Sportsfishing on refuges open March 15th
 

Three refuges within the Southwest LouisianaNational Wildlife Refuge
Complex, Cameron Prairie, Sabine, and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges
(NWR) will open for public sport fishing Mar. 15, through Oct. 15. Possession of all applicable fishing licenses is required. Fish species may be taken in accordance with Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations.
Fishing areas at Cameron Prairie NWR include Bank Fishing Road, Outfall Canal, and East Cove Unit when the Grand Bayou Boat Bay is open. All three refuges permit boat access from one hour before legal sunrise to
one hour after legal sunset, however, all permitted activities such as fishing and crabbing may only occur from sunrise to sunset.
Cast netting on Cameron Prairie’s East Cove Unit and Sabine NWR will be permitted only during the Louisiana Inshore Shrimp season. Cast netting hours at Sabine are set from noon to sunset. Cast net size will follow
state regulation. Also at Sabine NWR the Northline and Hog Island Gully recreational areas will continue to be closed. These sites are
undergoing repairs required from Hurricane Ike damage and are also being used as a staging area for marsh restoration work. Refuge staff hopes to reopen these areas by June of this year. New beginning this year,
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge is making an experimental
change to outboard motor horsepower limitations for Lacassine Pool.
Beginning Mar. 15, anglers will be able to use outboard or surface drive motors up to 40 horsepower. This action is being implemented due to
the recent restoration measures taken to enhance water movement and management in the Pool. It will be reassessed in a considerable
amount of time. Boat travel occurs along two main pathways in the
Lacassine Pool. One includes travel through perimeter and cross canals and the second includes travel through internal boat trails. The
perimeter and cross canals have been cleaned out and are now open throughout the system and serve as deep water passageways for boat
traffic. The Refuge staff is hopeful that this action will encourage anglers to travel further south into the Pool and explore new areas that
have not been accessible in the past. In turn, this will give some relief to crowding in popular lakes and ponds. The internal boat trail system is extremely shallow at times. Anglers will need to use sound judgment when
deciding whether or not their motor can run through shallow water safely. Low water events are common during drought conditions and/or water manipulation periods. When water manipulation occurs it will be targeted at specific management zones. Use of a 40 hp motor may not be feasible during low water periods. All anglers are encouraged to take a push
pole and/or trolling motor to aid in traversing Pool trails and canals.
Refuge management is encouraging the use of surface drive motors as a means of helping to keep internal trails open. Surface drive motors have the capability to “push” a boat through floating vegetation that occurs in
the Pool. This action can contribute to setting back plant succession to “earlier stages”, which contributes to accomplishing Refuge habitat
management goals for the Pool. Also, increased use of surface drive motors has the potential to enhance public access to otherwise inaccessible fishing habitat. This increase in horsepower is consistent with the horsepower limitations for Pool 3 at Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. The 26,000 acre Pool at that location has had a 40 horsepower limitation
in place for nearly a decade without incident. The Refuge has had
numerous requests over the years to increase the horsepower
rating as well as having anglers that have been satisfied with the previous
25 horsepower or less limit. Arguments against the increased horsepower have largely evolved around safety and disturbance.With this in mind the refuge staff is encouraging all anglers to attach a high visibility bicycle
flag, at least 6 feet tall, to their boat while running in the Pool. Federal and State Officers will be on patrol monitoring this situation very carefully.
Federal boating regulations specific to National Wildlife Refuges are found in the Federal Code of Regulations. All boat operators should be aware of the following regulations which will be strictly enforced on the Lacassine Pool:
50CFR 27.32(2) - No operator or person in charge of any boat shall operate or knowingly permit any other person to operate a boat in a
reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger any person, property or wildlife.
50CFR 27.32(3) No personshall operate or be in actualphysical control of a boat while under the influence of intoxicating beverages or controlled substances.
50CFR 27.32(4) No person shall operate a boat in a manner which will unreasonably interfere with other boats or with free and proper
navigation of the waterways of the areas. Anchoring in heavily traveled channels ormain thoroughfares shall constitute such interference
if unreasonable in the prevailing circumstances. Visitors are asked to obey
all speed limits to reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality.Please practice good boating and safety habits on all National Wildlife Refuges. Observe and obey“No Wake Zones”, and use caution when approaching blind corners and crossings.
Please respect the rights of fellow fishermen and refuge visitors. Please do not litter. Each person is responsible for removing everything they
take onto the refuge when they leave. Safety Warning - Motorboat travel on therefuges may be hazardous due to: changed geography; underwater or floating debris; narrow boat runs; rough water; limited visibility;
fog; vegetation; blind crossings; and swells or wakes from other watercraft.
Fishing regulation brochures for all the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges open to fishing - Cameron Prairie, Lacassine and
Sabine have been compiled into one fishing regulationbrochure.
This brochure is available on the main page of our Refuge Complex website athttp://www.fws.gov/swlarefu gecomplex under the Fishing link. Anglers may pick one up at the Headquarters Office at Cameron Prairie NWR and individual refuge information sites, kiosks located near refuge launches
and at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Region 5 Office in
Lake Charles.

sweet, with all the cold weather and bigger motors, should open up some trails again in lack-a-fish

Thats what i'm hoping for too.

the recent restoration measures taken to enhance water movement and management in the Pool


i wonder if they actually got a marsh buggy in there to dig out some trails

Any word on Hog Island Gully canal re-opening?

Here you go Choupique:

When I left in June from Hackberry no work had been started on it. The landing is in BAD shape.

thanks! I guess I skimmed too fast.

uh oh.....beware the ides of march! :rotfl:

:D