Two Houma parade floats caught fire during the 2025 Mardi Gras season in the Bayou Cane Fire District
The incidents are causing officials to revisit Terrebonne fire safety ordinances
Roughly half of Houma parades run through Bayou Cane Fire District Chief Ken Himel’s district
and this year the Terreanians and Hercules parades both had fires break out on their floats
An investigation into Michael LaRussa’s collar bursting into flames during the Krewe of Hercules parade is complete
and the investigation into the Krewe of Terreanians Float No
Other officials are also looking into fire safety concerns around parades
According to Parish President Jason Bergeron
Terrebonne’s Mardi Gras Safety Committee members are already contacting him about discussing it at the committee’s meeting
One topic on both Himel's and members of the committee’s minds is cold spark machines
“We could not find anything in the Terrebonne Parish ordinances that does not allow the use of pyrotechnics on a Mardi Gras float,” Fire Chief Himel wrote in his report
“We recommend the Parish Council add to or create an ordinance forbidding the use of any type of pyrotechnics on a parade float.”
The Mardi Gras Parade Safety Committee is established by ordinance
the committee meets twice a year: once before and once after Mardi Gras season
The committee has the power to create rules as well as sanction and fine any float or individual who violates Mardi Gras rules
Himel is not a member of the safety committee
but the majority of Houma parades spend roughly half their time in his district
Both fires occurred within his jurisdiction
his firefighters inspect each float for fire safety compliance
In both instances the floats in question passed inspections
and there were minor injuries in both cases
Himel said he is unsure of how his men missed the cold spark machines
He said they are relatively new technology
and may have been mistaken for speakers during inspection
The Terreanians float is still under investigation
Video footage shows flames on the back of the float and boxes being thrown off the float still on fire
the fire was near the exit and could have prohibited riders from escaping via the stairwell
The fire extinguisher also was near the fire
A rider grabbed the extinguisher to put out the flames and burned his hands in the process
He did not go to the hospital for medical care
Himel’s investigation into the Hercules fire found two possible culprits: the pyrotechnic machine or a cigarette
Himel said the pyrotechnic machines have no place in future parades in Houma
"I don't want anything that is capable of causing a flame on a float in my district," Himel said
Himel and his Fire Prevention Chief Mike Palmer said any spark can cause a fire
There are no ordinances in the Houma Home Rule Charter that prohibit these devices or any fireworks from being used on floats
Himel and Palmer are researching ordinances in other areas to go before the Terrebonne Parish Council with suggestions for changes
Himel said he doesn’t want to spoil anyone’s fun
but these two incidents could have been much worse
“We’re not trying to be Mardi Gras Grinches,” Himel said
“I mean could you imagine if this box or this headdress had fallen into a wagon that had toddlers in it?”
LaRussa said he has no intention of bringing one on a float again
He said he tested the machines prior to their usage
he holds his feather in the shower of sparks to check if they would catch fire
and in the other video he tests the machines on his float
He holds the feather in the flames multiple times
He also said he held his hand in the shower of sparks and felt no heat
LaRussa said if he had felt they were unsafe
he would not have had six of the machines running on a float with him
“I thought it would have been a good little show,” he said
Asked if he was afraid of it causing a fire
Charles McKinley is the managing partner of Pyro Productions
The company has run pyrotechnic events for NFL Super Bowls
the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and is certified to operate in Louisiana
His company owns more than 25 cold spark machines
He often uses the machines during indoor events such as weddings and Mardi Gras parties in New Orleans
he has to check for fire safety certifications of any nearby materials before setup
he has to treat all fabrics and other flammable materials in the areas of the machines with a flame retardant coating
these machines are all fairly similar to one another and create their sparkler effect by superheating metal fragments — hundreds of degrees in temperature — which they hurl into the air
McKinley would not comment on this incident in particular without looking into it himself
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he said there’s a myth about these machines that misleads many nonprofessionals and causes fires
“There is an old misnomer that has gone around for years that these are ‘cold spark’ machines,” he explained
He said the misnomer comes from a pyrotechnic effect known as a “gerb.” The human body
and so when the spark hits the skin the water acts as insulation
“So when you run your hand through a pyrotechnic gerb
the water in your hand basically protects for that split second against that tiny metal flake that is hot,” he said
stressed that these machines should only be operated by professionals
and insurance policies should be in place when the machines are operated
“Machines used properly are safe,” he said
this is just one of several very successful trips that Kasey and I have made over the years
Bayou Cane has become our go-to winter bass fishing destination because of the limited amount of deep holes
As February passes there’s still time to fish these holes where the bass stack up
as the weather turns warmer these fish will be headed to the shallows for the spawn
and this mid-winter technique of catching will be over and done with until next winter
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The Creme Lure Badd Bug will take a bass off its bed in the spring or lure it out of its comfort zone other times of the year.[…]
Many of Marsh Man Masson’s trips into the South Louisiana marsh begin with an idea of a dish
That’s what this one was all about.[…]
Captain Aaron Pierce will run to the structures and rigs in Terrebonne and Timbalier bays looking for the big trout coming out of the marshes.[…]
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Starla Pitre finally received her High School Equivalency Diploma at the age of 38
Pitre walked across the stage at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center during the Bayou Cane Adult Education Center's graduation for 123 students
"I used to struggle with alcohol and drugs
so it took a change of mind to get here," Pitre said
"Going back to school is a big accomplishment
This is something I never thought I would ever accomplish
to get an education and to start a career."
Pitre left high school when she was 16 years old
she experienced domestic abuse and later fell into the world of alcohol and drugs
and for the first time in my life when I was in jail
I pulled that mask off my face and there were no more drugs and alcohol and I got to see me
I gave my life a guide and my new journey has begun."
It took Pitre a year and a half to complete her education
It's big and I know my family and my kids are proud of me," Pitre said
her goal is to attend college and get a psychology degree
stopped going to high school at the age of 15
because he wanted to start working and make money
And when I was trying to figure out another way to do it
I realized that without an education I could not do anything worthwhile."
