Area 6 - Fishing Louisiana

Destination	Parish	Links

Alabama Bayou	Pointe Coupee - Iberville & St. Martin
Tucked away in the Morganza Floodway system of the Atchafalaya Basin is the Big and Little Alabama Bayous. Both bayous wind through the Sherburne WMA and the Atchafalaya NWR.This area is accessed by Hwy. 975, a shell and gravel road running from hwy. 190 at Krotz Springs (north) to I-10 (south). Lying east of the Whiskey Bay Pilot Channel south access is from I-10. Hidden stumps are prevalent in the bayou making slower speeds advisable. Structure lines the entire banks on both sides of the bayou providing good cover for largemouth bass. With high banks and trees lining the waterway there is ample shade. Bream, crappie, and white bass are also caught. Huge gar fish are plentiful. Good choice of lures for bass are spinnerbaits, crankbaits, plastic worms, and topwater baits. Many good fish can be taken by running spinnerbaits along the side of laydown logs. Spinnerbaits are especially fun to use, as there are so many places to pitch them. Many species of wildlife can be enjoyed when fishing this beautiful bayou.
Atchafalaya Basin	La. DNR Atchafalaya Basin Program US Army Corps of Engineers St. Martin Parish Page Locale
Louisiana's beautiful Atchafalaya Basin is the largest active river delta on the continent. Beginning near Old River in Pointe Coupee Parish the basin flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. This wetland area of Louisiana is a haven for wildlife and is a prime region for fishing, crawfishing, frogging, and hunting. An extensive restoration program was launched in the basin by the LDWF after the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. New regulations and a 14 inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass were enacted as a means to hasten the basin's recovery. This program served the basin well as it has officially recovered from the effects of Hurricane Andrew. The minimum size limit is still in place even with the recovery complete. The basin has rebounded with reports of better numbers and larger bass being caught. Although the basin has always been a place where you could land numbers, now anglers are seeing record sizes being caught in the region. The outlook for the Atchafalaya Basin is very promising. To fish the basin you should become familiar with local river stages as the Atchafalaya River's coinciding fall with the Mississippi River dictates which areas to fish, and the best time to fish them. Anglers who fish the basin regularly know how the water levels affect the topography of the swamp and where "good" water is located. They know from experience that water levels play a key role in catching bass. Many anglers follow the falling water from the northern basin to areas in the southern end searching for the best hotspots along the way. Other fisherman wait to hear that the water levels are right and that fish are being caught before they plan a trip. For those who fish the basin infrequently, word of mouth from a reliable source is the best bet. Catching large numbers of fish in the basin is possible, especially when the water is falling. Lures of choice include spinnerbaits, buzz baits, soft plastics, and a range of many others. The swamp is so vast that it presents many different types of cover, structure and conditions. The swamp is huge, with many bayous, trails, pipeline canals and ponds. Before venturing into the swamp it is advisable to become familiar with the area and seek assistance from local fishermen. It is easy to get stuck, as well as lost in the wilderness of the Atchafalaya Basin. When navigating the swamp use caution, as the basin contains submerged logs and stumps. Access to other fishing areas of the Atchafalaya Basin include at the north end; Ramah, Butte LaRose, Henderson,.... on the west; Bayou Benoit, West Grand Lake, Myette Pointe, Lower Bayou Teche,..... on the east ; Bayou Pigeon, Belle River, Bayou Sorrel, Lake Verret & Lake Palourde. Located in upper St. Mary Parish and in parts of lower St. Martin and Iberia Parishes is the Attakapas Wildlife Management Area. Comprising 26,300 acres of flat swampland terrain this tract is accessed by boat only.
Bayou Courtableau	St. Landry

Bayou Pigeon	Iberville

Bayou Sorrel	Iberville

Bayou Teche	St. Mary , Iberia, St. Martin, St. Landry

Butte LaRose	St. Martin

Cypremort Point	St. Mary, Iberia	Cypremort Point State Park

Henderson Swamp	St. Martin Parish
Henderson Lake is located in the West Atchafalaya Basin Floodway between Ramah and Henderson, La. It is a shallow backwater lake that was formed in the 1930's when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed Bayou Berard and other backwater streams. This created a shallow lake with many streams and pools. The area is flooded each spring with waters from the Atchafalaya River. The best time to fish this area is when the water is falling. Henderson Lake is a popular fishing spot, with easy access from Interstate 10. This backwater lake is home to largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill and many other species. Cypress trees and water hyacinth are scattered throughout this swampy lake. You can enjoy a natural south Louisiana setting when fishing this beautiful lake!
Lake Fausse Pointe	Iberia	Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

Lake Palourde	St. Martin

Lake Verret - Belle River	Assumption
Lying east of the Atchafalaya Floodway system levee, near the town of Pierre Part Louisiana is a beautiful system of waterways referred to as the Lake Verret - Belle River area. Being in such close proximity to the Atchafalaya Basin, this area is very popular with Louisiana anglers. On the north there is access via Bayou Corne which leads to Grand Bayou, Bayou Alcide, Old Texaco Field, and into Lake Verret. This water system can also be accessed from Bayou Grobec at Pierre Part on the north end, Shell Beach Landing on the west side of the lake, Little Grand Bayou from Hwy. 402 on the northeast, Attakapas Landing on the southeast side from Napoleonville, Adams Landing via Belle River, and areas around Stephensville. Other waterways to the south include, Bayou Magazille, Four Mile Bayou, Bayou Milhomme, Grassy Lake, and Lake Palourde. Lake Verret is a shallow lake with stands of beautiful cypress trees along its shoreline. Largemouth Bass, bluegill, and catfish are the most sought after species. In the spring, Lake Verret experiences incredible catches of bream. The "giant" run on chinquapin is a great attraction for the area. Best bait is crickets, and worms, with fly fisherman using poppin' bugs. This beautiful area of south Louisiana is truly a sportsman's paradise!
Myette Pointe

Ramah	Iberville

Spanish Lake	Iberville

Spanish Lake	Iberia	Spanish Lake Commission
Located near New Iberia this fertile 1,400 acre lake was recently designated as a trophy lake by the La. Wildlife and Fisheries. The slot limit is 16 to 21 inches, making it illegal to take bass measuring at and between those sizes. The creel limit is set at eight, with no more than two bass larger than 21 inches. After extensive work in 1997 the lake was refilled and initially stocked with 348,000 Florida bass fry and fingerlings. This lake holds great promise of producing lunker bass in the next few years.
Two O'Clock Bayou	St. Landry
Two O'Clock Bayou is located between Port Barre, and Krotz Springs, La. Access is from U.S. Hwy. 190 exit at Hwy. 71 junction. Located in the upper Atchafalaya Basin, this beautiful bayou is home to some of the oldest cypress trees in the south. The beautiful woodlands surrounding the bayou are home to many species of animals including white-tailed deer, alligators, and wild turkeys. The woodlands in this area are leased and trespassing laws are strictly enforced. The 5.5 mile long bayou offers great fishing for bluegill and sac-a-lait, with a good population of native largemouth bass. Other areas in the Two O'Clock system are the 3 pit areas, Cowen Bay, Crusher's Canal , Bruiser Bayou, the Narrows, Close Lake, and Craft Lake. Stumps and cypress knees are prevalent in the bayou making slow speeds advisable. Located east of Two O'Clock Bayou is North Half Moon Pit, Half Moon Bayou and St. Landry Pits. This area offers good fishing for bluegill, sac-a-lait, and native largemouth bass.
Wax Lake Outlet	St. Mary

West Grande Lake	St. Mary