Rolling on the Tchefuncte River

Get to Know Captain Mike Jones of Louisiana Tours and Adventures

BY BETH D’ADDONO

For Master Captain Mike Jones, taking guests on tours of the Tchefuncte River isn’t just his business, it’s personal. The 28-year-old local grew up on the river, exploring the bayous and hidden coves that provide a habitat for a rich trove of wildlife, including egrets and blue herons, pelicans and of course, alligators. A keen student of both nature and history, Jones feeds his thirst for local lore with ongoing research that informs his tours, all adding up to a rich Louisiana experience for both locals and visitors from out of town. Guests who are fans of the film Where the Crawdads Sing feel a tug of the familiar as they tour with Captain Mike. Much of the Reese Witherspoon-produced movie was filmed in Madisonville on the scenic waterway that connects Lake Pontchartrain to the piney woods of St. Tammany Parish. Jones has been doing these river tours for seven years and recently partnered with Fairview Riverside State Park in Madisonville, where the two, three and five-hour tours commence.

The park, with secure parking options close to the dock, sits on the Tchefuncte River, a name traced back to the Choctaw word for a native species of chestnut tree. As he makes those kinds of connections—to the land and waterways, to history and to First Nations—Jones brings a sense of place sharply into focus.

Sharing A Love Of The Northshore

As far back as Jones remembers, the Tchefuncte was his natural playground, a place to go tubing, swing out on a rope over the water, loll on sandbars and fish for sac-au-lait and bass. Initially, the idea of working and making a living on the river wasn’t his plan. On track to work in the oil and gas industry, Jones’ first job was working as a landman, interacting with property owners about land rights. It didn’t take long for him to realize that the confines of an office and the lack of control over his own destiny was not for him.

An entrepreneur with vision and pluck, Jones started his com- pany Louisiana Tours and Adventures in 2015, investing in a comfortable 24-foot-long Bentley pontoon boat and jumping with both feet into the waterway he loved. Finally, he felt at home and able to share his passion for this South Louisiana waterway with his guests. Jones has grown his business to hosting close to 1,300 passengers annually, a mix of locals and visitors who sign up for his intimate, personalized tours.

A Custom Experience

Jones has no doubt that the Tchefuncte offers an experience for everyone. After getting a sense of what his guests are interested in, he tailors the tour to their interests.

For history lovers, he can dig a little deeper into the region’s past, passing by the Jahncke Shipyard where wooden cargo ships were built during World War I, pointing out the remains of shipwrecks along the way. At the entrance to Lake Pontchartrain, he’ll point out the historic Tchefuncte River Lighthouse, a working beacon dating back to 1837.

Nature lovers are treated to views of ospreys, great blue herons, snowy egrets and alligators gliding silently through the water. Jones can identify the flora as well, pointing out moss draped cypress trees, palmettos and swamp azaleas.

Some guests really just want to relax and have fun. The spacious pontoon boat can host a party, with its Bluetooth sound system— playlists welcome—168-quart ice chest for food and drinks, swim ladder, water toys and retractable Bimini top to let in the sunshine. Whether it’s swimming and picnicking at Brady Island or supporting local restaurants like the Madisonville Country Club and The Anchor at Tchefuncte’s, guests get a taste of local flavor.

Going Bump In The Night

Always on the quest for a new kind of guest experience, Jones designed a popular night tour this year. The boat leaves out of Madisonville around sunset, traveling down the bayou as the swamp comes alive. Captain Mike takes his guests into the river’s backwaters, using a commercial spotlight to illuminate the bayou, showing alligators when they are most actively hunting at night. Guests can shine the spotlight to spy glowing gator eyes, the sound of bullfrogs and cicadas providing a natural refrain.

Taking small groups of locals and visitors from around the region, the U.S. and the world is Captain Mike Jones’ passion. His calling is to share the Tchefuncte’s beauty and mystery with others, a constant in his life that like the river, will continue to flow. LOUISIANATOURSANDADVENTURES.COM