Bayou Haystackers Paddling Club

09/17/2026

Bayou Liberty in Slidell, Louisiana.
This is a beautiful beginner friendly paddle. The launch is at Camp Salmen Nature Park. We will be paddling this bayou again on November 14, when we are having our Paddle Fest. If your interest in joining us comment below.

09/17/2026

This will be Shake Your Trail Feathers last paddle event. I will definitely miss it, I we several times. We made it a girls weekend and always had a lot of fun.

t is with mixed emotions that we have decided to make this 15th year of our Shake Your Trail Feather Festival the last one. However, we are excited to change course by hosting other types of paddle excursions. Perhaps a lighted night paddle or a paddle with your furry friend! There are so many wonderful paddling opportunities on our beloved Bayou Teche Paddle Trail that we want to explore with you, so be on the lookout for events coming in 2027. In the meantime, we hope that you can join us for our grand finale celebration on October 17. Paddle Parade tickets are available on Eventbrite, and if you're not interested in paddling, come to Parc des Ponts in Breaux Bridge for a fun time with Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band Official Site live on the main stage from 12-2 p.m. Register to paddle here: https://sytf26.eventbrite.com.

09/11/2026

Apple snails are an invasive species in Louisiana that can reproduce quickly and have been detrimental to the crawfishing industry. One of the easiest ways to spot them is by their bright pink egg masses (pictured here).

If you find apple snail eggs, you can use a tool or other implement to knock the egg masses into the water so that they cannot hatch. Avoid handling the eggs directly and wash your skin thoroughly if exposed as they contain a neurotoxin that can irritate the skin and eyes.

Even those with adventurous Louisiana appetites should not eat the snails. Raw or undercooked snails may carry rat lungworm, a parasite that can cause serious illness.

08/26/2026

In partnership with Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of ANHA!

Join us Saturday, October 3rd, for a FREE family friendly event in the swamp! Enjoy live music from Grammy Award Winner Chubby Carrier, swamp tours, and live animal encounters!

We can't wait to see you there!
🐊

08/25/2026

Lake Charles event.

This Ain't Your Normal Lake Charles Triathlon!

08/21/2026

The Louisiana Department of Health has asked residents and visitors to avoid areas of Henderson Lake where a blue-green algae bloom that produces harmful toxins has been observed.

Learn more ⬇️

08/09/2026

🌊 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗱-𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁–𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

To help manage invasive aquatic vegetation and improve fisheries habitat, LDWF and St. Martin Parish Government are working together on a scheduled drawdown of Henderson Lake.

💧 Due to the recent record-setting rainfalls in St. Landry and Avoyelles Parishes, and the resulting floodwater that was diverted into Henderson Lake, water levels in the lake are still high. Therefore, the start date for the drawdown will not occur at the beginning of August as it has in the past; it will begin once water levels reach pool stage (9.0 feet MSL at the USGS Lake Pelba gauge). Once underway, water levels will gradually decrease to 3 feet below pool stage before refilling begins Nov. 2.

🎣 Benefits include:
✅ Improved fisheries habitat
✅ Better spawning conditions
✅ Reduced overabundant aquatic vegetation
✅ A healthier predator-prey balance for fish populations

🚤 During the drawdown, boaters will be able to access the lake from the private ramps along the southern levee. Boaters should use caution, as lower water levels may expose underwater obstructions, and Silver Carp activity may increase around moving boats.

Houseboat owners should take precautions as soon as possible.

Appropriate herbicide applications will continue during the drawdown period.

Learn more about Henderson Lake management plans: https://buff.ly/izTGG32

08/07/2026

🌊 Chicot Lake Drawdown Scheduled for Fish Habitat Improvement 🐟🌿

LDWF has scheduled a drawdown on Chicot Lake in Evangeline Parish for fish habitat improvement, organic reduction, and nuisance aquatic vegetation control.

📅 Key Dates:
🔹 Sept. 8, 2026: Water control structure opens
🔹 Lake will lower about 1.5 inches per day to 3 feet below normal pool stage
🔹 Jan. 4, 2027: Control gates close, allowing the lake to refill in time for spring fish spawning

⚠️ Boaters: Please use caution during the drawdown, as low water levels may expose stumps and other underwater hazards.

This action is a necessary component of LDWF’s plan to improve fish habitat for better fish production, improve access for recreational activities, and control nuisance aquatic vegetation growth. An annual cycle of high and low water fluctuation can provide beneficial effects similar to a natural overflow lake system.

For more information, contact Brad Launey at [email protected] or (337) 735-8712.