St. Pierre hopes Luling location attracts Bassmaster Classic
On Sept. 21, the St. Charles Parish Council will consider hiring an engineer to design a $2 million boat launch in Luling between the Davis Pond Diversion and Pier 90.
As proposed by Parish President V.J. St. Pierre, the launch would include five double-ended launch sites, parking for 160 trucks/boats, separate parking for cars, two pavilions, a stage, bait shop and three restrooms. The entire site would encompass 12 acres, and St. Pierre said he would eventually like to install three sand volleyball courts and have an area for the German Coast Farmers’ Market to set up shop.
The parish does not yet own the land, but has gotten appraisals at three separate locations on Highway 90. Once the parish purchases the land, they can seek proposals from the Wallop-Breaux Fund, a state program used to create opportunity for sport fishing and boating.
The fund never provides more than $500,000 a year, so St. Pierre said the entire project would take about five years to complete.
Once an engineering firm is selected to design the launch, and the land is purchased, St. Pierre said it would be constructed in phases, depending on how much money the parish receives each year.
“Over a five-year period, we could have a top-notch boat launch,” he said.
Fishing in Lake Cataouatche has improved dramatically since the diversion and now attracts anglers from across the state.
However, larger bass tournaments have stayed away because the area’s only boat launch, Pier 90, isn’t large enough.
St. Pierre said one of the goals of the launch is to attract the Bassmaster Classic, the “Super Bowl” of bass tournaments.
“Some of the things that are in this boat launch are required to get them here,” he said. “It would be a great economic impact for the parish and for the state of Louisiana.”
St. Pierre also said that the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is excited about the project because they are interested in building a facility near the proposed launch site.
With their help, the parish might be able to construct the launch in a faster time frame, St. Pierre added.
The parish is also considering constructing a second boat launch in Des Allemands less than a mile from the current launch. But because it is so close to an existing launch that has used Wallop-Breaux funding, other sources of revenue would have to be used for the project.
The launch would be constructed on 2.5 acres and would cost around $1.5 million. The parish is hoping it could attract funding from local and private firms and businesses.
“This would be a big economic generator for the parish,” Councilman Paul Hogan said. “We are St. Charles Parish – “Sportsman’s Paradise” – and have no good means of accessing our sportsman’s paradise. We have the boat launch in Des Allemands and people can launch at Pier 90, but these are not quality (launches) and not something to be proud of.”
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