Laurell is trying to decide whether to go to Fletcher Technical Community College or Nicholls State University to pursue a degree in computer science or information technology
her success story was eight years in the making
she decided to drop out of high school because she considered getting an education was not important
and he inspired her to get her diploma and go back to school
she would stop taking classes often times because she didn't believe she could succeed
This was the year that changed it all for her
"I was determined nothing was going to stop me," Binning said
I can go to college and further my education to help support my family and reach my goals in life."
said he stopped his education for a few years but eventually decided to continue his education
He hopes to pursue a career in real estate
"There is no better time than now," Porche said
"Now is the time to do what you feel is right and what you want to do
A long time ago I didn't have the drive I have now
Norma Donaldson has taught at Bayou Cane for 10 years and said she feels "great joy and pride" in her students' success
She added that the program allows the students to learn at their own pace with teachers who instruct them and encourage them through every step along the way
"I believe this program means the (students) are academically successful," Donaldson said
"It opens their door to more academic and employment opportunities."
Staff Writer Andrea Mujica can be reached at 857-1148 or amujica@houmatoday.com
Ballard said these fish will continue to be plentiful into early October when the cold fronts start rolling in
Until then he will continue to explore new tributaries but so far
he said Bayou Cane is the hotspot for goggle-eye
Anglers across Southeast Louisiana have seen a dramatic increase in not only the number of speckled trout but also the size of these fish.[…]
said his go-to place to fish in April is the Sulphur Mine in Lake Pelto.[…]
Lacie Deroche understands the value of education more than many people
she was out of high school and pregnant with her first son
so she didn't think twice about immediately going to work to support her and her son
"I didn't get to experience teenage years like other girls my age
Deroche said she looked at her life and didn't want her sons to "think it was OK to not get an education."
Deroche enrolled at the Bayou Cane Adult Education Center and tonight
she walked across the stage to receive her diploma
"I want to be a positive role model for my children
providing a better life for myself and my children and gain that sense of accomplishment," she said
She said she'll be the first in her family to go to college when she enrolls at Fletcher Technical Community College to study paralegal services
telling the more than 150 in attendance that she wants to also receive her bachelor's degree
"I want to be a parent my children can look up to
admire and say they're proud to have me as their mother," she said
The Terrebonne Adult Education Program enrolled more than 900 students this year
with 157 receiving a Louisiana High School Equivalency Diploma
Over 90 percent of students in the program who take the HiSET exam
formerly known as the General Educational Development tests
Program administrator Marilyn Schwartz said the students are fairly diverse
with the youngest being 16 and the oldest 75
"The students graduating today did not get here by accident," said graduate Tad Guidry during the ceremony
and we look ahead with joy and anticipation prepared to meet whatever challenge is ahead."
Terrebonne school Superintendent Philip Martin said Guidry's words were "brief but profound."
"You're here tonight because you did something by getting your education
you have earned it and I congratulate you for that," he said
Some of the services the program offers at Fletcher are adult basic education
English as a second language/civics and accelerating opportunity co-enrollment
it's how you finish," said Terrebonne Parish School Board President Roosevelt Thomas
If you stay the course you will always be successful."
Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 488-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com
Santa Claus greeted area residents this evening as he paraded in a Christmas float throughout Lisa Park and Broadmoor with his cadre of firefighters and Sparky
the Bayou Cane Fire Department revived the district’s annual tradition of a Christmas Fireman Parade to thank the community for its ongoing support
“This is the greatest thing we could do to really give back to the community,” said Assistant Fire Chief John Poiencot
“It’s the cool thing of having the kids back then who are adults now telling us: ‘I want to cherish this memory with my kids."
“This is one of my favorite traditions (that) we always did,” Juliann Pennison wrote in a comment on the Bayou Cane Fire Department’s Facebook page
“I’m so happy to have my two babies now enjoying it!!
Thank you so much for all that you do and all the joy you bring!!”
Residents have asked each year about the possibility of a Christmas parade
a tradition that the area recreation district began roughly in the 1980s and carried on until 2008
Although previous parades have rolled through Lisa Park and Broadmoor
Santa is planning to visit as much of the district as possible this year
including Oakshire and certain district-covered neighborhoods near La
As sirens and Christmas music blared down Ziegler Avenue
the Guerrero family rushed outside of their home to witness the spectacle
“We heard the sirens and we thought something was happening
like a fire or something,” said Devi Guerrero
but said he was proud to have caught candies that firefighters were throwing from the float
Sparky the Fire Dog also gave his little brother a yellow disc bearing the Bayou Cane Fire Department logo
“One of the things we’re trying to do here is to get back to what the fire service is traditionally about,” Fire Chief Ken Himel said
“ I truly believe the reason that (Santa and a fire truck) go hand in hand is because everyone loves Santa
and we’re still one of the most trusted professions there are
The parade is also a culmination of positive changes that the department has undertaken in recent years
including revamping equipment and reprioritizing calls
some kind of agony that we’re trying to climb out of,” Poiencot said
“But I’m really excited that everything is now coming together
“We truly believe it’s an honor to be in this profession,” Himel said
this is not going to be a career for you.”
Bayou Cane Fire Department swore in five new firefighters earlier this week
Santa’s parade will roll Wednesday and Thursday from 6 p.m
in Oakshire and neighborhoods covered by the fire district near La
The parade will be unable to pass down certain dead-end streets in the neighborhoods because of the size of the float
Follow the Bayou Cane Fire Protection District Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Bayou-Cane-Fire-Protection-District-342514269171929 for real-time updates on Santa’s itinerary
Staff Writer Maki Somosot can be reached at 857-2208 or maki.somosot@houmatoday.com
Montegut Fire Chief Toby Henry is getting a new job.
The veteran firefighter has been hired as the Bayou Cane Fire Department’s new EMS chief.
“I’m excited to get into the role and work with these guys,” Henry said Wednesday
“Chief Ken Himel has a great team out here
I think he’s a really progressive fire chief and I look forward to working with him and his staff.”
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Henry will oversee Bayou Cane’s expanding medical division
In addition to nearly 10 years as the chief of the Montegut Fire Department
he also served 15 years as a paramedic and is a member of the Louisiana Bureau of EMS Education Commission.
Himel said he is looking forward to working with Henry.
"I am excited to have Chief Henry join our team,” Himel said
“I look forward to him working with our staff in the creation of our newly formed EMS Division.”
who was also elected justice of the peace in the Chauvin area two years ago
said he plans to continue working with the Montegut Fire Department until its board appoints a new chief.
“I’ve spoken to each board member individually and told them what was going to happen,” Henry said
“We have a board meeting coming up and a decision will be made on what direction they want to go
I’m willing to stay and make a smooth transition for everybody there
I really appreciate the opportunity the board gave me to serve
and part of the reason I’m able to do this job is because of the experiences and opportunities they afforded me there.”
