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Louisiana lakes and reservoirs

Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex Fishing

A 800-acre Louisiana lake in Ouachita and Morehouse parishes.

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Photo of Ouachita River: Brad Emerson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain

Ouachita Parish

The LDWF picture of Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

In Ouachita and Morehouse parishes, Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex offers 800 acres of lake water by the LDWF count. On average it runs about 14 feet deep, LDWF says. Fuel and ice are closest in Swartz, near 3 miles away.

There are 4 launches on file with LDWF; 3 are public. The pamphlet prints 1 water-body exception for it. Biologists work it out of District 2.

800acres (LDWF)
14 ftaverage depth
4launches
3species named

LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans layer (Size, average depth, popular species, cover, access and tips text), Census 2023 places, retrieved October 28, 2026. LDWF office: District 2; 368 Century Tel Dr, Monroe, LA 71203; 318-343-4044.

Directions to Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex
Species

Fish LDWF biologists name for Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

The popular species LDWF lists for Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex: Largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish.

Largemouth bass White crappie Bluegill

The LDWF playbook for Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

Larger bass in Lake Bartholomew; larger sunfish and crappie in Black Bayou

Habitat notes for Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

Submerged vegetation, cypress trees; piers in Bartholomew and DeSiard

LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans text (popular species, fishing tips, cover; not a full species census), LOWA records and LDWF stocking; retrieved October 28, 2026.

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Access

Launch choices on Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

  • Conley's Boat Ramp on Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; $3 to launch
  • District 2 Office launch on Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex1-lane concrete ramp, public
  • Hwy 134 launch on Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex1-lane concrete ramp, public
  • Hwy 136 launch on Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex1-lane concrete ramp, public

From the LDWF access note: Pier at Black Bayou NWR

If the Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex launch is crowded

  • Black Bayou LakeBlack Bayou Lake, 2 miles southwest
  • Moon LakeMoon Lake, 4 miles west
  • Wham Brake Russell Sage WMA launchWham Brake, 5 miles southeast
  • Barrett's launch on Bartholomew LakeBartholomew Lake, 6 miles north
  • Sterlington launch on Ouachita RiverOuachita River, 7 miles northwest
  • Ouachita River Levee on Bayou BartholomewBayou Bartholomew, 7 miles north

LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.

Stocking

LDWF hatchery releases into Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex received these LDWF releases:

  • Florida BassFlorida Bass, 84,200 fingerlings, 2025 (Stocked January-June 2025.)
  • Florida BassFlorida Bass, 15,000 fingerlings, 2024 (Stocked January-June 2024.)

LDWF hatchery stocking releases (spring 2024 and 2025 per-water tables, single stockings to 2026); LDWF publishes no per-row dates; retrieved October 28, 2026.

Limits

Creel and size limits for Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

SpeciesDaily limit and sizeSeason
Black bass (largemouth and spotted)10 dailyOpen year-round
Striped or hybrid striped bass (or any combination thereof)5 daily; no more than two over 30" total lengthOpen year-round
White bass50 dailyOpen year-round
Yellow bass50 dailyOpen year-round
Sunfish (bream)No daily limitOpen year-round
Crappie (black and white)50 daily; 100 fish possession limitOpen year-round
Bowfin (choupique)No daily limit; 16" MLLOpen year-round
Buffalo fish (or their hybrids)25 daily; 16" MLLOpen year-round
Catfish (blue, channel and flathead)100 daily in the aggregate. An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish of the three species combined.; Blue Catfish: 12" MLL; Channel Catfish: 11" MLL; Flathead Catfish: 14" MLLOpen year-round
Freshwater drum (gaspergou)25 daily; 12" MLLOpen year-round
Paddlefish2 daily (fish cannot be retained alive & cannot be harvested by snagging methods); 30" max lower jaw fork lengthOpen year-round
Shad50 pounds dailyOpen year-round
SturgeonNo legal harvest or possessionClosed (no legal harvest or possession)
Other freshwater fish (all species of bream and garfish)No daily limitOpen year-round
Crawfish150 pounds dailyOpen year-round
Rainbow trout (Get Out & Fish! community ponds)five fish per person (daily limit)Stocked mid-January to early February, pending a decrease in water temperatures

Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex follows the statewide freshwater limits unless named below.

Special pamphlet rules on Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

Water as printedWhereRule
Cypress Lake and Black Bayou ReservoirWhole waterNo fish seines, gill nets or trammel nets. No hoop nets, slat traps or wire nets from March 1 – Oct. 31.

Rules as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), pages 18 to 21 (pamphlet PDF); second read on the LDWF freshwater page October 28, 2026.

Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.

Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 19 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF freshwater finfish page October 28, 2026.

Louisiana licenses and limitsWater-body exceptions
Compare

Parish lakes near Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex, side by side

Cheniere Lake has the most water in this group, 3,115 acres.

LakeDistanceAcresAverage depthLaunchesLDWF reefs
Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex80014 ft40
Black Bayou Lake (Ouachita Parish)2 miles southwest80010
Cheniere Lake16 miles southwest3,1154.9 ft70
Finch Lake16 miles north58610
Bussey Brake Lake18 miles north2,20011 ft11
Horseshoe Lake (Mer Rouge)20 miles east1334.5 ft10

LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.

Nearby

More of Louisiana near Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

Lakes worth a look after Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

Louisiana bait stops around Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

  • Toledo Tackle, 7913 Desiard Stbait and tackle shop, Monroe, 7 miles
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Monroesporting goods store, Monroe, 9 miles
  • Academy Sports + Outdoors West Monroesporting goods store, West Monroe, 11 miles
  • Toledo Tackle, 5129 Cypress Stbait and tackle shop, West Monroe, 12 miles
  • Smith's Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Mangham, 22 miles
  • Fish at Joesbait and tackle shop, Monroe

Where to stay for Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

  • Swartz3 miles
  • Sterlington5 miles
  • Monroe8 miles

Parishes along Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

  • Ouachita Parishseat: Monroe
  • Morehouse Parishseat: Bastrop
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Fish photos

A picture guide to fish at Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex

Yellow Bass, Louisiana
Yellow Bass
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
Bowfin, Louisiana
Bowfin
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Smallmouth Buffalo, Louisiana
Smallmouth Buffalo
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Freshwater Drum, Louisiana
Freshwater Drum
Photo: (c) Quinn, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0
Answers

Before the drive to Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex, the common questions

What parish line does Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex sit on?

It lies in Ouachita and Morehouse parishes, about 3 miles from Swartz.

How much water does Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex spread across its parish?

About 800 acres.

Which launch should I use at Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex?

Use District 2 Office launch on Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex, one of 4 launches.

Which species can I catch at Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex?

LDWF points to largemouth bass, white crappie and bluegill.

What creel does LDWF allow on Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex?

Black bass (largemouth and spotted): 10 daily; Open year-round. An exception in the 2026 pamphlet overrides part of that.

Do I need a Louisiana license to fish Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex?

Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.

How deep does Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex run on average?

About 14 feet on average, per LDWF; no maximum is printed.

Is there a bait stand on the way to Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex?

Toledo Tackle, about 7 miles away, is the first bait counter on our Louisiana list.

Is Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex on the LDWF stocking list?

LDWF reports Florida Bass, 84,200 fingerlings, 2025.

Put Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex on the Sportsman's Paradise list

License prices and the statewide creel limits sit on one page.

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