Crappie in Avoca Island Cutoff?

[NolaRook]

My mom lives on the Avoca Island Cutoff in Stephensville near Morgan City. I live in New Orleans, but from time to time I stay at her place and do some fishing out of my kayak. Although I've caught a few bass and catfish near her place, I haven't had much luck with the crappie.

Can anyone tell me if Stephensville is the best place to try for crappie or should I tried on the other side of the levee towards Flat Lake or possibly somewhere's else in the area?

I can do up to 8-10 miles round trip in my yak if the conditions aren't bad while fishing.

Any advice is appreciated.

[PawPaw Gene]

NolaRook, welcome to the forum. I suppose you're getting the name Avoca Island Cutoff from Google Maps. Google maps show too many places named Avoca Island Cutoff that aren't so. If you are launching in Stephenville then you are not near the cutoff which is south of Morgan City. Aside from that, the waters around Stephenville do have crappie, bass, bream, and catfish. If you are launching at Doiron's front ramp, then you are launching into Bayou Long which leads to Belle River. Maybe Prefer Shiners will chime in as he used to fish that area a lot.
''gene''

[NolaRook]

Thanks for the response Paw Paw Gene! Yes, you're correct, I was getting the Avoca Island Cutoff name from google maps. My mom and step-dad live near the end of Landry Lane in Stephensville and I would most likely launch form their place, which is not all that far away from Doiron's, about a mile up.

Any idea if I should be trying to use live minnows or will artificial do the trick? Thanks again!

[prefers shiners]

to the forum nolarook......I have spent many hours fishing that area but now fish closer to home near Baton Rouge....the area has pretty good fishing but changes through out the year....I fished it for bass and crappie....try around the bridge also.....the map shows that water as Bayou Magazile but we call it Bayou long.....Magazile is further north and connects Belle river with lake Verrett at 4 Mile Bayou....you are in a good place....

[shadow]

I don't have a clue about ANY of those places yall are talking about but WELCOME to the forum!

[NolaRook]

Thanks Prefers Shiners! My mom's place is at the north side of the area you circled red along Bayou Long. That stretch can get a fair amount of boat traffic coming through. I suppose I should try fishing for crappie closer to the edges?

I've always understood crappie to hang out near brush piles/logs... I've got a depth finder on my yak and that channel is around 12'-14' deep in the middle. Do crappie have a preferred depth, or does it not really matter as long as I'm fishing near cover somewhere?

Any suggestions on whether live bait is recommended this time of year or will artificial suffice?

Please excuse my crappie ignorance, I'm fairly new to crappie fishing. I've been fishing saltwater out of my kayak regularly for the past couple of years in areas south of New Orleans & Houma. Good times but I really want to put some crappie slabs in the frying pan! :D

Thanks again!

[prefers shiners]

Some of those homes with docks have water as deep as 18' and people sink a lot of brush at the docks which makes for good fishing....try the shade under the docks also...I also have had good luck fishing deep away from the docks.....I mainly fish shiners but will also try jigs....my favorite jigs are Southern Pro triple tail blue & white & black & chartreuse.....fish will be at different depths...depends on time of year...you can tight line to find out where they are or use a fish finder.....from where you are launching, go fish toward the boat launch at the end of the canal around the houses...sometimes I launch and start trolling and fishing right away...just south of where you launch there is a cove lined with trees...it is shallow and you should pick up a few there around the trees....bass fishing is good in the entire area....some of the locals have underwater lights at their docks and do very good night fishing....

Hope this helps..

["D"]

Another method would be to cast a beetle spin type lure into the shallow and slowly retrieve it to the deep. Throw it to the base of cover. And welcome. Don't let my sig picture fool you. I grew up in Morgan City.

[fishervet]

I'm not new to crappie fishing but I'm still crappie ignorant....it lasts a while for some of us...just ask "D"......LOL

[PawPaw Gene]

NolaRook, at this time of year the crappie are spawning and should be near the bank in shallow water. Now they all don't spawn at once but right now we are probably in the middle of the spawn. The area north of your launch site and to the left where PS drew the red circle on the map has some water that's around 5 foot if I remember right. along the banks should be good for spawners by using shiners or jigs fishing them about 18 inches deep on a bobber. Good luck and have fun.
"gene"