Fishing in
Louisiana
8,772 named waters · 0 stocked in the last 30 days
Louisiana's bayous and coastal marsh hold redfish and speckled trout fishing that rivals anywhere on the Gulf Coast, much of it accessible by shallow-draft boat through a maze of channels. Inland, the Atchafalaya Basin and its connected lakes produce strong largemouth bass and crappie fishing in classic swamp habitat.
Louisiana holds 8,772 fishable waters on the books. LDWF has logged 17 stockings in the last year, led by channel catfish. The biggest water in the state is Lake Pontchartrain at 407,803 acres.
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What you'll catch here
- Channel Catfish1 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- Bogue ChittoChannel CatfishMay 26, 2026
Most-stocked waters, last 12 months
- Bogue Chitto1× stocked
Biggest waters
- Lake Pontchartrain407,803 ac
- Lake Maurepas58,308 ac
- White Lake55,914 ac
- Lake Salvador49,967 ac
- Grand Lake39,895 ac
- Lac des Allemands16,594 ac
- Catahoula Lake16,527 ac
- Lake Fausse Pointe16,501 ac
Major rivers
- Mississippi Riverorder 10 · ~659,685 cfs
- Crocodile Bayouorder 9 · ~77,349 cfs
- Bayou L' Embarrasorder 9 · ~77,348 cfs
- Bayou La Rompeorder 9 · ~77,338 cfs
- Little Atchafalaya Riverorder 9 · ~77,316 cfs
- Atchafalaya Riverorder 9 · ~77,311 cfs
- Red Riverorder 9 · ~77,033 cfs
- Cane Riverorder 9 · ~1,044 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →Plaquemines (651) · Terrebonne (380) · Natchitoches (340) · St. Tammany (309) · St. Bernard (274) · Rapides (255) · Catahoula (250) · Vernon (245) · St. Martin (222) · Avoyelles (222) · Lafourche (211) · St. Mary (209) · Cameron (208) · Concordia (194) · Beauregard (192) · Sabine (181) · Vermilion (179) · Tensas (172) · Winn (158) · Washington (157) · Caddo (151) · Iberia (133) · Pointe Coupee (129) · Grant (124) · Tangipahoa (122) · LaSalle (120) · Bossier (120) · Livingston (118) · Jefferson (118) · Calcasieu (115)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Louisiana's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
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Louisiana fishing — FAQ
Where does Louisiana stock fish?+
LDWF logged 17 stockings across Louisiana in the last year, led by channel catfish. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
How often does Louisiana stock fish?+
Louisiana's agency publishes stocking updates that we check daily. Follow any water to track its stocking schedule.
Do I need a license to fish in Louisiana?+
Yes — Louisiana requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Louisiana?+
Louisiana has 8,772 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.