Fishing at Lake Palourde, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, is where Lake Palourde sits. Height above sea level is 3 feet. It measures some 868 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The nearest town is Grand Isle, 8.5 miles away. The nearest city of size is New Orleans, 52 miles away. Water in the same corner: Lake Laurier at about 1.4 miles, Lake Laurier 3.2 miles away, South Lake at about 3.8 miles, North Lake 4.7 miles away and Bay Jaque at about 6.3 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Lake Palourde

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Time trips to the tide table rather than the clock here. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists flathead grey mullet, silver mullet, pinfish and spot. Take it as evidence of what swims here, not a promise for one session. At Lake Palourde the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 82°F in July and bottom out at 56°F in January. Nothing shuts down for cold, so the question is when in the day to go. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Lake Palourde runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Lake Laurier is 1.4 miles off. Nothing on Lake Palourde should be assumed from this page alone.