Chotard Landing Resort back in business

Spider rigging over the tops of brushpiles positioned along the first ledge away from the bank is one of the most productive late-winter crappie tactics.

Jerry Johnson bought Chotard Landing Resort back in the early 1980s when it was little more than a fishing camp full of trailers. Johnson had the vision to make it something more, so he started cleaning it up and adding amenities.

“He put in a little store and built a little tavern on the side of that,” said Jerry Johnson’s son Mark Johnson, who now serves as the resort manager. “We had three cabins back then, but he built a set of condos with six units.

“Some of those sold to people, but we still have one we use as a rental unit.”

Johnson says his dad then added four more units on the water, three of which serve as rental units. Two units sleep four, and one unit sleeps nine.”

“We work closely with the local fishing clubs like the Magnolia Crappie Club and some of the small bass clubs in the area to hold their tournaments here,” Johnson added. “We work with them whatever way we can.

“Over the years, we’ve kind of grown into a little family of people over here made up of some folks who live here all year long to those who come in to stay a few days to fish.”

Rebuilding from last year’s flood has finally finished, and Chotard Landing Resort is now back open for business, and according to Johnson, it’s not just the crappie anglers who frequent the resort.

“Most of the time you can catch fish here,” Johnson said. “When the fishing is bad, you still catch a few, and when it’s good, it’s absolutely wonderful.

“The crappie anglers love us, but we also have folks catching bream you can’t get your hand around and trot-liners catching 300 to 400 pounds of catfish in a couple days.”

Johnson says he’s available for fishing reports, and he always tries to have whatever bait, like minnows, worms and crickets, fishermen need to catch whatever is biting.

For more information about the fishing or to inquire about accommodations, contact Johnson at Chotard Landing Resort at 601-279-4282 or visit http://www.chotardlandingresort.net.

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