Atchafalaya Heritage , Swamp Lingo of the Commercial Fisherman, Hunters and Trappers

Know Atchafalaya Heritage 

Understand the  Lingo
of the  Commercial Fisherman, Hunters, and Trappers

The Bayous, streams/waterways, canals, and sloughs are the Veins of the  Atchafalaya.

Part of every young commercial fisherman's, trapper and hunters heritage in the Atchafalaya Basin is learning the lingo used by the old swampers to describe certain areas of the swamp.  It goes without saying that the lower Atchafalaya Basin in total is just a large network of integrated waterways.

However,  sometimes the swampers will identify smaller networks of integrated waterways and use a special term and or name to group the waterways into one name.

These smaller networks of integrated waterways usually develop a name that may be different from some of the individual waterways and/or less specific in the network.  Typically it is a short way to make a general reference to an area.

Thus, when a term like, I passed through the  ‘Cutoff’  is spoken other fishermen immediately know where / what they are talking about.

There are many of these named smaller networks of integrated waterways areas in the Atchafalaya, known to the swampers. L.O.L. but not known to United  States Geological  Service, responsible for maps in the  Atchafalaya and or to the weekend warriors who travel the Spillway.

In the  Bayou Pigeon – Grand  Lake  Vector of the basin. Right off the bat, I can think of “The Road”, The  “Cutoff”, “The Reed”, “Gilmore Road”, “The  Skiddy”, etc..

Location of  Study Area - Bayou  Pigeon  Sector

This is a  description/history about one of those areas, known as ‘The Cutoff” inside the Bayou Pigeon sector. Known only to the few who remember, old Bayou Pigeon...

1892 – 1906 Map of  Grand  Lake - Bayou Pigeon Vector of the  Atchafalaya  Basin 

Note: No man-made canals  are identified in that time period …only random natural waterways

1935 USGS 15' Pigeon quadrangle  map

Close up of 1935 USGS 15' Pigeon quadrangle  map Study Area

1960's  USGS 15' Pigeon Quadrangle  Map  highlighting  the Study Area of this posting

Commonly  accepted/understood Route of  Turkey Bayou by local commercial fishermen

In summary; Know the Heritage, 'The  Cutoff ' in 2017

All constructive comments, corrections well accepted.  Legrange@cox.net

Inherit, preserve and protect the  Atchafalaya. You cannot preserve and protect what you don't know.

Enjoy !