Special to the American Press

The Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex including Cameron Prairie, Sabine, and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges will open for public sport fishing Friday, March 15, through Oct. 15.

Boat admittance into the refuges is permitted from one hour before legal sunrise to one hour after legal sunset. Fishing and crabbing are permitted from legal sunrise to legal sunset with the proper licensing. Only boats with motors of 40 horsepower or less may be used in Lacassine Pool and Sabine’s Unit 3 Impoundment. Use of surface drive motors and push poles are encouraged. The fisheries are solely managed by the staff of the Southwest Louisiana complex. For questions, call one of the refuge offices or email us at swlrcomplex@fws.gov.

The entrance gate to Lacassine Pool will open at 6:19 am on March 15. Parking on or along Illinois Plant Road is not permitted. It is best to arrive at the refuge at the time or after the entrance gate opens. Boat operators traveling in Lacassine Pool are reminded to travel in appropriate waterways and to be aware that kayaks and other non-motorized vessels may also be using the Pool. Water control structures in the Pool are set to hold water at full Pool. Continued significant rainfall is required to maintain water levels at this elevation. Water levels are reduced by evaporation, which rises as temperatures increase, and plant transpiration, which rises as plant growth increases.

The Eastern portion of the pool will be open to all boaters this year, but you will not be able to cross under the levee to access the other portions of the pool. You will need to trailer and physically move the boat across to the other ramp.

Lacassine pool does not have any restrooms or trash cans, everything brought in must be taken out. Lacassine pool water levels are currently lower than normal currently, due to significantly less precipitation in the area.

Fishing will open in Cameron Prairie’s 2-mile stretch of Outfall Canal and will remain open along Bank Fishing Road and Roadside Canal. Non-motorized boats may be used in Roadside Canal and waterways accessible from Bank Fishing Road. Boat operators should proceed with caution in canals and marshes.

Cameron Prairie’s East Cove Unit, accessed through the Grand Bayou Boat Bay on the East side of Calcasieu Lake will open to public one hour before Sunrise on March 15 th and will remain open through the first day of Louisiana west zone waterfowl season as long as management and hydrologic conditions allow and the Grand Bayou boat bay is open. For updates or more information about access to this area, call 855-532-9955.

Sabine National Wildlife Refuge will open for all fishing and boating activities. All boaters and visiting public are asked to proceed with caution both on the water and when navigating all public use areas. The Sabine NWR recreation areas along Highway 27 south of Hackberry that will open March 15, include: Northline Recreation Area and boat launch, Blue Crab Recreation Area, West Cove North Recreation Area and boat launches, and West Cove South Recreation Area and boat launch.

Hog Island Gully North and South, including all Recreation Areas, parking lots, and boat launches, remain closed to the public for ongoing Army Corps beneficial use of dredge material projects. Anticipated reopening of May 15, 2024 is contingent upon project completion. Completion status will be updated at  https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sabine.