Great Fishing In Louisiana
Guide to fishing in the Pelican State
Louisiana is a haven for fishing enthusiasts, offering a wide variety of fish species and fishing opportunities across its diverse aquatic landscapes, including warm water fisheries, cold water fisheries, ponds, lakes, and rivers. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.
Warm Water Fisheries:
Warm water fisheries dominate Louisiana's fishing scene, thanks to its mild climate and extensive network of marshes, bayous, and lakes. These warm water habitats support an abundance of popular game fish species such as largemouth bass, spotted bass, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and several species of catfish, including channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. These waters provide year-round fishing opportunities, making them favorites among both local anglers and visitors.
Cold Water Fisheries:
Although warm water fisheries are more prevalent, Louisiana is not without its cold water fisheries. Some northern regions of the state feature colder waters, creating suitable conditions for stocked trout species. Rainbow trout and brown trout are often stocked in select lakes and rivers, offering anglers a unique opportunity to experience cold water fishing in a state mostly known for its warm-water angling.
Ponds, Lakes, and Rivers:
Louisiana's vast network of ponds, lakes, and rivers provides endless fishing possibilities. From urban ponds to sprawling lakes and meandering rivers, each water body hosts its own assortment of fish species. In addition to the popular game fish mentioned earlier, these waters may also harbor species like sunfish, crappie, gar, drum, and various types of catfish. The state's iconic swamps and bayous offer even more chances to explore and catch fish in a truly unique and picturesque environment.
Louisiana's fishing scene boasts a rich variety of species and fishing settings. Whether anglers prefer the excitement of reeling in bass in a serene lake, targeting catfish in a river, or trying their luck with stocked trout, Louisiana's diverse fishing opportunities make it a must-visit destination for any fishing enthusiast.
Fishing in Louisiana
The state of Louisiana is literally speckled with lakes, ponds and rivers. Bass, crappie, catfish, bluegills and stripers are the primary species found in freshwater impoundments throughout the state. The state of Louisiana offers a wide variety of fishing opportunities. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, bream, redear sunfish, warmouth, white bass, yellow bass, stripers and alligator gar, bowfin, chain pickerel in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams.
Major Louisiana Lakes & Species
Lake & Fish Chart
This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments.
For a detailed list of primary fish species in LA, plus state fish records, see the list below.
Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.
Anacoco Lake is a 2,400-acre lake in the west-center part of the state, 5 miles west of Leesville.
Atchafalaya Basin is a 596,000-swamp/river in south-central Louisiana west of Baton Rouge.
Black Bayou Lake is a 4,500-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, at Hosston.
Caddo Lake is a 26,500-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, at Mooringsport.
Caney Creek Reservoir is a 5,200-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 4 miles southwest of Chatham.
Cheniere Brake Lake, aka Cheniere Lake, is a 3,300-acre lake in the north-central part of LA, on the outskirts of West Monroe.
Cocodrie Lake is a 6,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, 6 miles north of Turkey Creek.
Cross Lake is an 8,800-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, on the western outskirts of Shreveport.
Cypress Bayou Reservoir is a 3,800-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, at Benton.
Grand Lake is a 42,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 5 miles south of Lake Arthur.
Lac des Allemands is a 12,000-acre lake in the southeastern part of the state, at Des Allemands.
Lake Bistineau is a 15,500-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 5 miles northwest of Ringgold.
Lake Bruin is a 2,700-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 2 miles north of St. Joseph.
Lake Cataouatche is a 9,200-acre lake in southeast Louisiana, at New Orleans.
Lake Claiborne is a 5,800-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Homer.
Lake D’Arbonne is a 15,200-acre lake in the northern section of Louisiana, at Farmerville.
Lake Iatt is a 6,600-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 5 miles east of Colfax.
Lake Maurepas is a 58,000-acre lake in the south central part of the state, at Maurepas.
Lake Palourde is a 10,500-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Morgan City.
Lake Rodemacher is a 3,200-acre lake in the central part of the state, 2 miles west of Boyce.
Lake Salvador is a 53,000-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Barataria.
Lake Verret is a 14,500-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Pierre Part.
Saline Lake (Clarence) is a 7,600-acre lake in the central part of the state, 5 miles east of Clarence.
Sibley Lake is a 2,000-acre lake in the west-center part of the state, at Natchitoches.
Toledo Bend Reservoir is a 185,000-acre lake on the texas-Louisiana border between Logansport and Leesville.
Turkey Creek Lake is a 4,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 4 miles west of Wisner.
Vernon Lake is a 4,200-acre lake in the west-center part of the state, 6 miles northwest of Leesville.
Wallace Lake is a 2,500-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 5 miles southeast of Shreveport.
Fish Species & State Records in Louisiana
Bass
Largemouth bass
World record: 22 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 15.97 lbs
Spotted bass
World record: 9 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 4.88 lbs
Catfish
Channel catfish
World record: 58 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 30.31 lbs
Flathead catfish
World record: 123 lbs 9 oz
State Record: 95.0 lbs
Blue catfish
World record: 143 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 114.0 lbs
Crappie
Black crappie
World record: 6 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 3.84 lbs
White crappie
World record: 5 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 3.80 lbs
Panfish
Bluegill
World record: 4 lbs 12 oz
State Record: 1.83 lbs
Redear sunfish
World record: 5.4 lbs
State Record: 2.87 lbs
Warmouth
World record: 2.4 lbs
State Record: 2.13 lbs
White Bass
World record: 6.8 lbs
State Record: 6.81 lbs
Yellow bass
World record: 2 lbs 15 oz
State Record: 2.67 lbs
Striped bass
Stripers
Inland world record: 64 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 47.5 lbs
Hybrid Striper (Wiper)
World record: 27 lbs 5 oz*
State Record: 16.25 lbs
Other species
Alligator gar
World record: 279 lbs
State Record: 179.0 lbs
Bowfin
World record: 21 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 20.50 lbs
Chain pickerel
World record: 9 lbs 6 oz
State Record: 5.75 lbs
Longnose gar
World record: 50 lbs 5 oz
State Record: 30.44 lbs
Click the images and links above for species details.
Louisiana Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries
Visit the website for fishing regulations and additional information about fishing in Louisiana.
Click here to get a Louisiana fishing license online.
Visit the section dedicated to activities for kids in LA. It is devoted to information about kids fishing with stories, fish photos and tips for where and how to take a kid fishing in Louisiana. Please send us your recommendations and we will be happy to consider them for publication.
Fish for big bass
Excellent largemouth and spotted bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers.
Fishing in all states
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