by Bridgette Basin

Atchafalaya means both "river" and "wetlands area." The name comes from the word "hacha falaia" which means "long-river" in Choctaw. The Atchafalaya functions as a major distributary for the Mississippi and Red rivers. The river runs through a swampy wetlands area known at the "Atchafalaya Basin," which is twenty miles wide and one hundred and fifty miles long. Although a common stereotype states that many Cajuns live around swamps like the Atchafalaya, the Basin is largely unpopulated. It is the home, however, for three hundred bird species, as well as crawfish, crabs, shrimp, frogs, snakes, nutrias, beavers, raccoons, foxes, alligators, and black bears. The Atchafalaya Basin is traversed by an eighteen-mile elevated section of Interstate 10. The Basin, which is surrounded by artificial levees, functions as a containment area for rising flood waters.

The Atchafalaya Basin is the most popular fishing area in Louisiana. It is considered a fisherman's paradise, supporting largemouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, crappie, bream, and catfish. The Atchafalaya River's waters rise and fall with those of the Mississippi River. Fisherman who fish often in the Basin know how the water levels effect the mixture of saltwater and freshwater which tells them where to find "good" water. Fisherman who are less skilled with locating good fishing areas wait to hear where the right water levels are and that fish are being caught before they go fishing. Fishermen often catch large numbers of fish in the Basin, especially when water levels are falling.