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Today / November 2000 12C
A view of the houses across the marsh at Ansley. Photo by Jill Easton.
What lures visitors to the remote community
By Jill Easton
"La France is the gateway to the Louisiana marshes," said Pam Ramage. "We are three minutes from the Pearl River and 15 minutes (by water) from Louisiana's vast stretches of marsh. It's the closest place to access both of these areas."
The area is about as wild as can be found in South Mississippi. A maze of shallow bayous and flooded grasses stretch for miles, broken only by occasional oak and pine islands (hammocks) that indicate slightly higher ground.
Approaching the main canal into La France Fish Camp, we saw a black head poke up out of the middle of the bayou with a fish in its mouth.
"It's an otter," said a bystander standing on the bulkhead and pointing. "We've been watching it for a while.?
The sleek dark head sank as quietly as it surfaced. Gradually the dogs and children settled down and everyone went back to having their idea of a good time on the island where the RV campground sits. Just another bit of outdoors that's right on top of you in this most Southern spot in the state of Mississippi.
"The otter is around here frequently. She lives somewhere out in the marsh and has three pups," said Ramage. "Visitors get to see .her frequently.?
Yes, wild doesn't half describe the area. The built-up railroad tracks, cottages and
the distant smokestacks of Port Bienville seem like an annoying intrusion and out of place as they break into the flat marsh's natural landscape.
As great a place as Ansley is to come and relax, there are other things that bring people to the area. Fishing is the most important year-round drawing card. Duck hunting on the marsh and squirrel, deer and turkey hunting also bring lots of folks to the area.
"October and November are the best time for speckled trout and redfish, but in spring the catch is good again,? said Ramage. "Actually some of the best trout fishing is in the dead of winter."
With the combination of fresh and salt water so close there are a variety of fish to catch. In addition to the salt water fish, there are bass aplenty and panfish that can be reeled in from the Pearl River, which is the boundary between Mississippi and Louisiana.
Down in the marsh area there is no telling what fish may bite on any cast. Trout, redfish and green trout (A local name for largemouth bass; some turn bright green in the partly salt water.) all can be caught using most of the same baits and equipment.
"We catch flounder, specks and reds, also really big croaker," said Kyle Peady of Columbia. He and three friends were down for a fishing weekend and to try out his
new boat. It takes them nearly two hours to get there, but the variety and different scenery makes up for the drive. "Coming down here there are more different kinds of fish to try for,? he explained.
Of course, the best bait for catching trout or redfish is live shrimp, minnows or crabs; but many types of artificials are also successful.
"Cocahoe minnows fished on the bottom work," said Peady. "We also like to troll through the gras^eds.%^
Artificial lures "can also be surpassingly successful. Soft plastic choices that can be effective include grubs, Beetle Spins and cocahoe minnows. The best colors are white, motor oil and chartreuse with a red tail; glow-in-the dark colors also work well. Best crank baits include Rat-L-Traps, Spin Traps and Mirrolures. Smaller sizes appeal more to inshore feeding trout, and redfish eat anything they can get into their mouths. Also look for those lures that work mid-water and close to the bottom as redfish mouths are made for feeding in the mud. Water depth in the area can vary from inches to 20 or more feet in the channels, so it helps to have deep diving and shallower lures.
Redfish success can be good using the DOA lures; these soft plastics come in shrimp, minnow and crab shapes and are made to be worked on the bottom. They have a weight that makes them land with
the hook up every time.
"For those who fly fish there are a number of choices," said Mai Mowbray, a local fly fishing expert and editor of Fishing Along the Gulf Coast. "The shallow grass-beds are perfect for fly fishermen."
There are a number of places where big reds can be seen tailing (feeding on the bottom with their tails out of the water.) There is even a Redfish Bayou in the area.
"It's a never-miss situation when you see a big tail in the air," said Mowbray. "Anything you run past their noses, redfish will hit."
Best flies include spoon flies, and Clauser minnows in pink, brown and white, or anything that works close to the bottom in chartreuse.
Although the area hasn't grown much in the last few years, La France's owner has seen a lot cf changes.
"When I first started coming down here, most of the boats were skiffs," said Dave Robertson. "Now I see all sizes of boats and a lot more fancy equipment. Also, in the last few years there has been a real effort to clean up all of Hancock County, and it's showing out here too."
The best change has probably been brought about by his upgrading of the property.
"We're seeing a lot more younger families with children," Robertson. "I'm glad to see them carrying on the tradition." ?