Louisiana may be known for its crawdads, but you can also find plenty of crappie in the many lakes, reservoirs, and streams that dot this remarkable state. Many who fish for crappie have proclaimed Louisiana a must-visit state. Thanks to the combination of warm weather for most of the year and bodies of water well-suited for crappie habitation, they are most certainly right.
Louisiana Crappie Fishing Tips
As most who fish for crappie will tell you, any time of the year is great in Louisiana. The best times are during spawning season which arrives early in the spring, especially in the southern part of the state. Late February to mid-March is prime crappie fishing as they are spawning and quite hungry.
However, there is good crappie fishing to be found at any time of the year. Starting with the fall and winter months, the lakes and reservoirs host plenty of active crappie in the deeper waters. However, the late spring and summer months are also excellent which means that whenever you have time to fish for crappie, chances are you will find them in Louisiana.
Best Places to Fish
Although most freshwater lakes, rivers, streams, and large ponds contain plenty of crappies, there are a few places that have garnered a strong reputation for excellent crappie fishing.
Toledo Bend: Arguably the best place to fish for crappie in the entire state, Toledo Bend offers the crappie exactly what they want in terms of habitat and food. The south end of the reservoir is better thanks to the deeper water. But if there is one spot that is nearly perfect, it is an area known as the “Chicken Coop”.
Lake D’Arbonne: Located in Union Parish, this is arguably the second-best place to fish for crappie next to Toledo Bend. The 16,000-acre lake offers plenty of crappies that range from 1.5 to 2 pounds in weight. Like Toledo Bend, the river channel funnels plenty of crappie into the deeper waters. And you can fish the year-round as well.
Poverty Point Reservoir: While this reservoir may not have the numbers of crappie relative to Toledo Bend and Lake D’Arbonne. It does offer some of the largest in the state. Catching crappie that weight up to 3 pounds are becoming more common. The relatively small 2,785-acre reservoir offers anglers the chance to catch bigger crappie more frequently.
Tips on Fishing for Crappie in Louisiana
The first tip is to take some plastic jigs with you as they seem to work the best. However, shiners still work quite well in catching crappie.
Dawn & Dusk: As with most areas of the country, the best time to fish for crappie in Louisiana is the twilight hours of dawn and dusk when the crappie are the most active.
Spider Rigs: Perfect for catching crappie during the spawning season, a spider rig lets you drop the jig right in the middle of where the crappie are located and pull them in one after another.
Louisiana has developed a well-earned reputation for being one of the best states for crappie. With places like Toledo Bend being so popular, it’s little wonder that so many crappie anglers love fishing in this state.
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