Bayou Cane responds to more than 1,800 incidents per year for an average of 150 per month. The department has about 51 employees and protects more than 30,000 residents in an area of 31 square miles
Its coverage area includes some of Terrebonne's busiest and most populated areas
including the commercial strip on Martin Luther King Boulevard.
the new job will be the best of both worlds.
“It’s a unique position that I feel comfortable to be in because I will handle all emergency medical service issues
but I will still be responding to fires as well,” he said
“I might be in a specialized division
doing what I love to do.”
— Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com
Bayou Cane Adult Education Center graduate Jolene Courteaux thought about dropping out of the program the first week she started
She hadn't been in school in several years and didn't think she could finish the program
But it was her three children and instructors that convinced her to stay the course
I wouldn't be standing here today," Courteaux said tonight before she walked across the stage with 59 of her classmates at the Bayou Cane Adult Education Center graduation
"I'm a single mom and I just want to show my kids that if mom can do it
Men and women who dropped out of school decades ago received a diploma tonight
One such graduate was Kelly Johnson Vanberge who gave a speech alongside her 18-year-old daughter who graduated with her
enrolled in the program first after being unhappy in both public and private schools in the Houma-Terrebonne area
is standing beside me," Johnson told the audience
A teary-eyed Vanberge followed up her daughter's speech by expressing her apprehension about enrolling in Bayou Cane's program
I had the top score in the whole class," Vanberge said
While Johnson starts her first week of Emergency Medical Technician classes Monday
her mom still isn't sure what she wants to do next
"I never thought I could be anything I wanted be," Vanberge said
I still have plenty of time to figure it out."
Superintendent of Terrebonne Parish Schools Philip Martin expressed his admiration for all the graduates
perseverance and dedication are all traits that'll be admired," he said
"You've displayed all of them by your presence tonight."
The Terrebonne Adult Education Program enrolled 950 students this year
with 122 receiving a Louisiana High School Equivalency Diploma
Some of the services the program offers include adult basic education
Staff Writer Kevinisha Walker can be reached at 850-1148 or kevinisha.walker@houmatoday.com
New Year's Eve had been an ordinary day at the Bayou Cane Fire Department; firefighters working the shift trained to rescue a victim from a burning building
and 28-year-old Crew Chief Cody Hebert led the first group of responders to the fire at a burning duplex on Jennings Lane
“We had conflicting reports as we were headed out there,” Hebert said
“Dispatch had said there was possibly a victim inside
but neighbors had reported seeing the man outside the house.”
trapped in the back of the home was a 73-year-old blind man
who had been pushed to the back of the house by the heat that emanated from the front
and it pushed him into that back area,” Bayou Cane Fire Chief Ken Himel said
The pocket of safety that kept the man alive was quickly turning into a death trap
Firefighters later learned that the house's back door had been boarded shut
Firefighters arrived to find flames had already engulfed more than half the building
Hebert made the risky decision to send firefighters into the inferno
He blasted the front of the house with as much water as he could squeeze out of the trucks and nearby fire hydrants
and engineer Brandon Jackson and 14-year veteran Capt
“Every firefighter trains for this moment,” Detillier said
but that's what we do; that's why we train.”
while temperatures climbed over 500 degrees
The two men continued past two rooms engulfed in flames and pushed toward the back of the house
“I was at the point where I was hoping he had made it out
I did not think he would have made it all the way back there,” Jackson said of the man
in the illuminated screen of the infrared detector he was carrying
Detillier approached the man with a flashlight and saw him gasping for air
“As soon as I saw that he was still gasping for air
The man was burned and suffered smoke inhalation
Investigators suspect the fire was caused by a faulty space heater
the rescue marked the first fire save of his career
Both men found the success more fulfilling than any salary
“You've risked your life for someone you don't know,” Detillier said
“But if you have ever met someone you've saved
it's a feeling that you can't put a price.”
Staff Writer John Harper can be reached at 985-857-2209 or john.harper@houmatoday.com
When Theresa Briggs began working at Bayou Cane Coffee Shop eight years ago
beignets were nowhere to be found on the coffee shop’s menu
Former owner Eddie Herron instead taught Briggs how to make regular doughnuts
Eddie just decided to start making beignets one day,” the 53-year-old Briggs said
Some of them come from out of the Houma area because they heard of our beignets.”
The south Louisiana favorite of fried square dough covered in powdered sugar is the best-selling item
One beignet costs $1; three for $2.50; a dozen is $9.50
Although they only take two minutes to fry
Briggs said the key to making great beignets is the 30-minute hands-on preparation of the dough
“You have to let it rise before you can fry it
That allows them to fluff like a little pillows and makes it nice and airy inside.”
The restaurant also offers beignet bites for kids
which are half the size of a normal beignet
While beignets are known for the generous coating of powdered sugar on top
it is not the only way customers enjoy having them
“They’ll also eat them with honey or syrup
and it’s really good that way,” Briggs said
other favorites include the Cajun omelet: four eggs
many customers make room for the 3-1/4-by 3-inch sweet treat
“After breakfast they’ll eat the beignets for dessert,” Weddel
“They’ll eat a little bit of breakfast just so they can put that beignet down after.”
but the 1979 Thibodaux High graduate loved to bake
After working as a cashier at several places
Herron gave Briggs her first restaurant job at Bayou Cane Coffee Shop
She is not the only family member to benefit from her gift for creating beignets
Before buying the Bayou Cane Coffee Shop in July
was a cook at several restaurants including a steak and seafood house in Denham Springs with her mother
Despite her love for cooking and experience in the food-service industry
Weddel never thought about running her own restaurant
“He always wanted to have a hamburger joint
He said he would put my grandmother to work in there because she always made the best hamburgers that he ever ate.”
Weddel took over the restaurant with her stepdaughter
hours from when it was a café that served breakfast all day
she decided to add non-breakfast meals to the menu
The restaurant is already serving homemade hamburgers just like her grandmother used to make
Soon it will add homemade chicken fingers and onion rings
Weddel hopes the new items can become as popular with customers as their beignets
but by noon time breakfast is over,” Weddel said
“so I’m hoping this is going to do well and give us more from the noon to 2 time frame that people come in and eat.”
