Fish Louisiana > Freshwater

Freshwater Species Overview

Just before the mighty Mississippi and its tributaries meet the Gulf, they wind their way through the state of Louisiana, creating an endless amount of freshwater fishing habitat. In addition, many massive lakes, ponds, and bayous add to this mecca of freshwater fishing opportunity. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and many sunfish are prolific in these waters. Due to the vast amount of natural habitat and the management efforts of the LDWF, these fisheries are some of the best to be had. The LDWF and the Sportfish Restoration Program work hard to create and maintain public access to great fishing around the state.

Louisiana has so much amazing fishing that the only hard part is figuring out what to fish for first. Incredible freshwater fishing with trophy bass and large numbers of bream, crappie and catfish is available all over the state in ponds, swamps, marsh, lakes and reservoirs. With many boat ramps, parks and facilities, it is easy to make a dream vacation come true for residents and visitors alike.

Freshwater Habitat

Louisiana Freshwater Species

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Related Rules and Regulations

Black Bass (Largemouth & Spotted) Click to Toggle

Location Size Limit Bag Limit
All state waters EXCEPT as follows: None 10 daily
Atchafalaya Basin, Lakes Verret/Palourde, Fausse Point/Dauterive Areas None 7 daily
Eagle Lake 16” minimum length limit 10 daily
Poverty Point Reservoir 15” to 19” protected slot limit3 8 daily; No more than one over 19” total length
Caney Creek Lake (Jackson Parish) 15” to 19” protected slot limit3 8 daily; No more than two over 19” total length
False River (Pointe Coupee Parish) 14” minimum length limit 5 daily
John K. Kelly-Grand Bayou Reservoir (Red River Parish) 14” to 17” protected slot limit3 8 daily; No more than four over 17” total length
Caddo Lake 14-18” protected slot limit3 for Largemouth Bass; No length restriction for spotted bass 8 daily; No more than 4 Largemouth Bass over 18” total length
Sabine River4 and Toledo Bend Reservoir 14” minimum length limit; No minimum length limit for spotted bass 8 daily
  1. NOTE: For enforcement purposes, a spotted bass is defined as a black bass with a tooth patch on the tongue.
  2. Fish falling within a protected slot limit must be immediately released.
  3. River proper from the Toledo Bend Dam to the I-10 bridge. River proper upstream from Toledo Bend Reservoir to the point at which the entire river enters TX (state line is marked with a sign).
  4. Anglers may have up to three times the daily bag limit of black bass (Micropterus spp.) below U.S. Highway 90 in coastal Louisiana providing the fish are kept whole or whole gutted in separate bags for each daily take limit. The bags must be marked with the date fish were taken, the species and number of fish contained in the bag, and the name and recreational fishing license number of the person taking the fish.
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