Louisiana is among the top-rated fishing destinations in the United States and across the world. From massive, brackish tidal marshes to extensive reservoirs and small lakes and rivers, the Pelican State offers anglers a wide range of fishing opportunities. Anyone aged 16 and above must have a valid basic fishing license or saltwater fishing license to enjoy recreational and saltwater fishing in Louisiana. Consider these top fishing spots in Louisiana.
Fishing Spots in Louisiana
Caney Lake
Caney Lake is a 5,000-acre man-made lake that sits between Chatham and Jonesboro in Jackson Parish. The state’s record largemouth bass, which weighed around 15.97 pounds, came from these waters. Caney Lake also produces yellow bass, crappie, and bluegill. You can access this lake from Jimmie H. Davis State Park, found in the lake’s southern part.
Caddo Lake
Situated northwest of Louisiana near the Texas border, around 25 miles northwest of Shreveport, Caddo Lake is a perfect answer to where to fish in Louisiana. This lake is home to Caddo Lake State Park and acts as a wildlife management area. Besides fishing, visitors at the state park enjoy hiking, camping, and boating. There are numerous piers and boat launches surrounding the lake, making it easier to fish at your preferred spot. Largemouth bass, catfish, bream, and crappie are among the fish species you can land here.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
Toledo Bend Reservoir is among the good fishing spots in Louisiana. It stretches from south to north along the Louisiana-Texas border. This spot covers more than 185,000 acres, making it the fifth-biggest artificial lake in the United States. Toledo Bend offers over 1,200 miles of shoreline for birdwatchers, anglers, and general nature enthusiasts. It’s a great place to fish for crappie, largemouth bass, bream, striped bass, bass, and catfish.
Black Lake
Offering over 7,000 acres of fishing, Black Lake, situated between Campti and Creston, is one of the best spots for fishing camping in Louisiana. It’s a cypress tree lake that stretches along 51 miles of shoreline, providing several spots for bass to hide in the root system. The lake has numerous fish species, including spotted bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, and black crappie.
Grand Isle
Grand Isle is a popular fishing spot on the Gulf Coast. It’s a barrier island that stretches about eight miles east-to-west and has a beach on the southern border. This fishing spot is home to the International Tarpon Rodeo, a fishing tournament meant for anglers pursuing tarpon that migrate to Louisiana’s coastal waters during summer. Redfish, speckled trout, amberjack, sailfish, blue marlin, and mahi-mahi are the most common fish species you will find here.
Lake Verret
Situated in Assumption Parish, Lake Verret is one of the most popular fishing spots within an hour’s drive from Baton Rouge. Since south-central Louisiana is a swampy region, the lake has incredible cypress trees and slow-moving marshes. It also shares a border with Elm Hall Wildlife Management Area, a Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries property. Bream, bluegill, bass, and catfish are the common fish species found here.
Red River
The Red River is one of the top-rated bass fishing destinations in Louisiana. There is a red tint in the water, hence the name, and the river has five areas divided by five dam systems. But no matter where you cast a line, you should expect to see great action. The Red River flows 260 miles from northwest Louisiana to central Louisiana and feeds numerous lakes, including Black Lake. Channel catfish, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, walleye, mooneye, lake sturgeon, sauger, and bullheads are among the fish species commonly found in the Red River.
Tangipahoa River
Located near Ponchatoula, the Tangipahoa River is an excellent answer to where to fish in Louisiana. This spot originates in Mississippi and flows south 122 miles into southeast Louisiana, feeding into the northwest part of Lake Pontchartrain. Here, you will encounter various fish species, including bass and bluegill.
Where to Fish in Louisiana
When planning your fishing trip to Louisiana, Port Fourchon is an excellent destination to consider. The area has direct access to public waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Here, offshore fishing will land you in deep waters where most of the state’s oil rigs sit. Get ready to catch marlin, wahoo, tuna, cobia, amberjack, snapper, and grouper.
Port Fourchon is not the only option. Jean Lafitte has numerous attractions that make it unique. Saltwater fishing is phenomenal, with speckled trout and redfish making up much of anglers’ catches. Also, the location is easily accessible from New Orleans.
Camping and Fishing in Louisiana
Before you head out for your camping and fishing in Louisiana, check your rig, and make sure you have packed everything you need. Ensure you have sun and bug protection, including sunglasses and sunscreen, so that you can stay out casting the line all day. Also, make sure you carry layered clothing like lightweight, long-sleeved shirts that will keep you cooler. Don’t forget your fishing gear — rods and reels, hooks and sinkers, and lures and bait — and a cooler with ice to hold any fish you wish to take home for dinner.
Laced with numerous acres of waterways, Louisiana is a fishing paradise. Freshwater fishing is unparalleled on the Pelican State’s lakes, rivers, and bayous while deep-sea charters attract legendary saltwater catches. Whether you’re a recreational or a committed angler, Louisiana has something for everyone. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about fishing.
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