Louisiana Fishing Spots Every Angler Should Know

Quick Take

• One of these lakes was originally built as a fish hatchery, and that history still gives anglers a serious edge today. Explore Lake Bruin's hatchery history →
• One lake quietly holds 16 of Louisiana's top 20 largemouth bass records, yet most anglers overlook it entirely. See Caney Lake's record bass →
• A paper company shutting down its mill accidentally produced one of Louisiana's most stocked and trophy-rich fishing destinations. Discover Bussey Brake's origins →
• The South's largest man-made lake spans two states, yet size alone isn't why tournament anglers treat it as a pilgrimage site. Visit Toledo Bend Reservoir →

Louisiana may be known for its gators and bayous, but the Pelican State is also home to world-class freshwater fishing. Anglers hoping to catch largemouth bass, redfish, bream, crappie, bluegill, and catfish can try their luck in Louisiana’s lakes, rivers, reservoirs, ponds, creeks, and bayous. Keep reading as we discuss eight of the top fishing spots every Louisiana angler should know.

1. Chemin-A-Haut State Park

When it comes to finding the best fishing spots in Louisiana, state parks are a great place to start. You can fish both Bayou Bartholomew and Big Slough Lake at Chemin-A-Haut State Park, located north of Bastrop, Louisiana. You can rent a boat and cast your line in the bayou or fish from the shoreline. Visitors can also rent a cabin and fish from the fishing decks provided for cabin occupants. Big Slough Lake is located near the edge of the park, offering accessible shore fishing for catfish, bass, bream, and crappie.

2. Chicot State Park

Red-ear sunfish, bass, crappie, and bluegill are all abundant in the 2,000 acres of crystal clear water of Lake Chicot. The lake is located in Louisiana’s largest state park, Chicot State Park, a 6,400-acre recreation and wildlife reserve about seven miles north of Ville Platte. Anglers will appreciate the accessible boathouse, three boat launches, docks, boat rental services, and a 400-foot fishing pier. The park also offers lodges, cabins, campsites, and RV hookups, as well as other outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, and swimming.

3. Lake Bistineau

Lake Bistineau is located in northwestern Louisiana. The 15,500-acre reservoir has cypress and tupelo trees lining 50 miles of shoreline. Anglers can fish for black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow bass, catfish, bluegill, and red-ear sunfish in the swamp-like lake. There are two marinas available and six boat launch ramps. You’ll also have access to gas and marina supplies, along with various other services. Whether you need bait, camping gear, or a quick meal, it’s all accessible from the lake.

4. Lake Bruin

Lake Bruin provides freshwater fishing opportunities unparalleled by other lakes. On-site amenities include three large fishing piers, a boat shed, a year-round boat launch, and camping. The lake has over 3,000 acres of water surface, and the various water levels provide unique challenges for anglers. White perch, the state fish, are commonly found around the piers and vegetation mats. Bluegills swim around in the shallow waters at either end of the lake. The site was designed as a fish hatchery, and largemouth bass are available year-round.

5. Lake D’Arbonne

Lake D’Arbonne is a 15,250-acre reservoir with over 100 miles of shoreline near Farmerville, Louisiana. The park was designed with a focus on preserving nature. As you experience the 655-acre park, take advantage of the five fishing piers and boat docks. Catfish, bream, crappie, and bass are good target fish. The park also offers camping and other lodging, including RV campsites with water and electrical hookups.

6. Bussey Brake Reservoir

The 2,200-acre reservoir is part of a 2,600-acre parcel donated to the state by International Paper when the company’s mill closed in Bastrop. The Bussey Brake WMA is focused on recreational fishing, with limited tournament fishing. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) stocks the lake with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and red-ear sunfish. Bussey Brake has produced several state top-10 bass and crappie records, along with many trophy-sized fish. There are three fishing piers (including one ADA-accessible pier), a concrete boat launch, and a dirt launch.

7. Toledo Bend Reservoir

With 185,000 acres and a shoreline of about 1,200 miles, Toledo Bend Reservoir is the largest man-made lake in the South. The reservoir sits on the Texas-Louisiana border. It is a nationally recognized destination for bass fishing tournaments, with largemouth bass being the most popular game fish. However, there is also an abundant supply of catfish, bream, and white perch. Both North Toledo Bend State Park in Zwolle and South Toledo Bend State Park in Anacoco offer boat ramps, camping, swimming, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

8. Caney Lake

Caney Lake is a 5,000-acre reservoir well-known for trophy largemouth bass. In fact, the lake has produced 16 of the top 20 largemouth bass records by weight in Louisiana. The lake is also home to the official Louisiana record largemouth bass, which weighed 15.97 pounds in 1994. In addition to bass, the lake has large populations of bream, crappie, and catfish. Anglers can visit Jimmie Davis State Park in Chatham, which is located on a peninsula in the lake. The park offers two boat launches and a fishing pier. It also offers camping, other lodging options, biking, disc golf, swimming, and hiking.