Welcome to Woodland Plantation
The Woodland Plantation is a premier destination for Louisiana fly fishing, the lodge is located just over an hour south of New Orleans, near the town of Port Sulphur. Welcoming fly and conventional tackle anglers alike, the lodge is renowned for a unique blend of southern hospitality mixed with a world-class shallow water fishing program.
Originally built and operated as a sugar cane plantation in the 1830s, the property and many of its buildings are rich with history. Foster Creppel and family purchased the property in the late 90s, renovated the buildings, and began operating as an inn back in 1999.
Guests stay in well-appointed single or double rooms in the various buildings on the property, enjoying meals and imbibing during the evening hours in Spirits Hall. Dinners are a mix of Cajun, Creole, and classic New Orleans-style dishes served over five courses. Full breakfast is served each morning before heading out with the fishing guides.
Woodland has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1998, the last of the old plantations still standing along the Mississippi River, south of New Orleans. An 1871 lithograph of the property was once licensed for use on the Southern Comfort label.
Redfish Fly Fishing Locations
Located about 40 miles south of New Orleans, near Port Sulfur, Louisiana, Woodland Plantation sits along the Mississippi River. Anglers fishing out of Woodland have nearby access to diverse fisheries on both the east and west sides of the river, which seem to go on forever.
Fly fishing for redfish and black drum attaract anglers from around the world to these waters from October - February.
The area is a mix of interior marsh, mudflats, and hard-bottomed areas near the barrier islands – all perfect for shallow-water sight casting with a fly rod. Guide and angler pole the flats and shoreline, looking for cruising redfish on the hunt for crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. The peak redfish flyfishing season is October through December, but summer and late winter are also options for anglers staying at Woodland Plantation.
The east side of the Mississippi River is known for expansive grass flats and clear water (compared to the west side). Guests and guides take a short ferry ride across the river to access these fisheries, which are particularly popular during the summer and spring months.
The west side is typically accessed near Port Sulphur, where the fishing grounds extend for miles to both the south and west. Oil services infrastructure is widely evident, and even the most experienced fly fishing guides navigate these waters with extreme caution.
Ideally, guide and angler slowly stalk edges and flats, looking for signs of redfish in shallow water. Sometimes this will simply be a bit of moving or “nervous” water across a shallow flat, experienced eyes are essential to differentiate between current and fish. Redfish will even “crawl” along edge lines and mud flats with their backs and tails clearly visible from hundreds of yards away when they are most active.
Large schools of redfish can sometimes be found near the open water passes around the myriad barrier islands during early fall. Expect a few hours of angling “chaos” if you are lucky enough to come across one of the groups of actively feeding fish.
Timeless Favorite
Fins and Feathers Guide Service has been fishing out of Woodland Plantation intermittently for over 15 years. We have hosted groups and fished here on our own with guides on many occasions. The location, fishery, food, and accommodations are among our favorites anywhere. Foster and the entire staff are uniquely adept at making everyone feel right at home, and their highly skilled fishing guides are experts on the waters around Port Sulphur, Louisiana.
Woodland Plantation Fly Fishing Gallery
