We spent the afternoon at a place called "Spanish Lake" about a 1/2 hour from Lafayette. The lake is loaded with a variety of fish. The only fish that would give us any attention is what the people down here call Brim, which I think is what we back in the NW refer to as bluegill. The lake is huge, and the Brim seemed to like our nightcrawlers but could not deal with our hook size and worm size. The kids enjoyed seeing their bobbers run across the lake, but were unable to snag the small fish. What was cool though was that like we have Carp as our typical scavenger skank fish back in the NW.... here they have what is known as Gar http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/10983 ... ee.jpg?v=0
Somebody had caught a 38 lb and 26 lb catfish. I only saw the pics. but it was pretty coo.
While standing on the dock we saw many good size Gar and other fish jumping, and at least two that were 20lbs cruised 10' from the dock. Also saw a Water Mocassin (sp?) turtles and many other cool wildlife creatures.
95 deg. in the sun. (as was the dock)
Now that I have a tackle box put together I will be able to get out whenever I am down here. The local tackle shops have CRAZY AMOUNTS of bass baits like I've never seen before. Also the whole state is in it's own world as far as leniancy on fishing regs. You just go into a bait shop and buy live shiner (bait fish) by the bagful. and live other critters that I would not touch. But on one last note of differences.. sometimes I too feel that some of the fishing places I go in the NW need some better self control from people on littering, keeping things picked up etc. But it has been my experience that down here the swamp, and outdoors in general are WAY behind things in the NW.

Can't wait to get back tomorrow to what should be a ready to burst bass scene in Wa.