Through the cooperation of the Nature Conservancy, Lafayette Paddle Club, and the Lafayette Kayak Fishing club a new launch for paddle craft at Lake Martin is complete! This is huge news for Lafayette area paddlers who prior to this did not have a designated paddle craft launch for this beautiful paddling estuary. The launch required the installation of timbers to stair step the bank down to lake level – making launching much easier. Both clubs teamed up to dig the steps and install the timbers. The last steps of sand and limestone on these steps we installed end of April '15. The ongoing maintenance of this site will be a community responsibility. Pack & Paddle, along with both clubs have committed to picking up litter and doing light weed eating when we are out there for trips. We ask all paddlers that are out enjoying this new facility to please pick up any litter you see and report problems to the Nature Conservancy. On behalf of Pack & Paddle, we would like to thank Kacy King from the Nature Conservancy for backing this much needed idea. Also Carl Schexnayder and Greg Sonnier for spearheading the project. And both clubs for building the launch supporting this community resource in the future! Here's the location of the launch. To get there, continue down the gravel road past the boat launch until you reach the parking area near the Ruth Canal. The launch will be on your left. - See more at: http://packpaddle.com/2015/official-lake-martin-paddlers-launch-in-the-works/#sthash.nN9ws9ox.dpuf

Public access to fishing grounds is proving to be more and more difficult these days.  But a handful of members from a local kayak fishing club proved that anything is possible with a win-win scenario for both parties.  Members of the Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club coordinated with a private landowner to help organize, design and construct a kayak launch on Choupique Bayou.   Total cost of the project you ask?  $0.  Time it took to construct the launch?  2 hours. 

The property is located on Choupique Bayou, a natual river flowing South/Southeast of Sulphur and Carlyss, then ending at the Northwest end of Calcasieu Lake.  The owner offers services to anglers including a power boat launch and covered boat stalls available at reasonable rates.  The area consists of brackish marsh with opportunities to catch Redfish, Speckled Trout and Flounder.

What sparked the effort was the lack of publicly accessible kayak launches on Big Lake and throughout Louisiana.  Members who frequent the Choupique powerboat launch saw value in having a dedicated kayak launch.  Members surmised that such an effort could potentially benefit a land owner with property improvements and at the same time help out with accessibility issues for paddlers.  For kayak anglers it would secure yet another kayak-friendly and accessible area to fish.  Luckily one member in the landscaping business put in a call and secured a donation of 7 1/2  yards of limestone which was also delivered at no charge.  A big thank you goes out to both companies (who have asked to remain anonymous).  Consequently 8 members met at the property on August 6, 2011 to build the launch. The crew broke ground on the 12' x 12' area by grading it for a gradual slope into the water. The property owner had scrap timber that was used to border the launch. Within 2 hours the launch was completed and ready for use.  The owner plans to add a kayak launch sign at the Hwy 27 and Chilly Westland Road entrance.  An honor-system drop box (just $2) for users of the launch will be erected soon.  A member is building a wooden hand-scrolled sign that will be made visible near the launch. 

About The Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club
The club was established in 2007 and gathers frequently for kayak fishing meetings, trips and tournaments in promoting kayak fishing .  Learn how to effectively fish for redfish, speckled trout, flounder, bass and panfish from a kayak.  Monthly trips are offered to fresh and saltwater locations.  We vounteer for marsh plantings to shore up our fragile coastline.  We actively seek partnerships with landowners to build and open kayak launches. Meetings are the 3rd Tue of each month at Pack & Paddle on Pinhook @ 6PM.  Tournaments are held through the Cajun Kayak Angler Series throughout the years. Go to www.lafayettekayakfishing.com for more info.

Thanks to everyone that braved the weather and help with the shoreline planting. Early on it looked like we were going to get rained out. We had somewhere around 22 people show up. LKFC and P&P were well represented. It turned out to be a great day. We ended up planting around 1800 plants.

I hope we didn't work everyone to death. It was a lot more plants than originally planned. The landowner was there and was very pleased and excited over the amount of plants we were able to put out. We have an invitation to come back in the fall and check on the planting and do a little fishing.