Hot on the Boudin Trail in the SW Louisiana Outback

As many of you knew from my last report, I was on the road this past week with my lovely wife attending the Southeast Outdoor Press Association's annual conference in Southwest Louisiana, so my traditional fishing report is more of a travel yarn this week. I missed being on the waters of Florida's Space Coast, but I truly enjoyed our adventure to Cajun country and the hospitality presented to us by our delightful host, the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau and the fine folks in Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish.


Breakfast at the Cafe Du Monde

Although it's a fourteen plus hour road trip from Central Florida, Sandi and I opted to drive and visit New Orleans on the way. Once there, we enjoyed a breakfast of beignets and coffee at the historical French Quarter coffee shop Cafe Du Monde and an afternoon cruse up the Mississippi aboard the authentic Steamboat Natchez. It was a crystal clear morning where we enjoyed breakfast and lunch combined with some New Orleans history and sights along the mighty Mississippi. New Orleans has change a lot for the better since our last visit, and I can attest Louisiana folks are truly passionate about their outdoor heritage, their music and their food, and they are more than willing to share their enthusiasm with others.



Lunch aboard the Natchez

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Cajun folks are extremely passionate about their food and their music which was apparent by the reception and spread bestowed upon us by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and the SWLA Convention and Visitors Bureau on our first night at the Lake Charles Convention center. The folks from the Louisiana outback have a history of living off the resources provided by their coastal bayou surrounding and they were eager to share their pride with us.



Lake Charles Seafood

It's also known by many of you the Third Annual Gumbopalooza will occur in Orlando on November 16th at the Fish on Fire Restaurant. Angler's for Conservation Orlando is providing a gumbo team with the intentions of clamming the best gumbo in Orlando and raising funds for the AFC Orlando Chapter (Hook Kids on Fishing Program) and Give Kids the World Village.

With that said, my primary quest on our Louisiana adventure was to explore the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail in search of the best smoked andouille sausage in Calcasieu Parish. Gumbo just isn't right without it, as smoked meats are traditionally found in most bayou country cuisine including pots of jambalaya, red beans and rice and not surprisingly gumbo. Historically smoking meat for preservation was once necessary before refrigeration and on the bayou areas of Louisiana this creation was bolstered by the innovation of the smokehouse, Cajun spices and the use of hardwoods like pecan.


Lebleu's Landing in Sulpher Louisiana

"We'll smoke anything that walks craws or swims. Pork sausage, turkey wings, rabbit, chicken, wild game and fish," says head butcher Matt Fruge' of Lebleu's Landing and Specialty Meats in Sulphur Louisiana. LeBleu's Landing is an authentic family owned Cajun restaurant and meat market just off of I-10 at exit 20 in Sulphur, so I highly recommend making this a must stop for lunch or dinner on your way west through Louisiana. Oh by the way, out of six different stops LeBleu's won my vote for the best sausage and I returned home with my Yeti full of andouille and my sights on Gumbopalooza. So, if you have nothing planned for November 16th, come by our both and try some authentic Cajun sausage and see if you agree.

For more information on Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish drop in on the Lake Charles Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau on the banks of Lake Charles using Exit 30 off of I-10 and do some fishing or experience the Boudin Trail for yourself.


Smoked Boudin and Andouille

Another must while visiting Southwest Louisiana is the fishing with extreme numbers of both redfish and sea trout (specks) coming from Calcasieu Lake. Calcasieu Lake is a 256 square mile brackish estuary also known to locals as the Big Lake, and is well known among Gulf Coast anglers as a destination for large amounts of redfish, sea trout, and flounder as well as both brown and white shrimp. It is not uncommon for anglers to catch their daily limit (25 fish) of specks in this estuary.



Captain Bill Chapman

Hope you enjoyed sharing this adventure with me and as always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.