NOTE: Today most people only know that Caney Creek Reservoir and Caney Lake State Park is considered one of the jewels of Sportsman’s Paradise, as the state is called. Few remember the countless trials, tribulations, pitfalls and roadblocks that had to be overcome or the role that Woody McDonald played in changing the woods into water. This week: Crown Jewel regains it’s luster!

As the new millennium rolled around so did a new chapter in the tumultuous saga of Caney Lake. The goal of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) which was to control the Hydrilla that was threatening to overtake the waterway had been achieved. Or perhaps it should be said OVERACHIEVED.

The plan had been for the grass carp, that had been introduced to the lake by the LDWF, to eat enough of the Hydrilla so that all involved would be happy. The way it was supposed to work was that property owners and recreational water enthusiasts would not have the boat lanes and launch areas choked off and the swimming areas would be clear but enough of the grass would be left so that the fishing wouldn’t suffer. It didn’t turn out that way.

Maybe if more patience would have been exerted and the original influx of carp had been allowed time to do their job, it would have worked out. Instead, the “knee-jerk” reaction to put a “double dose” of grass eaters into the lake resulted in the water thyme, as it is commonly called, to be virtually eradicated.

The reaction was mixed. For the lakefront property owners and general outdoor recreational enthusiasts, the elimination of the Hydrilla was a delight. With the invasive species of grass gone, boat lanes and swimming areas were once again clear, and the launching of watercrafts was made much easier.

To the chagrin of the fishing community though also gone were the days of state record sized Florida Strain bass being landed routinely. This caused a domino effect of doom as well on the lake related businesses that saw the number of patrons that visited dwindle too almost nothing.

“It was sad to see the lake go through the cycle it did,” reflected McDonald during his recent discussion with the Jackson Parish Journal. “It went from the pinnacle of popularity to not hardly any visitors.”

Ever resilient, McDonald and other locals refused to stand by and watch the “Jewel of the Piney Woods” lose its luster. Through the assistance of the Jackson Parish Tourism Board (JPTB), a campaign began promoting the Jimmie Davis State Park and the first-class amenities it provided. The Jackson Parish Watershed Commission (JPWC) also went work trying to come up with an idea that would bring back the boom days brought on by the plethora of state record bass being caught.

The first order of business was to reduce the number of carp in the lake. One way this was done through the introduction of bow fishing tournaments. This had a two-fold effect as it cut down on the number of “grass eaters” and also brought in a whole new group of patrons.

Efforts to better the infrastructure of the lake bottom and improve the breeding ground also took place. This had a great effect and once again state record entries started to be recorded, it just wasn’t in the largest bass ever caught area.

In the summer of 2001, Kenny Cobb saw his name enter the record books for bluegill, three times in one month. Two years later, Bobby Nola and Chet Tidwell saw their names etched in the Black Crappie category annals. Then in 2008, Darrell Womack and Ryan Daniel registered the third and fourth best Yellow Bass ever caught in the state.

Over the next decade, Caney Lake began to crawl its way back to the popularity it once had despite having the state park closed on occasion due to the destruction caused by tornadoes and hurricanes. Today Caney Lake is once again enjoying the popularity it once did and possibly even more so.

There are several factors that can be attributed to the impressive rebound that according to JPWC Vice President, Gary Joyner, resulted in over 77,000 people come to the what is now being referred to as the “Crown Jewel of Tourism in North Louisiana.”

Several factors can be attributed to this.

(1) Professional promotion! Through the collaborated efforts of the JPTB and Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser, who works diligently in promoting tourism in the state, increased advertising of the amenities the lake and state park provide has resulted in droves of visitors flocking to Caney Lake and the Jimmie Davis State Park.
(2) Big bass are being caught once again. No, new state record entries have not yet been recorded but those weighing in “double digit” are once again routinely being caught. This is the result of the re-introduction of Hydrilla, this time in a controlled environment, that once again allows for the Florida Strain bass to grow to their enormous sizes.
(3) Glowing reviews from the professional fishing community! Perhaps nothing has done more for the regained popularity of Caney Lake than having the Pro Bass Tour hold one of their Major League Fishing tournaments on the lake last year. Many of the best anglers in the world who competed here, gushed profusely about the size and quantity of their catch, which at the time set new MLF records. The result is that MLF is returning in 2023, a rare occurrence as the circuit hardly ever comes back to a lake the following year, and BassMasters Magazine now ranks Caney Lake as the third best fishery overall in the southern/central region of the United States.

“I never imagined that things would turn out the way it did,” beamed McDonald when asked to think back on the efforts of a half century. “All we wanted was a local lake to go fishing in. What we have now is one of the premier spots for outdoor recreation in the entire nation.”

The list of people who are responsible for this is many and all deserve their share of accolades. None more so than the man who was honored by the Caney Lake Foundation this summer. Were it not for Woody McDonald, most likely there would never have been a Caney Lake. It was only fitting that the one who had a grand dream was named Grand Marshal of the 4th of July Flotilla Parade. He indeed is a grand man!