Lake Bistineau Channel

bigred170 · April 18, 2022, 09:23:26 PM

Does anyone have the channel on Lake Bistineau marked with gps that they would like to share. No problem with running mid lake, just the north and south end.
Thanks

Mike Cork · April 19, 2022, 10:05:38 AM

There are several little runs but nothing marked. I guess over the years I've just committed it all to memory. I'll be out there fishing next month and see what I can make happen.

I do know that north of Port O Bistineau you are on your own, that is so switch back and all the cypress trees start looking the same, that and all the yo yo's confuse the markers the lake lovers had put up....

bigred170 · April 19, 2022, 03:47:59 PM

Thanks Mike

That south end has scattered markers here and there on the east and west side. Then like you said above the port of bistineau when it goes into the woods is like a snake..lol

If u have time i would appreciate it.. thnks

BassmanRudy · April 19, 2022, 09:17:51 PM

Would be great with the large increase in fishing licenses this year that "some" of it would GO towards REAL boat row markers for the lakes around here!! Bistineau and Campti would be a good start!

754,000 fishing licenses sold in 2021 x 8.50(increase in fee for 2022) = $6,409,000 in new $$... :-)

Mike Cork · April 20, 2022, 10:36:23 AM

I agree, however I kind of understand the Wildlife and Fisheries position.

Take the south end of Bistineau, there is the ski run, which if you know where it is, it's a straight shot from Peggy's Island to the Spillway. And about 1 mile short of the spillway there is a pig trail to the east and to the west, both of which are tree rubbing lanes. So these are old school runs that weren't cleared they are just naturally there.

As far as the "actual" channel on the south end, well it's a switch back that you'd have trouble following in a johnboat with a tiller steer. For the agency to put up markers is two fold, one they will need a ton of them and two it opens them up to liability. A driver might be looking at what he thinks is the next marker and it's actually two corners that circled back and the driver plows a stump on top of the ridge. Who's liable? You and I would say that we should have ran it slowly a couple times but the sue happy world...

The couple markers that are out there from Bossier Slough to Peggy's Island are in wide open water, I'm not even sure why they are there?

BassmanRudy · April 20, 2022, 02:56:24 PM

But isn't it more "liable" to charge a fee to launch and then not care what happens once your boat hits the water?

State parks charge fees for the usage- if it was "free" then maybe no liability.

I hate this sue happy world sure nuff but all this talk of "being responsible on the water" and "taking care of resources" should lead to "safer boating" when feasible.

Maybe have local high school/college teams compete in class for the best/most economical/safest channel markers and then grant the winners a State sponsored grant for their school?!?!

bigred170 · April 20, 2022, 06:03:04 PM

I totally aggree. Ive been told that because Lake Bistineau doesnt have a lake commission like Grand Bayou, La wildlife and fisheries will have to pay to put up markers.

Honestly i dont fish bistineau much. Usually im idiling if i dont see a channel marker. I see where they put a sign up at the damn, after the accident there, which was very sad. I guess its going to take someone else getting hurt or killed to update the channel markers..

J.W. · April 30, 2022, 10:49:56 AM

Quote from: bigred170 on April 20, 2022, 06:03:04 PM
I totally aggree. Ive been told that because Lake Bistineau doesnt have a lake commission like Grand Bayou, La wildlife and fisheries will have to pay to put up markers.

Honestly i dont fish bistineau much. Usually im idiling if i dont see a channel marker. I see where they put a sign up at the damn, after the accident there, which was very sad. I guess its going to take someone else getting hurt or killed to update the channel markers..

I've always wondered why they don't cut and mark a little bit on each draw-down since they started draining it to fight the Salvinia, but maybe that's why. I grew up on Bistineau, but haven't been out there in probably 20 years. I probably don't even remember where all those little unmarked boat roads are at now. And if you don't know them, the best you can hope for is a beer can hanging on a tree here and there.

Yes, that was a very sad deal with those boys going over the spillway. My wife and I were up waiting on the local news and hoping that they'd find that young man wandering around in the woods south of the spillway, but it didn't turn out that way.