of south louisiana. Much of atchafalaya basin off limits, new map shows. Despite its beauty it can be dangerous if you have problems. Located in south central louisiana, it is a combination of wetlands and river delta area where the atchafalaya river and the gulf of mexico converge.
Contact us atchafalaya basin landing airboat swamp tours. Another fishing option that pros will be entertaining this year is a run way south to the marsh, the estuarine part of the atchafalaya basin where it enters the gulf of mexico. One third of the states public freshwater boat launches can be found in the heritage area. We fish out of theriot, louisiana dularge area, and have a network of captains. Learn how a cajun father from henderson, louisiana worked in the atchafalaya basin to raise enough money to take care of his family. In the atchafalaya basin june, 2016 april 14, 2017 national purebred dog day when we featured the brittany as our purebred of interest, robert wagnon wrote. If you have never fished the basin and you are not fishing with someone who knows that swamp like the back of his hand, i strongly suggest that you take catts advice and carry a gps unit with you. The cost involved is quite high between buying the equipment, boat, motor, keeping it repaired, and driving a good distance before boating just as far to start fishing. Uniquely louisiana february 25, 2015 by theodore roosevelt conservation partnership coastal. The atchafalaya river meanders from near simmesport southward past pierre part down to morgan city and the gulf of mexico.
I dont fish the atchafalaya but i believe we have a few members who do. Nov 12, 2009 the atchafalaya basin in south louisiana near pierre part and morgan city is an over flow for the mississippi, atchafalaya and red river. Light tackle charters is a father and son business, and we take pride in what we do. Depending upon where you launch from, its very easy to get lost. But to fully comprehend and appreciate the magnificence of the atchafalaya, you must journey back to when the atchafalaya was as nomadic as its people. In areas like wax lake and bayou black, winds and tides add to an already complicated puzzle of finding fish in these vast bays. Check out the latest atchafalaya basin fishing reports posted by pro anglers. Jb salter, bream fishing in lake henderson, louisiana youtube. Atchafalaya basin bridge baton rouge 2020 all you need. Hunting is a popular seasonal sport enjoyed by hunters on public lands. After all, the atchafalyla basin is the largest swamp in the world. Alternate names for this stream include atchaalaya river, atchafaylia river and atchafalayia river. Even anglers who had never been to atchafalaya before enjoyed great fishing.
Atchafalaya basin fishing report louisiana sportsman. It was however a great place to spend a few days and recharge the batteries. Tide times for tesoro marine terminal, atchafalaya river. Aug 03, 2006 i have not been out fishing for quite some time. Billeaud wins bass fishing tournament on atchafalaya basin. There is nothing more peaceful than fishing for catfish in the early morning on a sandbar on the banks of the atchafalaya river.
If youre looking for the perfect spot to host an upcoming fishing tournament, atchafalaya basin landing airboat swamp tours is the perfect choice. Great music by sweet cecilia, hunter courville, jamie bergeron, chubby carrier, geno delafose, louisiana red, hunter hayes, wayne toups, steve riley, nikl beer, dustin ray, kevin naquin. Fishing in the atchafalaya basin of south louisiana leblanc, sheila on. Check out karl malone fishing with light tackle charters.
How to survive alone in the wilderness for 1 week eastern woodlands duration. The mississippiatchafalaya river basin marb us epa. I dont always fish opens, but im going to fish the basin. Highway 190, on the south by interstate 10, on the west by the atchafalaya river, and on the east by the east atchafalaya basin. Cracking the code expert tips for catching chinquapin david a. The tournament was the second of five regularseason louisiana division events and earned borne 200 points in the boater division. There is one warning about the atchafalaya basin that i want to give you. Fishing in the atchafalaya basin of south louisiana at. The atchafalaya river originates in southcentral louisiana as the largest distributary of the mississippi river and flows south for approximately 140 miles, emptying into the gulf at atchafalaya bay, approximately 15 miles south of morgan city, louisiana. Cutting a 15milewide path across south louisiana, it is the largest and last great riverbasin swamp. The atchafalaya basin is probably one of the most beautiful places to kayak in louisiana.
The tide chart above shows the height and times of high tide and low tide for tesoro marine terminal, atchafalaya river, louisiana the red flashing dot shows the tide time right now. Artisans of the atchafalaya atchafalaya national heritage area. Atchafalaya basin swamp in louisiana, location, facts. Paddling atchafalaya national heritage area outdoor. Boating enthusiasts, birdwatchers, photographers, and. Brown contents, freshwater fishing bluegill get most of the attention from panfish anglers, but dont forget about chinquapin. We were trying for catfish coty duhon shared in one of the comments that bull sharks can adapt to fresh water, i tell people all the time to watch themselves on the sand bar in the lake. Bring sunscreen, plenty of water, and insect repellent. There are large groves of cypress trees and small islets everywhere. It was a great trip, not expensive, and i learned a lot from the whole thing. The refuge is west of baton rouge, and east of lafayette. Water was to high i caught 2 small ones and my uncle caught 3 no keepers actually in atchafalaya basin not atchafalaya basin which.
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