I'm headed back to the Atchafalaya Basin area for a much needed vacation in a little over a week. I was wondering if there was anyone who fishes the Henderson Lake area that might be able to give me an idea of what the fishing is like there recently. I haven't been in three years, but went every fall for 4 years before that. I stopped going there after Katrina because the fishing was so poor and I'm hoping it has improved since then. I'll have a good time either way and am returning because we miss the area and people, but improved fishing would be a nice bonus. We'll be staying on a houseboat near South Bigeaux, and used to fish there, the I-10 bridge area, and Butte La Rose canal.

Thanks,

Chris

I grew up fishing that area back in the day. When the oil and LNG companies started drilling like right on top of our spots we didn't go back. They even shut down I-10 once cause a LNG rig blew up and caught fire. That fire was seen for miles!!

I heard the fishing is picking up again after most of em were BBQ'd. lmao

But if I were you I would save your money and get a guided saltwater trip either in Venice or on Big Lake and leave that canal alone.

$550 bucks for up to 3 people in a boat is the going rate in most areas in Louisiana for a full day guide. Venice has the good areas for big reds. But if you want a huge trophy trout go to Big Lake. Not to mention HUGE Tuna out of Venice if your pocket book has the extra cash. My best is 192# Yellow fin tuna!

But if your heart is stuck on that canal system go to Louisiana Sportsman website and look up the reports page on there they usually post something about that area on there.

I have caught some HUGE Sac-a-lait (white perch/crappie) in that canal system....

good luck my friend

Go to rodnreel.com. you'll get all the fishing reports for Louisiana there.

i go to new orleans once a week for work and the boats seem to stay pretty thick in those areas so maybe it is doing ok.

I haven't been in a while but I've always done well in the dredged out areas between the different platforms. You can usually tell on your radar where they dredged it out to move the barges through before they were abandoned and the water depth changes fast. Bill Lewis Rattle-traps will cover a lot of ground out there.