About Bayou McCutchen, LA

Bayou McCutchen is a small bayou that flows directly into Lake Laurier and as a whole is part of a larger system of the Mississippi River Delta. Bayous in general are a still or slow moving section of marshy water. It can also be a minor river flowing directly into a bigger water body, like a river, channel, or in the Bayou McCutchen’s case, a lake. 

The word bayou comes from the Choctaw Native-American word, “bayok,” which means small stream. Bayou water can be both freshwater and saltwater, or a combination of both, paving the way for a diverse marine ecosystem.

The Mississippi River Delta was at some point a series of marshlands, rivers, and bayous that the Mississippi river flowed onto before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Containing 2.7 million acres of coastal wetlands, the delta is the 7th largest river delta in the world. Its coastal area is America’s largest drainage basin and along with the Mississippi river, drains 31 states and two Canadian provinces.

In 1519 Alvarez de Pineda was the first European explorer to discover the mouth of the Mississippi river, while in 1682 Robert Chevalier de La Salle was the one who claimed it as a territory for France. Fast forward to 1803 and the United States bought Louisiana from the French, along with its unique Spanish-French culture while also becoming an important part of the American agricultural industry. Since the opening of the Panama Canal the area became even more vital in terms of the booming shipping and commercial fishing industry.

All about Fishing in Bayou McCutchen, LA

As part of one of the biggest deltas in the world, Bayou McCutchen has a wide variety of game fish to catch. Its salinity and close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico can mean the appearance of migratory fish. Fish that love murky waters like the black drum and the largemouth bass, like to frequent the waters. Fish species that prefer shallower waters like the redfish and the sea trout can also be found there. Other fishes found on the bayou are the sheepshead and pinfish.

When heading out to fish black drum and largemouth bass, an 8 weight with a line that can hold on to fish weighing about 20 pounds or more would be the preferred option for most anglers. Black drum are bottom-feeders so soft crabs, mollusks, and sea clams will work as bait. Largemouth bass react to jigs, plugs, worms, and minnows as bait. Using colored streamers also works in catching their attention.

Like the black drum, the redfish also favor shrimp as bait. Topwater lures are also favored by anglers especially in shallower parts of the water. When fly fishing a fly that runs about 3 inches in length works well. Sea trout found in freshwater can also be caught via fly fishing. These trout are good fighters that like to eat so artificial lures like jerk bait, plastic shrimp, and topwater plugs are useful.

Sheepshead can also have quite an appetite as they’re notoriously known for stealing bait. Most of them will nibble at bait in an attempt to free them, then take them whole. They also have powerful jaws and mouths, so anglers have to make sure to set the hook tight. Live-bait such as shrimps, mollusks, and squid are preferred. Pinfish are also a type of fish that’s hard to catch via hook. This is because they travel in schools. Most anglers catch pinfish using nets or a Sabiki rig, that’s used for catching multiple fish at a time.

Other than fish species, the bayou is known for its wide variety of shellfish, crustaceans like shrimp, crab and crawfish, which can be caught as well.

Fishing Seasonality in Bayou McCutchen, LA

The great thing about the bayou is that fish are available all year long. Starting off from spring, the black drum spawns more and around this time they prefer to move in schools, making them easier to catch. Largemouth bass also spawn around this time of the year but in general largemouth bass can be caught all year round in warmer waters. For anglers looking to reel in redfish and sea trout, summer will be your best bet. Finally, sheepshead can be found all year but are the easiest to catch from around December to April.

Fishing Seasonality in Bayou McCutchen, LA

The great thing about the bayou is that fish are available all year long. Starting off from spring, the black drum spawns more and around this time they prefer to move in schools, making them easier to catch. Largemouth bass also spawn around this time of the year but in general largemouth bass can be caught all year round in warmer waters. For anglers looking to reel in redfish and sea trout, summer will be your best bet. Finally, sheepshead can be found all year but are the easiest to catch from around December to April.

All about Fishing in Bayou McCutchen, LA

As part of one of the biggest deltas in the world, Bayou McCutchen has a wide variety of game fish to catch. Its salinity and close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico can mean the appearance of migratory fish. Fish that love murky waters like the black drum and the largemouth bass, like to frequent the waters. Fish species that prefer shallower waters like the redfish and the sea trout can also be found there. Other fishes found on the bayou are the sheepshead and pinfish.

When heading out to fish black drum and largemouth bass, an 8 weight with a line that can hold on to fish weighing about 20 pounds or more would be the preferred option for most anglers. Black drum are bottom-feeders so soft crabs, mollusks, and sea clams will work as bait. Largemouth bass react to jigs, plugs, worms, and minnows as bait. Using colored streamers also works in catching their attention.

Like the black drum, the redfish also favor shrimp as bait. Topwater lures are also favored by anglers especially in shallower parts of the water. When fly fishing a fly that runs about 3 inches in length works well. Sea trout found in freshwater can also be caught via fly fishing. These trout are good fighters that like to eat so artificial lures like jerk bait, plastic shrimp, and topwater plugs are useful.

Sheepshead can also have quite an appetite as they’re notoriously known for stealing bait. Most of them will nibble at bait in an attempt to free them, then take them whole. They also have powerful jaws and mouths, so anglers have to make sure to set the hook tight. Live-bait such as shrimps, mollusks, and squid are preferred. Pinfish are also a type of fish that’s hard to catch via hook. This is because they travel in schools. Most anglers catch pinfish using nets or a Sabiki rig, that’s used for catching multiple fish at a time.

Other than fish species, the bayou is known for its wide variety of shellfish, crustaceans like shrimp, crab and crawfish, which can be caught as well.