Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin is a massive water body dissected by hundreds of canals, cuts and cypress-cluttered lakes that hold special appeal for flippers and pitchers alike.

Barring any major spillover from the flood-prone Mississippi, the 18-mile-wide, 150-mile-long stretch of swampy river basin should be in great shape when the Wal-Mart FLW Tour takes its traveling road show to Morgan City on Feb. 12-15.

“It’s a shallow-water angler’s paradise that fishes extremely large,” said pro angler Greg Hackney of Oak Ridge, La. “I’d venture to say there will be a lot of fish that will never see a bait the whole tournament.”

It’s not a wonder. The lunkers have unlimited places to hide.

In addition to the dense forests of cypress trees that clutter the swampy Atchafalaya, there is an abundance of aquatic vegetation to choose from. Milfoil, water hyacinth, peppergrass and hydrilla beds are everywhere.

If this February is like most, Hackney said the spawn will be in full swing and most of the bass will be relating to cover in water 3 feet deep or less.

But don’t expect to see them. Water along the Atchafalaya is far from clear. It’s more like a thick, Cajun roux. Hackney described it as “tannic.”

Dark-colored water demands dark-colored baits. Hackney’s favorite soft-plastic colors are black, purple and sour grape.

Links:

Pro field
Co-angler field
Pre-tournament press release