HOUMA -- Continued growth and expansion in Bayou Cane is prompting the fire department to nearly double its ranks of full-time firefighters next year
The 12 new firefighters will bring the full-time fire-fighting staff to 28
Adding firefighters generates points toward the department’s property-insurance rating
which determines how much residents pay for homeowners’ insurance
and it will help prepare the department for a shift to a civil-service system in the coming year
The addition is one of several significant proposed changes to the department outlined in its 2007 budget of nearly $3 million
which was reviewed by fire-protection district board members at a Monday night meeting
The chief has asked the board for $15,000 to begin architectural drawings for a proposed new $1 million fire station near Sugarwood Drive to serve the growing areas on La
Though the state has mandated a new station in that area
the project is essentially on the "back-burner" until 2008
Getting the architectural drawings together in 2007 would allow construction to begin in 2008
when future budget estimates call for the department to begin payments of roughly $275,000 per year for several years
While the department seeks to add new firefighters
officials are also planning to raise the salaries for their paid employees
officials discussed a range of salary increases -- including 5 percent overall
10 percent overall or a full additional $1 per hour -- to discourage employees from leaving Bayou Cane to work for the Houma Fire Department
six or seven Bayou Cane firefighters contemplated applying for jobs
"We’re going to have a lot of problems as time goes on" if the salaries are not made competitive
According to figures compiled by the department
a starting firefighter in Houma makes $24,922 a year
while a starting firefighter in Bayou Cane makes $22,500
the Bayou Cane firefighter would make $23,625; the 10 percent raise would bring the salary to $24,757; and adding a dollar per hour would bring it to $25,260
Gautreaux recommended the board raise the salaries 5 percent this year because firefighters already with the department also will receive a 2 percent "longevity" raise at year’s end
the upcoming shift to civil service means that the ranks of many firefighters will be reassigned
resulting in a number of promotions and further raises
more raises should be considered to make the department more competitive
"I’m not trying to discourage the $1," Gautreaux said
which will be addressed again at the board’s Dec
board member Lionel Falgout addressed the 10 firefighters in the audience
As they talked to the fire chief following the meeting
two ranking firefighters each said a 5 percent raise is sufficient
if it means they will have more firefighters working alongside them
"I don’t need the dollar raise," said Capt
"I’d like to see more people in the truck."
but I know the department can’t afford it," Capt
One issue looming over much of the budget discussions was the department’s impending state-mandated change to a civil-service system
which will create an independent three-member board to handle complaints and protect the firefighters from unfair treatment by their superiors
The district is trying to put the board together but has run into an unexpected roadblock: a lack of people interested in serving on the board
The state requires that the board be made of three people: a representative of the department elected by employees
and someone nominated by the president of the closest university -- in this case
The firefighters have already held their election
and chose Fire Inspector Liz Fuselier to represent them
The district board advertised for résumés of people interested in serving on the board
Gautreaux said: retired librarian Donald Bascle
but has been unable to locate anyone willing to serve
The board had hoped to make its decision on the board members this month and swear them in next month
so the other changes required by civil service could begin
but the lack of candidates will delay that
the board is unlikely to be created and sworn in until January or February
you must have lived in the Bayou Cane district for five years and be a registered voter
Both the department and the college are still seeking applicants
so anyone interested should call the department at 580-7230
Temporary cell phone service will be available to some Terrebonne Parish residents
Cell service in Southeast Louisiana has been largely nonexistent since Hurricane Ida made landfall late Sunday morning
Here's what we know about cellular service in Terrebonne Parish
T-Mobile and Sprint are setting up a satellite communications tower in Terrebonne behind Bayou Cane's Fire Department to improve cellphone service
The tower should provide 3-mile radius access for T-mobile/Sprint customers
Terrebonne officials said they hope a new cellphone arrives later this week
T-mobile/Sprint and At&T wireless have many resources deployed throughout Terrebonne so that they can work on tower connectivity
RECOVERY RESOURCES: Where to find help, resources in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes after Hurricane Ida
FEMA AID: Terrebonne, Lafourche residents may be eligible for FEMA aid after Hurricane Ida. How to apply
HOSPITALITY HUB: Displaced by Hurricane Ida? Lafayette Hospitality Hub helps those in area connect
LAFOURCHE SUPPLIES: Here is where you can find food and supplies in Lafourche
Officials commemorated the opening of an affordable-rent apartment complex in Bayou Cane for lower- and middle-income families with a ribbon cutting ceremony today
The Terrebonne Parish Council approved the use of $5.7 million in Community Development Block Grant money in July 2013 and the project was awarded to Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corp.
The remainder of the $13.5 million project will be covered by tax credits
Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said the apartment market has changed because of the decrease in oil prices but housing is still needed
We know that time and time again,” he said
Sixty percent of the units are workforce housing for residents making less than 80 percent of the area's median income
There are caps on the rent in the workforce housing units
The first building of the development was opened in June
executive director of the Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation
92 percent of the units have been rented out showing the need for affordable workforce housing in the parish
“We'd be delighted if we would be able to continue that in this community as well as others,” Smeltz said
One of the aspects of Bayou Cane that makes it special
interim executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation
the children who will play on the playground and the families who will walk their dogs in the dog parks are not separated by class or artificial things,” Thomas said
The 4-acre complex includes five two- to three-story
One-bedroom apartments have one bathroom and 720 square feet of space
Two-bedroom units have two bathrooms and 945 square feet of space
the president and CEO of Volunteers of America
said the organization is most of the way to completing its goal of replacing 1,000 units of affordable housing lost because of Hurricane Katrina
but as there is a need for more affordable housing
the organization is aiming above that goal of 1,000
because that's what this community deserves
We learned what true grit meant when we watched the coming home movement right here
Talking about folks coming home and restoring their homes back to the way it was and maybe even better
Staff Writer Sean Ellis can be reached at 857-2202 or sean.ellis@houmatoday.com Follow him on Twitter @courier_sean
The Bayou Cane Fire Department added two new state-of-the-art fire trucks to its fleet during a dedication ceremony late last week
"The fire department is part of the community
What better to celebrate this than by welcoming these new trucks with the community?" Fire Chief Ken Himel said
"The first truck is dedicated to the past and the history of the department
and the other is dedicated to its future."
which serve the dual purpose of an engine and a ladder truck
The trucks are being housed at Station 4 on South Hollywood Road and Station 2 on West Park Avenue
"We wanted to consolidate so we don't have as many trucks," Himel said
adding the department now has eight firefighting units that serve different purposes
"The quints give us more bang for our buck."
The dual-purpose models can be operated by only three firefighters
freeing up the rest of the firefighters for other calls as needed
six people would be needed to operate an engine and a ladder truck separately
The quints also come with a built-in foam system that mixes foam concentrate with the water as it moves through the pump
resulting in a more penetrating mixture that helps extinguish fires quicker
"Having a quint is considered a best practice throughout the U.S
There's only a few departments in the state that have it," Himel added
"It helps us work smarter instead of harder."
