Discover a number of productive fresh waterbodies to include in your South Louisiana fishing vacations when you book a fishing trip to the heart of the United States Cajun Country. Start your search by staying at a holiday home in the quaint village of Chataignier on the southeastern tip of Evangeline Parish. From this relaxing place, it’s easy to work your way with your rod and reel throughout the rich Acadiana region — a portion of Louisiana dotted with low hills and dry prairie that transition into fertile marshlands and bayous as one approaches the Gulf Coast.
Chataignier is just one of the many pretty places in Evangeline Parish where you can begin your tour of Cajun Country’s rich fishing spots. Chicot State Park is the most popular among these spots. This wildlife reserve, situated north of Ville Platte, is home to a 2,000-acre artificial lake stocked with largemouth bass, crappie or sac-a-lait, bluegill, and redear sunfish. It is equally known among local anglers for its trophy catch and challenging waters.
Crooked Creek Recreation Area near Pine Prairie has a 400-acre fishing lake home to a healthy population of sac-a-lait and bluegill. Lakeview Park & Beach is smaller but still packs a punch with its stocked fish. Because of its size, anglers can only use kayaks and canoes on the site.
The rest of the larger Acadiana region has Louisiana inshore fishing charters that can take you to even more fishing holes. Some fish you can fish here include many LA favorites, including blue catfish and other catfish species, bluegill, alligator gar, bowfin, redfish, spotted sea trout or speckled trout, and flounder.
Abbeville’s Palmetto Island State Park offers bank- and pier-fishing on the Vermilion River. Its smaller lagoons are great spots to cast for some bowfin. Venture further to Lafayette, and enjoy all-inclusive fishing trips in Louisiana’s must-fish lakes, including Lake Martin and Calcasieu Lake.
If you want to stay within 30 minutes of Chataignier, Eunice City Lake is regularly stocked with big bass. It is likewise home to other fish species like bullhead catfish, white perch, garfish, and shad.
Conditions are always suitable for inshore fishing in the region, but if you’re ready to graduate to the big leagues, bring your fishing trip further out from the Cajun Country. Book offshore fishing charters in Louisiana like Southern Access Charters which offer transportation and full-day trips for you and your friends to the rich Gulf of Mexico waters. If you still can’t get enough of LA freshwater fishing, take your children for some fun inshore fishing with Ron Ron Fishing Charters in Lafitte near New Orleans. If you want to experience the primitive thrill of bow fishing, book a fishing charter specializing in this technique, like Grand Isle's Nock Em Dead Bowfishing Charters.
Experience hotel luxury in the middle of the woods or indulge in the finest smoked meat — unique luxury is at your fingertips when you take a trip to Chataignier.
About two dozen Louisiana State Parks have partnered with private camping company Tentrr to provide bespoke glamping experiences within park premises. One of them is Chicot State Park. Guests can enjoy the use of their hotel-style glamping site (which may include safari-style canvas tents, a queen-sized bed, Adirondack chairs, and other luxurious items) by booking on the park website. If you have the cash to spare, it's a nice treat for the entire family.
Ville Platte, Chataignier’s neighboring city and the parish seat, calls itself the Smoked Meat Capital of the World. You can find proof of this by eating in any of the Cajun restaurants around the city. Better still, join thousands of smoked meat enthusiasts at the annual Louisiana Smoked Meat Festival, which usually happens around May.