Atchafalaya Basin

[Fastbasser]

Never been, any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[5bass]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

[Catt]

Bring a GPS  

[Long Mike]

I fished the Basin last week-end.  The water level is pretty low, so there are hundreds of exposed stumps and probably hundreds more just beneath the surface.  The water temp was 85 degrees and the water very stained.  We decided to fish along a row of old wooden bridge pilings that crossed one of the channels.  My partner was fishing with a red Texas-rigged worm.  He felt a bite and set the hook, but missed.  Unfortunately, his prey decided to follow the lure back to the boat.  Suddenly, about four feet from the boat, the head of a very large alligator plunged out of the water.  I don't mind telling you that it scared the shet out of all three of us - gator included.  As soon as the gator saw the boat he headed for China.  He surfaced a couple of minutes later, well away from the boat.  We guessed its length to be about eight feet.  I haven't had such an adrenaline rush since I gave up being a cat burglar.  

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 Catt's advice and carry a GPS unit with you.  Depending upon where you launch from, it's very easy to get lost.  After all, the Atchafalyla Basin is the largest swamp in the world.

[Sam]

It is beautiful.

Breathtaking.

Something you will love seeing.

It is also dangerous.

Gators and moccasins and snapping turtles.

Used to fish it with my uncle while growing up in Louisiana.

Fantastic fishery.

But as Catt says and supported by Long Mike, go with someone familiar with the area as you can get confused and turned around in a heartbeat.

Just wear purple and gold and say "Geaux Tigers" to everyone you see and they will be more than helpful if you need assistance.  

[Fastbasser]

Thanks to all. My boat is equipped with two GPS units. We will be launching from the Belle River Landing. Just wondering how the bass fishing is in that area.

[Fastbasser]

I would like to run east to Lake Feilds. It looks like there will be one lock to deal with just south oh Wyandotte on the Intercoastal. The tournament I will be fishing requires us to launch at Belle River Landing. I don't want to fish close because of the fishing pressure from the other contestants. Should be around 200 boats.