Freshwater fishing experiences can range from prizes to surprises. Louisiana’s 16,000 acre man-made Lake D’Arbonne can offer a little bit of both — and they are both good. A map of the lake shows just how vast it is. The prizes on Lake D’Arbonne range from slab crappie to a full-range of freshwater fish like bream, bass and catfish. The surprises can be a fish of a lifetime in the form of a three-pound crappie or a 10-pound bass.

Lake D'Arbonne Fishing

Fishing on this lake in the rolling hills of Union Parish changes almost as often as the Louisiana weather. In the colder months of the year, the crappie school in the deeper waters of the old river channels and can be caught as deep as 20 feet on jigs and shiners. In the spring, the fish migrate to the shallows and can be caught with the same lures under a cork around the cypress and tupelo gum trees. It is during this time that many two pound crappie and and occasional three pounder are landed during the spawn. The lake’s crappie fishing has put it on the “go to” map for crappie anglers all around the country. Fishing regulations on the lake are fairly lenient for those looking for some good fish for eating, but many anglers also throw back the trophy fish so that others can enjoy catching them later. Bass fishing follows pretty much the same pattern in the spring, but anglers don’t have to stop just because the weather warms up. Although they may head for deeper water, big bass are caught all through the year on a variety of crankbaits, plastic worms and jigs. The many ledges, underwater creeks, flats and sloughs make the lake an exciting place to look for and find largemouth bass. Bream fishing is also great on the lake, with fish bedding at least twice a year, enabling anglers to find them fairly easily in the shallow water around the lake’s shore. This kind of trip is family friendly and you don’t even have to own a boat to fish in several areas where there are good bank fishing spots. That includes five long fishing piers at Lake D’Arbonne State Park, which are open to the public. The area around the State Park is also becoming more and more popular with kayak fishermen, who can find great fishing provided by cypress tree stands and islands up the Little D’Arbonne arm of the lake. The other two major parts of the lake are the Big Lake Area and Corney Creek. Public boat ramps are available on all three areas.

Visiting Lake D'Arbonne

Located in Northeast Louisiana right on the shores of the City of Farmerville, the lake’s fishing attraction is accented by the fact that it is far from the hustle and bustle of modern day life. Union Parish is a rural area free of industry, large populations of people and busy highways. There isn’t even a railroad track in the parish. In addition to camping and lodging at cabins in the State Park, there is a hotel and there are several quaint RBO (rent by owner) cabins and lodges around the lake. The nearby towns of Ruston and West Monroe offer a full range of anything anglers would need for supplies or entertainment. In fact, the famous Duck Commander store and Museum are just down the road. Several episodes of the wildly popular Duck Dynasty TV show were filmed on Lake D’Arbonne.