According to the National Fire Protection Association
ground ladders and enclosed compartments for equipment storage
Officials said Houma Fire Department and Grand Caillou Volunteer Fire Department are among the only other departments in Terrebonne Parish that have quints
Houma Fire owns three and Grand Caillou owns one
The department ended up taking out an eight-year loan for the purchase
which ran up to $625,000 for each quint from the company Ferrara Fire Apparatus
Discussions with the fire district board to acquire the equipment began last year
Bayou Cane firefighters also underwent a basic course to acquaint themselves with the new trucks
no significant calls have required their use
Bayou Cane's current fleet includes four trucks
The department is also looking into getting money to finance the purchase of new air packs
This newscast is updated weekdays at 6am
Join WWNO's Coastal Desk for a canoe and kayak trip down Cane Bayou on the Northshore
One of the coolest things about the Louisiana coast is the way it gradually transitions from cypress swamp into open marsh
The trip will be led by a master naturalist
animals and history of this slice of Louisiana's unique coastal ecosystem.
WHERE: Cane Bayou on the Northshore — between Fontainebleau State Park and Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
WHY: To get outside and enjoy the spring weather
and to support WWNO (proceeds will be donated back to the station)
$30 for children (ages 6-12); $10 discount for those who bring their own kayak or canoe
HOW DO YOU SIGN UP? Reserve your spot by signing up at the WWNO event page through the Canoe and Trail Adventures website
Support for the Coastal Desk comes from the Walton Family Foundation
Kerry Thibodaux is a familiar face to local fans of live country music
Thibodaux is a frequent performer at venues all over Terrebonne and Lafourche
and will play at the Bayou Cane Sports Bar in Houma on Saturday
He generally plays as a two-piece ensemble with his father
who first nurtured Kerry's interest in music from an early age
"I've always had music around the house," Thibodaux said
"My dad and my brothers have always played in bands and stuff."
Thibodaux himself got his start in high school with a rock band called No Exit
for which he played drums for about 10 years
While he calls himself a "drummer at heart," Thibodaux mostly plays guitar and sings these days
While his shows are mostly covers of familiar tunes
Thibodaux said he is working a few originals into his repertoire of late
"Over the past few years I started writing some of my own stuff," he said
but Thibodaux said that he mixes in a wide variety of genres
"We do a little bit of everything depending on the crowd
And playing with his father makes his shows a bit special for him
and you can tell that the crowd loves it when I introduce him," Thibodaux said
Every now and then I get some other friends of mine who want to come and play."
Kerry Thibodaux will play starting at 9 p.m
Staff Writer Scott Yoshonis can be reached at 850-1148 or syoshonis@houmatoday.com
When Lauralee Lee became pregnant in the 10th grade
was shot in the head while sitting in the passenger seat of an SUV
"I got in a dark place after she died," said Lee
had been attending classes at Bayou Cane Adult Education Center when she was killed
When Lee walked across the stage in her black robe on tonight
she said her daughter was with her every step
Lee was one of 140 people to complete their diploma with Bayou Cane this year
Lee enrolled herself in classes at Bayou Cane in wake of her daughter's death
"Education was the last thing on my mind," she said
Other students shared their own stories of how they chose to persevere
overcoming a fear of failure to return to school later in life
Fellow graduate Olinda Bonvillian said she chose to leave school after meeting the love of her life to start a family
But 50 years after dropping out and working full-time
she decided she wanted to try to finish her education
Bonvillian said her family supported and encouraged her to start
Once she took the first step into the center
"I felt a sense of peace the moment I walked through the door," she said
she worked toward her diploma and co-enrolled in clinical nursing assistant classes with Fletcher Technical Community College
"I stand here proudly to receive my high school diploma."
"It's never too late to pursue your dreams," she added
the administrator of Terrebonne Parish's WorkReady U Adult Education Program
said it has people from ages 16 to 72 in the program
"I think that's the number since I've been been with the program," said Schwartz to the crowd in the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
all of them striding across with confidence
who also left school after becoming pregnant
challenged her fellow graduates to continue learning after they leave Bayou Cane
"Learning doesn't have to end here," she said
Join WWNO's Coastal Desk and Canoe & Trail Adventures for a canoe and kayak trip down Cane Bayou on the Northshore
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A stubborn marsh fire that broke out near Schriever alarmed residents and spread smoke over large swaths of northern Terrebonne Parish
but fire officials say they are monitoring the blaze and do not see any threat to homes or businesses as of about 2:30 p.m
Bayou Cane Fire Chief Ken Himel said the general location is a perennial spot for marsh fires at this time of year
and that it is in no way like the fires that have been reported in other communities
“We are monitoring the conditions,” Himel said
“It’s the same exact place where we have marsh fires around Highway 90 and Savanne Road.”
One of the reasons officials are not overly concerned
is that the area is criss-crossed by many canals
preventing the fire from spreading beyond its origins
prevents them from getting near enough to extinguish it
“We put a drone up in the air so that we could see exactly what is burning,” Himel said
The chief and other firefighters from his department and from Schriever are driving to various locations so that they can keep an eye on the fire
“It’s roughly seven members of command staff,” Himel said
promising appropriate action if the fire were to jump into areas where people are present
The area burning is primarily flat and grassy
although there are some trees that did not seem to be affected
Smoke was visible a good distance from the site and drifted over some densely populated neighborhoods like Ellendale and Summerfield
At God’s Promise bookstore and gift shop on Corporate Drive
clerk Janet Leboeuf stepped outside to get a better look at the smoke
and it was pretty bad for a while,” Leboeuf said
Bayou Cane firefighters have been getting familiar with the type of wildfires burning in other parts of the state
having volunteered to assist in Beauregard Parish earlier this week
Firefighters from Schriever and Houma helped there as well
Extreme heat and drought have contributed to wildfires throughout Louisiana
the Louisiana Department of Health said in a statement issued Tuesday
The Department of Agriculture and the State Fire Marshal issued a statewide burn ban Aug
7 due to dangerously dry and hot conditions
which continues in effect until further notice
Bayou Cane Fire officials said they will be using the BP oil spill money they are expected to receive in a few months to recover some of the debt toward their newly purchased trucks
The department will receive about $192,590 as part of more than a $21.5 million settlement with the global oil giant as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion off of Louisiana’s coast
Bayou Cane will have between $130,000 and $140,000
This money will be used to pay off the first out of eight annual loan notes expected next summer for two new trucks
the department had added two quints from the company Ferrara Fire Apparatus to its fleet at a cost of up to $625,000 apiece
Himel said the department wasn’t expecting to receive the settlement money next year so it didn’t budget for it
the fire district board decided to use this money toward its equipment debt
“We could have bought other equipment or put it toward training
but if we can make it retire a bit quicker
The settlement money will be added onto the $140,000 the department has already allocated to pay off next year’s note
“We’re basically paying for two trucks at one time,” Himel said
If it takes us the full eight years to pay this off then we can’t buy another truck to replace some of the older ones in our fleet
We’re trying to stay ahead of the curve as soon as we can.”
