Mile 703.5 — Paddler’s Routes around Cat Island and the Casinos
You can stay main channel around Cat Island and down the gauntlet of casinos, but you are in for a long straight stretch, 10 miles into the southwest, that can be stultifying on a hot & hazy day, and downright excruciating in a head-wind. If the river's high enough, follow some of the back channel options for better scenery and possible protection from the wind. This unusually long stretch of rectilinear river is result of several major cutoffs. Two classic oxbow lakes were created with the cutoffs, today known as Horseshoe and Council Lakes. See Google satellite for a full appreciation of what the river channel looked like a couple of centuries ago. (Note: we won’t recommend any gambling along the route save deciding whether to follow some back channel routes and taking the risk of a low dike crossing with questionable water flow!)
Main Channel:
At low water (as depicted here on Google satellite) the main channel is a gently meandering route between the levees and long stands of trees. Line shows fastest water. At higher water levels this line straightens out, and at flood stage you could pick a direction of the compass and follow it successfully one end to the other!
Cat Island Back Channel
High water only. Avoid at medium water for dead water areas and several dangerous dike waterfalls. Not possible in low water. During high water this becomes a delightful shortcut and alternative to the main channel.