catfish around lafayette?

[cajun]

In Charenton.:*****:

[T-Bone]

The Charenton canal starts underneath the "Baldwin Bridge". This is the bridge on Hwy 182 between Baldwin and Franklin. The canal runs underneath the Hwy 90 overpass out to the Jaws which leads out to West Cote Blanche Bay.

[cajun]

T-Bone is partly correct. The Charenton canal starts at the SE end of lake Fausse Point, flows SE along the levee to the Charenton canal control structure, then turns South, meets up with the old bayou Teche, flows SE, then leaves the bayou Teche, flows S under the Balwin bridge and empties into West Cote Blanche Bay. The canal and control structure were built after the flood of 1927 because the natural drainage of the lake Fausse Point area was cut off by the Atchafalaya Basin levee system. Although I find catfishing good all along the canal, I think the area around the control structure is best. Fish on both sides, in the basin and on the south side. I've seen catfish in excess of 30 pounds caught there. Flatheads (Opelousas) cats are delicious in a Court Bouillon.