One of the quints was recently used for a house fire on Westview Drive in Houma
Having the foam mixture enabled firefighters to put out a particularly challenging fire
Firefighters battled an apartment fire in Houma today that claimed the life of a 74-year-old woman
According to the Bayou Cane Fire Department
firefighters were dispatched about 12:11 p.m
Crews arrived to find smoke billowing from an occupied apartment
Fire crews entered the dwelling and removed one victim minutes after they arrived
were extinguished in about five minutes and the victim was transported to a hospital
The victim later died due to carbon monoxide poising
the Terrebonne Parish Coroner’s Office ruled
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter identified the 75-year-old woman as Patricia Ann Lindmark of Houma
Thirteen firefighters were on scene along with Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputies
the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Acadian Ambulance
Surrounding apartments were evacuated as a precaution while crews secured the scene
after the fire was knocked out we checked to make sure the fire didn’t spread to the other apartments,” Boudreaux said
“Unfortunately the victim succumbed to her injuries.”
--Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 857-2202 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com
Firefighters battled a blaze Tuesday night that gutted a house in a Houma neighborhood
The Bayou Cane Fire District was dispatched about 8 p.m
to a structure fire that erupted at 281 Sugarwood Blvd.
which took firefighters about 30 minutes to control
began in the garage area but flames quickly spread into the attic
“There are walls still standing inside the structure
but 80 percent of the roof is completely consumed,” Himel said
was home during the time of the fire and suffered non-life-threatening injuries
She was treated and released from Terrebonne General Medical Center Tuesday
Although the cause of the fire remains under investigation
Himel said a power generator in the garage may have been the culprit
Due to a power outage in Terrebonne Parish that left about 2,864 people in the dark Tuesday evening
Kelly Graffagnino turned on the generator before noticing something wasn’t right
“A generator was in use in the garage area,” Himel said
she turned the breaker off and flipped back to city power
So we’re thinking a gas leak or some fumes may have built up in it
There’s no evidence the generator actually exploded.”
the homeowners praised firefights for saving their family pet
Blake Rodriguez and firefighter Reola Lanegrasse -- did manage to save their cat,” the fire chief said
When the owner saw me the first thing he said was that he wanted to meet the guys who saved his cat
If that’s the one thing that brightened their tragedy last night
The Graffagninos could not be reached for comment
--Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 857-2202 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com
BAYOU CANE — When Justine Pellegrin arrived home June 14 after a day of playing with her family on the beach
“She was very sick,” Justine said of her mother
Justine picked up the phone and called the emergency number
summoning Bayou Cane volunteer firefighters to her home
But the rescue workers arrived “very fast,” she said
Justine was one of four children recognized by the Bayou Cane Volunteer Fire Department prior to the department’s Monday-evening board meeting
The other children — sisters Samantha and Katelyn Indovina
and cousin Hannah Gaudet — helped report a fire that could have burned down a house and caused a death
The three were playing outside their grandmother’s home April 14 when they noticed smoke near a neighbor’s house
but it was coming out the roof,” Katelyn said
The girls reacted quickly: Samantha ran down the street to confirm the house’s address
while Hannah ran back toward their grandmother’s to call 911
Katelyn stayed in the middle to relay information between the other two
“She yelled it to me,” Katelyn said of her sister
Bayou Cane firefighters responded in a matter of minutes
and were able to prevent a full-house fire and injuries to the building’s lone occupant
“We’re just impressed by the maturity of these young ladies,” Bayou Cane Fire Chief Charles Long said of the award recipients
He said their quick action shows that fire officials’ efforts to educate children about the proper use of 911 are working
Bayou Cane officials also gave awards to emergency responders whose quick responses directly led to saved lives
said Phoenix awards are the department’s way of recognizing outstanding fire and ambulance crews
most of them from outside the department: Victoria Greenhouse
Belinda Talbot and Brent Pellegrin of Acadian Ambulance; Casey Chaisson of the Little Caillou Volunteer Fire Department; and Capt
Drew Rousseau and engineer Chris LeBlanc of Bayou Cane Volunteer Fire Department
Staff Writer Daniel McBride can be reached at 850-1148 or daniel.mcbride@houmatoday.com
The Bayou Cane Adult Education Center held its commencement Wednesday evening at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
[Photos by Chris Heller/Staff -- houmatoday/dailycomet]
Jones’ claims of the marsh being alive with bass right now were dead on and the footage that I collected confirmed that these trenasses are indeed the roads used by many species that make up the South Louisiana marsh
Trevor Huval shares tips for fishing for redfish at one of his favorite places
Savvy and seasoned South Louisiana guides and avid anglers know despite the dirty water
Built to mark channels or redirect currents
jetties create entire ecosystems for any fish species dwelling in coastal Louisiana waters.[…]
HOUMA -- The lawbreakers show up every week for community service at the Bayou Cane Volunteer Fire Department
dropped off by their mothers to repay their debt to society for the crime of skateboarding
Hunter Webre’s tale of lawlessness is typical
and two friends were skateboarding in the parking lot of a doctor’s office when the police showed up
The officers told them they were trespassing
put them in the back of the police car and took them downtown to the station
and they were later sentenced to 16 hours of community service and told to pay $80 in fines
"I think it’s wrong," said Stephanie Soileau
Skateboarding is prohibited by parish laws only on the sidewalks of the historic district of Houma or around public buildings
but skateboarders are subject to prosecution for trespassing almost anywhere in the parish
they face up to $500 in fines and up to 30 days in jail
The police are attentive to their violations
he can’t remember how many times officers have stopped him from skateboarding
If he and his friends try to spend an afternoon skating
they are likely to be stopped two or three times
The teenagers say they are being unfairly targeted
First Assistant Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Carlos Lazarus said skateboarding typically attracts police attention when they see kids putting their safety at risk
"The cops are not rounding up people on skateboards," he said
"It’s usually something that rises to the level of a safety concern
like when they set up ramps in the middle of a street."
