How many places are there where you can put the boat in the bayou, motor up to a flooded hardwood flat and kill ducks in the morning, and then stop and catch crappie and bass on your way back to the truck?
Because scenic Bayou D’Arbonne cuts right through the D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge, this is one place you can accomplish a hunting/fishing double-header.
“I’ve caught quite a few big bass and a lot of crappie out of Bayou D’Arbonne,” local user John Hanks said. “It’s got some fantastic fishing.
“A lot of it depends on the water level, but usually in the fall it’s just right for fishing.”
Bass like spinnerbaits and crankbaits, and crappie can be caught on jigs or small spinners.
In the fall, the fish are usually out on the edges of the bayou in deeper cypress trees or in the channel itself.
But note that fishing tends to get tougher when the bayou starts rising and begins to flood.
One reason Bayou D’Arbonne is such a fine fishing area is because it is downstream from the D’Arbonne Lake spillway — fresh water flows constantly down the bayou, bolstering the quality of the water, and the fishing.
The refuge is open for fishing year round. Normal state regulations apply, except for a few special requirements and prohibitions related to commercial fishing or trotlining/yo-yos.
Public boat ramps are available at Lake Drain Road, Holland’s Bluff and off Wilhite Road.
