The Dogwood Lodge

Dogwood Lodge is unique, even by Louisiana standards. The “lodge” is a rebuilt buoy tender named Dogwood, originally built for the Coast Guard. It’s now docked on the edge of Biloxi Marsh in Hopedale, about an hour’s drive from the New Orleans airport. When you visit this special place, expect incredible fishing, comfortable rooms, delicious food, and classic Southern hospitality.

The lodge is surrounded by vast marshlands filled with bayous, cuts, flats, and islands that offer phenomenal shallow-water opportunities for redfish, black drum, sheepshead, jack crevalle, and speckled sea trout. This is the perfect location for anglers looking to explore the Biloxi Marsh and potentially run into the biggest redfish of their life.

Dogwood Lodge is all about making the most of your time on the water. You wake up, eat a fantastic breakfast, and jump right into a skiff with some of Louisiana’s best fishing guides. Many well-travelled anglers call Biloxi Marsh the best redfish destination in the world. The estuarine landscape is covered in grass flats, oyster beds, and clear, shallow water—the epitome of perfect redfish habitat. Sprawling across hundreds of miles on the state’s southeastern coastline, the marsh is a veritable maze of islands, channels, and backwaters. Redfish movements and feeding patterns vary with the season, tides, temperature, and winds, which makes Dogwood’s guide team particularly valuable.

Targeting Biloxi’s big, winter bull reds in clear, shallow water is a necessary experience for any dedicated fly fisher. Nowhere else can you consistently have shots at 20-pound redfish all day long, with 30-pounders thrown into the mix. Because these fish see limited angling pressure at sea, they are super aggressive and make ideal targets for beginners and experienced anglers alike. Casts are usually short, so you don’t have to know how to throw a whole line to be successful. Accuracy is important, but anything that lands somewhere in front of these bull reds usually gets crushed.

While winter is the best time to target bull redfish in the Biloxi Marsh, it serves up great options all year. Smaller redfish, large black drum, jack crevalle, and sheepshead—known locally as the Cajun permit—can be targeted during all seasons.

During summer, huge schools of migratory redfish can be found around the edges of the marsh. A single school may provide hours of nonstop action. Monster jack crevalle also venture into the shallows this time of year. Hooking into a big jack on a 9- or 10-weight rod can turn into an hour-long battle. These fish are feisty.

Boats and Equipment
Dogwood guides fish out of 16-to 18-foot-long modern flats boats. All gear is provided by your guide. However, feel free to bring your own tackle and flies.

The vessel features six private rooms, each fitted with twin beds, a private bath, and an A/C unit. The lounge, known as the Mississippi Room, includes a fully stocked bar fitted with a widescreen TV, making it the perfect spot for post-fishing hangouts. The dining room seats 12 guests and can be used for corporate meetings during private retreats. The Dogwood has two outdoor decks with seating, perfect places for nature lovers to enjoy the sights, sounds, and wildlife of this stunningly beautiful marsh.

Cuisine
Meals at Dogwood consist of typical Southern and Cajun cuisine. Expect a hearty breakfast, sandwiches and snacks on the water, and delicious dinners once back at the lodge. There’s also a complimentary, stocked bar in the lounge room.

It’s all about fishing.

Hopedale Marina is located at 7600 Hopedale Highway, Saint Bernard, Louisiana. The Dogwood Lodge is the last boat on the right before the end of the road. Airport shuttles can be arranged at an additional cost. We advise renting a car so you have options if unfavorable weather blows in. Drive time from the New Orleans airport to the marina will take about an hour.

All non-U.S. citizens must have a valid passport that does not expire within six months of trip dates. Visas are not required for the British Commonwealth, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the European Community.

Check-in at Dogwood Lodge starts after 3 p.m. on arrival day. The hosts request that guests arrive before 7 p.m., which is when they typically serve dinner.

Late arrivals should not expect dinner at the lodge, so grab a bite to eat beforehand. Check out is before 11 a.m. on departure day. If guests are fishing on their departure day, bags must be packed and moved out of rooms before heading out on the water.

Call us at Gil’s Fly Fishing International for more information.

Fly Fishing International’s services are completely free. Clients will not pay more than if booked directly with a lodge. All rates are per person based on double occupancy, and listed in U.S. dollars.

2023 Rates

Double Occupancy/US Dollars
3 nights / 2 days = $1,425 per person
4 nights / 3 days = $2,030 per person
5 nights / 4 days = $2,635 per person
6 nights / 5 days = $3,240 per person
7 nights / 6 days = $3,845 per person
Call Gil’s Fly Fishing International for single-occupancy rates

INCLUDED
Lodging
Guided fishing
Breakfast and dinner at the lodge
Bag lunch, sodas, and water during guide trips
Alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks at the lodge
Rods, reels, flies, and all other tackle is provided by guides

NOT INCLUDED
Airfare
Airport transportation (shuttles can be arranged at an additional cost, or guests can rent a car)
Lodge/staff tips
Guide tips
Fishing licenses (Louisiana charter fishing license, which can be purchased online in advance)
Alcohol during guide trips
Lodging taxes

Bookings are confirmed with a 50 percent deposit, made no later than seven days after booking a trip. Balance must be received no later than 90 days prior to the first day of the trip. Notification of cancellation must be received 90 days prior to the first day of the trip in order to receive partial or full credit for an alternate date. All payments are final and nonrefundable, with the exception of a medical or family emergency, deemed reasonable at GFFI’s discretion.

Booking a trip or making a deposit represents that the client accepts all terms and conditions. GFFI’s terms are in addition to any terms and conditions of each individual lodge that GFFI represents. Please read those terms carefully—lodge terms, which may differ from GFFI’s terms, supersede any agreements between GFFI and a client.