Houma City Court Clerk Doug Holloway said he doesn’t see a large number of skateboard-related violations go through juvenile court
I can’t even remember the last time we had kids in court for something like that," he said
acknowledging that he doesn’t remember these boys and there may have been others who escaped his attention
But the teenagers may have found an ally in their insistence that there’s no place for them to skate undisturbed: Bayou Cane Fire Chief Jerry Gautreaux
After seeing scores of kids sentenced for skateboarding
"It hurts me to see kids in trouble for just being kids," Gautreaux said
"You can’t pass a law that says you can’t skate anywhere
But there’s nothing built in this community for kids who like to skate."
whose community service includes washing the fire trucks
cleaning the stations and cutting grass around them
defy the stereotypes of juvenile delinquents
most claimed at least a B average in school
with extracurricular activities that include band and football
say skateboarding’s popularity is on the rise
estimating half their classmates enjoy the activity
paints a more disrespectful picture of skateboarders
"If they see somebody with a board in their hands
they assume you’re inconsiderate and unkind," Webre said wryly
The parish provides recreation for children at numerous places
but seems to limit the activities it endorses to more typical sports: basketball
The growing number of kids who enjoy other activities -- specifically
While some may anticipate liability issues related to a skate park
the skaters note that parks are open in Lafayette
they have to sign a waiver and wear safety gear
but the system seems to work: The parks are still in business
even making money off the entry fees they charge
Liability issues are sometimes the concerns of business owners who shoo them off their properties
Holloway and Lazarus agree that providing the kids with an appropriate place to skateboard would be a good thing
though both wondered how the liability issue would be handled
Anytime you provide youngsters with a positive outlet
Anytime you drive through a neighborhood you see kids with ramps in their driveways."
logical place for some sort of skate park would be the Legion Park near downtown Houma
he said he and another group of teen skaters cleaned up a portion of it several years ago
hoping the parish or the recreation district would take over the reins
building a skate park would probably be cheaper for the public than clogging the judicial system with skateboarders who are otherwise good kids
not getting into trouble," said Dustin’s mother
"I’d rather drop them off (at a skate park)
than me having to go get him out of jail all the time."
the kids remain pessimistic government officials will listen to their plight
They don’t care about skaters," Webre said
Gautreaux promised to take the boys to a meeting to address the Parish Council later this month
The only problem was the scheduling which night to go: Webre has band practice; Soileau has football; and several other boys didn’t want to miss their church Catechism classes
A two-story house in the Broadmoor subdivision caught fire Thursday
The fire at 905 Eagle Drive was called in about 5:45 p.m
Schriever and Coteau firefighters were called out to fight the blaze
Firefighters stayed at the house for several hours afterward
The roof and second story were heavily damaged
while smoke and heat destroyed the rest of the house
Himel said the fire does not look suspicious
One Schriever firefighter went to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center to be treated for heat exhaustion
Doucet could not immediately be reached for comment
said Doucet was to host some foreign visitors at her house
The visitors are now staying at a bed and breakfast in Bourg
Staff Writer Eric Heisig can be reached at 857-2202 or eric.heisig@houmatoday.com
HOUMA -- A fire that began shortly before noon Sunday gutted a Westside Boulevard apartment building and defied the efforts of dozens of firefighters for hours
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries in the fire
and the blaze destroyed the homes and belongings of some two dozen residents of a two-story building at Cypress Court apartments
one of several complexes nestled near the intersection of Alma Street near Cannata’s supermarket and Broadmoor subdivision
The cause of the fire is still under investigation
the blaze likely began in a "void," or a space in the wall between two of the apartments
Bayou Cane District Chief Jammie Breaux said
they had difficulty locating the source of the fire because of the spaces between the walls
"There was no fire in none of the apartments
the fire spread through the building and its 16 apartments by way of a common attic space that ran the length of the building
"That’s what’s making this so difficult," Breaux said
pointing at the smoke as firefighters continued to spray hundreds of gallons of water into the burning building
The apartments continued to smolder through the night and into Monday morning
Montegut and Little Caillou all lent manpower to the fire before the day was over
though Bayou Cane and Coteau firefighters battled the flames alone for nearly two hours before help arrived
Bayou Cane Fire Chief Jerry Gautreaux said it would take crews up to 48 hours to fully extinguish the blaze
adding firefighters did a "tremendous job" in preventing the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings
"It’s going to take some extensive overhauls because of the type of construction it is," Gautreaux said
and the fire spread through the empty space between the units
so we actually had 16 apartments on fire," Gautreaux said
"That type of construction … helps the fire to propagate."
The blaze put close to two dozen residents out of their apartments with just the clothes on their backs
leaving them to huddle in groups and watch as fire
smoke and thousands of gallons of water from the firefighters’ hoses destroyed the rest of their belongings
None of the residents interviewed by The Courier had renter’s insurance
two Red Cross workers were taking the displaced residents and arranging hotel stays for those with nowhere to go
the New Orleans Saints game against the St
and many of the shell-shocked residents milled outside the burning building wearing Saints apparel
said he was "watching the ball game and ironing clothes" when the fire started
said she tried to get into her father’s apartment to get him some clothes but was warned off by firefighters
"We were told ëJust get out the way,’ " she said
Both watched as the flames consumed the building’s second floor and firefighters poured water into the elder Picou’s apartment
Kimberly Picou said her father moved into the apartment after Hurricane Rita flooded his Dulac house
spewing smoke hundreds of feet into the air
"I’m crying for Papa," Picou told her young daughter
Some residents shrieked and cried as the building burned
others spoke in hushed tones on cell phones
"I’m trying to stay calm," said 21-year-old Katy Brown
who said she had just moved into the apartment complex with her sister less than two months ago
"I was asleep when this happened," Brown said
distraught residents and their shocked neighbors kept their eyes glued to the burning building
as the sound of sirens and the constant beeping of firefighters’ air-supply alarms scored the chaotic scene
Some residents criticized the firefighters’ handling of the call
noting that crews suffered delays in getting hoses in action
and they didn’t even have the water on," said one woman who declined to be identified
"It took the fellas forever to set up and get water on the fire," added a man who lost his apartment
Gautreaux said firefighters were forced to run hoses from a hydrant more than 800 feet from the apartment complex
"This whole section of Westside boulevard is only fed by two hydrants," Gautreaux said
He added that firefighters first had to find where the fire was burning before they could start spraying water
"They needed to locate the fire that was generating the smoke," Gautreaux said
"They couldn’t find it because it fell in the wall between each apartment."
