“The best bass waters in northwest Louisiana are Caddo Lake, Red River, Grand Lake and Lake Bistineau,” said James Seales, an LDWF biologist in Minden. “Caddo Lake produces some trophy bass, but other waters in this area also offer a chance to catch a nice fish because of the Florida bass stockings. Bistineau is improving for bass because of a strong year-class of fish following two consecutive drawdowns.”

Like Caddo, the 17,200-acre Lake Bistineau near Bossier City looks more like a flooded swamp than a lake. It averages 8 feet deep, but holes in the old Bayou Dorcheat channel can top 18 feet deep. The Rock, at a deep bend in the channel near Lake Bistineau State Park, holds fish in winter. The lake produces many fish in the 3- to 5-pound range, with some exceeding 8 pounds.

Caney Lake, a 5,000-acre impoundment near Chatham in north-central Louisiana, produced seven of the Louisiana top 10 bass, including the four largest fish, and 16 of the top 20. However, the lake hasn’t produced a top 20 fish since March 2001 or a top 10 fish since July 1996.

While the lake still harbors huge fish, anglers need to work for them. The clear lake is nearly devoid of structure and averages about 14 feet deep, though some areas sink to more than 70 feet. Five major creeks enter the lake from the northeast and two more from the southwest that form structure that attracts fish.

Lake D’Arbonne, near Farmerville, has produced one top 10 bass. In February 2000, Ed Stellner landed a 15.31-pounder, which currently holds seventh place in the record book. Impounded in 1964, the 15,250-acre lake averages about 8 feet deep and spreads through a huge drainage in Union and Lincoln parishes. Little Corney Creek and Little D’Arbonne Bayou drop down to 30 feet deep in places, but considerable portions of the lake resemble a shallow flooded cypress swamp.

EAST LOUISIANA
Several ancient oxbows along the Mississippi River also can produce good bass action. Long and skinny, most still resemble old river channels. Flats at either end usually hold many fish during spawning season. Better oxbows include Lake Bruin, Lake St. John and False River, but Lake Concordia produces the biggest fish.

Lake Concordia near Ferriday has produced bass exceeding 13 pounds and several in the 9- to 12-pound range since 2005. About six miles long, the lake averages about 10 to 15 feet deep, but some holes drop to more than 55 feet deep.

Coming on strong in northeast Louisiana, Poverty Point Reservoir opened to fishermen in April 2003. The 2,700-acre impoundment north of Delhi averages about 10 feet deep, but some holes drop to more than 20 feet. Anglers fish the offshore humps, submerged brushpiles, logs and stumps.

Throughout the Sportsman’s Paradise, anglers should find plenty of action this year in this state so blessed with fertile waterways.