Confusions About Louisiana Public Waters

[Wyoming762]

Hello. I currently live in Wyoming but am originally from Costal Texas. Ever since I've moved I've missed the Gulf and intend to eventually move back to it. I'd very muck like to make the move to Costal Louisiana, because I like coastal fishing and think swamps/bayous are amazing ecosystems and would love to spend lots of time there. Navigating bayous and backwaters in my Jon boat with my dog on a regular basis has always been a dream of mine. However, I'm very much confused about what type of swamp you are allowed to access. I always assumed it would be somewhat similar to the way it is with rivers (if it is navigable you can often navigate it), however, with some research this obviously not the case. For instance, in the Atchafalaya Swamp I can find two large pieces that are publicly owned: the Atchafalaya NWR (federal) and the Atchafalaya Delta (state). Is everything else in the Atchafalaya Swamp privately owned and inaccessible to the public? Are there types of waters the public is necessarily allowed to access? Please help clarify things for me.

Also, if anyone would like to suggest any places of Costal Louisiana that have what I'm looking for (accessible backwaters and swamps/bayous) please feel free to do so.

Thanks in advance.

[MathGeek]

There's a lot of private marsh in SE LA.

In SW LA, if you can get there by boat, odds are it's public or there are signs telling you to stay out.

[wishin i was fishin]

Here is a resource for you from the LA Dept of Natural Resources.

http://sonris-www.dnr.state.la.us/gi...TemplateID=181

Once you launch the GIS viewer go to Reference Layers -> State Claimed Water Bodies. you can view a map of public, private and disputed lands. Dont forget to turn on the Ariel Photo layer under imagery and maps for additional detail.

[ahlangle]

Welcome to thunder dome. You could..
A) Assume it's all public, light a red and let er rip in the gator tail.
B) Google SONRIS and look at their GIS map and turn on layer that shows public waters, stay in those to the best of your knowledge.

[B-Stealth]

Originally Posted by ahlangle

Welcome to thunder dome. You could..
A) Assume it's all public, light a red and let er rip in the gator tail.
B) Google SONRIS and look at their GIS map and turn on layer that shows public waters, stay in those to the best of your knowledge.

Lol, to option A, very true.

I would recommend option B; and some very sincere ignorance when following option A.