Gautreaux said fire officials would investigate the blaze
though they have no reason to label it suspicious
The building had no problems with applicable fire codes or outstanding violations
Cantrelle was expected to visit the building
late Sunday afternoon to assess the damage
HOUMA — It is so hot inside the black metal box that the air itself ignites
flames appear from heated gasses and rush over the heads of firefighters
heavy gear under a low ceiling of thick black smoke
The phenomenon is called "flashover," and it can be fatal for firefighters who fail to correctly diagnose the symptoms
Instructors from the Louisiana State University Fire and Emergency Training Institute were in Terrebonne this week with a specialized simulator designed to give firefighters a chance to observe how a buildup of heat and smoke can lead to an explosion of flame
"What we're doing is trying to teach them how fire behaves and the warning signs of a flashover
which means everything in the room all of a sudden appears to ignite at one time," said Lacy Crow
an instructor at the Baton Rouge-based institute
who helped lead the exercises Friday morning at the Bayou Cane Fire Department
temperatures at floor level can go anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 degrees instantly
The higher "fire box" is where a barrel filled with pieces of wood is set alight
igniting boards held to the walls and ceiling by chains
which can be opened and closed to turn up or dissipate the heat and smoke
allows firefighters to observe the action in the relative comfort of about 300 to 400 degrees
which are hauled across the state so firefighters can get a realistic look at flashover
are refurbished every year because of the strain on the metal from the repeated heating and cooling down
like what might happen in the room of house about to combust
The smoke settles into a thick layer at head level
The firefighters rotate to the foot of the firebox
where the goal is to hit the fire high in short bursts to avoid the blasts of steam heat created
Through the bulky turnout gear the heat is still palpable
The air that comes through the breathing apparatus quickly turns hot
Crow points out the shifts in the flames and smoke as a means to indicate the fire's location when visibility is low
It can cause the heat-resistant face shields the firefighters wear to blister and bubble and smoke to rise from the protective suits
"Now you know what a turkey feels like when it's getting cooked," Bayou Cane District Chief Jammie Breaux said
A key part of the exercise is demonstrating the importance of properly ventilating a burning structure before attacking the fire with a hose
the explosive potential of the heated gas evaporates
and a few bursts from the hose make short work of the fire
Throwing on water without properly ventilating the structure can drive the fire to an area that wasn't previously burning
"Learning a little bit about fire behavior is going to make your jobs so much easier," Fontenot told the firefighters
The instructors said the demonstration teaches firefighters to recognize dangerous situations and the limits of their ability to fight a fire from inside a burning building
"It definitely teaches you how to maintain a fire," said John Poiencot
adding that the department was forced to retreat from a similar situation at the former Bayou Cane Beer Parlor
The heat from the flashover melted some of the firefighters helmets
"This is definitely a major factor in firefighting."
Robert Zullo can be reached at 850-1150 or robert.zullo@houmatoday.com
there are months other than February that I prefer to fish for bass
Between the cold fronts blowing through and the frigid temperatures
this month has proven itself not to be an easy month when it comes to putting bass in the boat
But through the years I’ve learned that my trips in February have often been my best trips when it comes to finding bass stacked up in one location
I recently made a trip with my daughter Kasey to fish a shallow bayou just north of Lake Pontchartrain called Bayou Cane
This “Baby Bayou” stretches a little over a mile from it’s inception
to the point where it empties into the Lake
At first glance the thought of fishing this bayou in 30-degree temperatures may seem nonsensical
but after trial and error I’ve learned to key in on the deep holes in the bayou
Because Cane is so shallow averaging 7 feet
the bass are forced to find the deepest water that is available
As the bayou winds south there are numerous cuts that spill out of the marsh
The french word for these cuts is Trenasse which means a ditch dug in the marsh
What makes these ditches so special is their ability to create deep holes in the main bayou over years of marsh drain
While the average depth of Bayou Cane is 7 feet
the holes created by these trenasse’s are over 12 feet which makes it a magnet for bass seeking deeper water
We started out day at the mouth of one of these trenasses using black and blue Rattling Football Jigs made by Delta Lures
We both were fishing with out freshwater spinning reel set-ups which has 8 lb
The water in Bayou Cane was extremely clean on this day so I made sure that both Kasey and I were using thin line so it wound’t be easily seen by the fish
The day started out a bit slow and after Kasey missed three fish
I decided to I decided to make a move down the bayou to find a better bite
Kasey argued that we should stay put because she was getting bites so she suggested I let her out to fish from land
Bayou Cane is normally fully inundated with alligators but with it being winter
the gators were still hibernating so I decided to let her out in the marsh so that she could continue to fish the deep hole
I spotted a matted down section of marsh grass along the shoreline and decided to let her out there
The ironic thing about this spot is that I was a bedding area for alligators over the summer but with the gators gone
it made for the perfect spot for her to fish without being bothered by marsh grass
After dropping her off on land I made my way south to the next trenasse where I found an 11-foot hole in the main bayou
I started casting my jig and on the third cast felt a bump and set the hook on a 14-inch healthy marsh bass
On my very next cast I repeated the performance and I then remembered why I loved fishing this shallow bayou in the winter
The bass so so stacked up in the hole that I was able to put a limit of 10 bass in the ice chest within an hour
After the tenth bass hit the ice I circled back to check on Kasey
My plan was to pick her up and bring her back to my spot so that she could catch her 10 but the plan was ruined when as I approached I watched as she put three bass on the bank
As I got closer I was a total of five on the bank
She told me to hold back so I wouldn’t disturb the spot and it didn’t take her long to finish of her limit
On our ride back to the launch Kasey explained that she started catching fish when she slowed down her retrieve
“Sometimes the bass would pick it up when It was still and just lying on the bottom,” she said
After the small adjustment Kasey said it was non stop action
“I basically slowed everything down and watched my line for movement
When that line started moving left or right
I set the hook and brought him ashore,” she said
It’s true that bass fishing in February has it’s challenges
but using the freezing temperatures to your advantage can pay dividends if you can find deep holes in a relatively shallow tributary like Bayou Cane
A few extra feet of water can provide these bass with warmer water on the bottom and it’s this water that can make a cold raw day in February one of your most memorable trips
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