Cankton, LA Fishing: A Quaint Homebase for Fishing in St. Landry Parish

Cankton is situated along South Central Louisiana’s beautiful Highway 93 on St Landry Parish’s far south border. The village, known as a bedroom community for this part of the state, takes its name from the nickname of prominent local Dr. “Cank” Lois Aristide Guidry. Back when he was young, he loved to hunt ducks. Many locals reportedly heard him chanting “cank cank cank,” imitating duck calls as he returned from hunting game, and so they took to calling him Cank. The nickname followed him throughout his life, from a young local boy hunting ducks to a renowned doctor returning home to serve his community. When the community, then known as Coulee Croche, was eventually incorporated in 1960, the locals chose to honor the pride of their community by proposing and deciding on the name Cankton.

Today, Cankton is still a small but thriving village in the parish. It is just a few miles away from the nearby cities of Opelousas and Lafayette but far enough to feel relaxing and secluded from all the hustle and bustle. It is not an obvious choice as a tourist destination, but many intrepid travelers venture this far out as a home base for exploring St. Landry Parish. In its own right, it has many beautiful spots and sights that visitors looking for a change of pace will surely enjoy. 

Cankton Fishing

Visitors driving on Highway 93 can survey some of the region’s best freshwater fishing spots on their way to Cankton on the southern edge of rural St Landry Parish. The entirety of this quaint parish, which is not on a lot of travelers’ radar, is a natural wonderland filled with many opportunities for outdoor recreation like fishing, hunting, birding, camping, and hiking.

Bayou Teche is one of the best places to fish, not just in the parish but in the entire South Central Louisiana region. It is the most famous bayou in the state because of its natural beauty. Anglers can access this scenic bayou within 15 communities and four parishes, including St. Landry, as part of the National Water Trails System. There are at least 13 access points for paddle trips on the designated Paddle Trail on the trail system. There’s no shortage of structure in the bayou, making it an attractive spot for plenty of fish. If you bring your gear on your paddle tour, you can fish for a range of fish species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, gar, and sunfish. Largemouth bass and bluegill are particularly bountiful during spring and fall. In time for the early spawners, club tournament anglers usually start fishing in the marshy part of the waterbody in February and March. If you can’t compete with them, take your chances in the deeper parts of the bayou in late March and April.

Fishing in the bayou refuge is allowed only during daylight hours — both from the shore or bank or from boats in the open water. You’ll find dedicated fishing docks in the Centerville and Garden City units. Fishing with an unattended trot, bush, or jug lines is not allowed, as are net, trap, and commercial fishing. 

Eunice City Lake, located on the west side of the city of Eunice near Bayou des Cannes, is open for recreational visitors 24/7. After the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation finished the lake's restoration, it reopened in 2014 and has since retained its status as one of the area’s favored fishing spots. It is approximately 58 acres with 1.8 bank miles, with less than a mile accessible by foot. Anglers can fish on the lake from a boat they can launch on the concrete boat launch. The boat launch has a dock space that can accommodate only a couple of boats. Anglers typically use motor boats in the lake, but paddle craft fishing has been steadily gaining popularity for the past few years. By the boat launch, you can find a pavilion that faces the lake, along with other convenient amenities such as restrooms and picnic areas with grills. The lake is regularly stocked with trophy bass. It also holds other fish species such as bullhead catfish, white perch, garfish, and shad. This lake is perfect for anglers because it is purely for fishing — swimming, skiing, and personal watercraft are prohibited here.

It’s easy to drive and pass by Lake Dubuisson on the I-49 if you’re not particularly looking for a secret waterbody to fish in. Locals are hush-hush about this man-made lake because it is the hometown's best-kept secret. This 200-acre lake is a public property on the grounds of the I-49 Rest Stop, with boat launches open for all boaters and anglers keen to explore the lake. A vast part of the lake runs as deep as 25 to 30 feet, but its shorelines are pretty shallow. It is a favorite recreational spot for many in the area and is open not just for fishing but also for boating, water skiing, and swimming. Anglers are advised to fish on the farther shores to avoid swimmers and recreational boaters, where they can catch sac-a-lait, bass, and other species. Visitors, in general, are advised to keep caution in the area as it tends to have its fair share of snakes and alligators.

Top 10 Fish Species in Cankton, LA

The top 10 fish species found in Cankton, LA, are largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead catfish, white perch or sac-a-lait, shad, garfish, redear sunfish, blue catfish, channel catfish, and goggle-eye or rock bass.

Seasonal Fishing

Cankton and the rest of St. Landry Parish, just like much of Louisiana, is an excellent place to fish almost all year round, with only winter as downtime for its fish species. April to November is its biggest window for fishing and other recreational activities. If you’re hoping to catch largemouth bass and bluegill in this region, getting here as early as February will give you a chance to fish for some early spawners. If you don’t mind fishing on a boat, later March and April should still be productive. If you can’t make it in time for spring, fall is another good time to catch these species.

Find Beautiful Heritage and Nature in Cankton

Cankton is a scenic bedroom community with peaceful neighborhoods and a smattering of heritage landmarks. Much like the rest of the beautifully rural St. Landry Parish, it combines the region’s diverse and rich heritage with its lush natural surroundings, making it a unique and off-the-beaten vacation spot that’s perfect for the whole family.

1. Book a Fishing Guide 

Having a fishing guide by your side is crucial, especially if it’s your first time fishing in the location. Choose one based on your target species or your preferred fishing technique. If you’re bringing your children along, hire a family-friendly guide or charter that can provide quick lessons to your young ones on the boat.

2. Visit a Beautiful Church

St. John Berchmans Church is a beautiful local Catholic Church named in honor of the saint who appeared to novice Mary Wilson in Grand Coteau. The church displays replicas of paintings found in the Grand Coteau shrine where the apparition happened.

3. Join the Cycle

The Cycle Zydeco is a non-competitive bike trail that runs throughout the parish and the Acadiana locale, including Cankton. One of the group’s traditions on the course is to stop by the many restaurants and pit stops along the way for some relaxation. One spot that has become a favorite among cyclists is the Cankton Country Bar, a nice place to stop for a cold beer.