Dear Capt. Paul:

What are the GPS coordinates of the fish attractors in Lake Bruin.

Thanks, Jerry Boykin

Capt. Paul’s response:

Lake Bruin is located east of Highway 65, just north of St. Joseph in Tensas Parish along and between Highways 604, 605 and 606.

From Highway 65, take Highway 128 east to Highway 606 north, then to Highway 604. The approximate GPS coordinates are N31 57.6168 x W91 12.0666.

The Louisiana State Park brochure describes the area as ... “having over 3,000 acres of water surface on Lake Bruin, and the visitors to Lake Bruin State Park have access to every acre for incomparable fishing, superb water sports and fine outdoor living.”

But mere acreage statistics could never do justice to this beautiful, clear oxbow lake that was once part of the Mississippi River or its majestic cypress trees that have stood here since DeSoto explored the river.

Louisiana Sportsman contributing writer Chris Ginn did a fine article in the Sportsman that was published December 2005 concerning Lake Bruin and the state park. It was titled “Treasure of Tensas Parish.” You can access the entire article by pasting the following URL address in the address window of your browser: http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=79

In the story, Ginn details some of the information he obtained from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Dave Hickman: “There are so many bass in Bruin that you have only yourself to blame if you get skunked.”

Hickman said the LDWF placed a few fish attractors in the lake recently. These mats are constructed from PVC, and are designed to last for years. There were a few smaller ones placed near the fishing pier at the state park, but most were placed offshore in 15 to 20 feet of water.

There’s a big one by the state park located at N31 57’ 41.5 x W91 12’ 10.7’, said Hickman.

“There’s one by the island at N31 59’ 58.4 x W91 14’ 22.5, and one on the Osceola end at N31 58’ 21.9” x W91 15’ 4.2,” he said.

I recently contacted Evan Thames of the LDWF in the Ferriday office concerning the fish attractors that are located in the lake. Thames stated that the coordinates are stated in H,DDD,MM,SS.s and are believed to have been plotted using WGS 84 datum.

He said that he believes that some of the official marking buoys have been moved and are not actually over the underwater attractors. With that in mind, it is very helpful to have the coordinates in your GPS unit.

By the way, the launch in the state park is in very good condition. It is located at or about N31 57.685 x W91 12.105 (WGS 84 datum).

Got a GPS question for Capt. Paul Titus? Ask it on the reports board at www.lasmag.com.