Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) Fishing
A 3,960-acre Louisiana lake in Caddo Parish.
Pick for catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo: Timothy Holdiness, CC BY-SA 4.0
Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) at a glance for Louisiana anglers
Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) spans 3,960 acres of lake water in Caddo Parish, by the LDWF figure. Its average depth is about 4.6 feet, per LDWF. A run of about 4 miles reaches Vivian, the closest town.
The LDWF launch inventory lists 2 launches, 2 of them public. There are 1 pier or bank site as well. Read 1 water-body exception before keeping fish. Questions go to LDWF District 1.
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 1; 9961 Hwy 80, Minden, LA 71055; 318-371-5216.
Bass, sac-a-lait and catfish on Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
Popular species on the LDWF record for Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish): Good for black crappie, largemouth bass; fair for bluegill.
Seasonal patterns LDWF gives for Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
Bass: often weigh in double digits, in late winter and early spring, jerkbaits, jigs, and soft plastics near cypress trees; crappie: yo-yos
Stumps, grass and timber in Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
Cypress trees, tupelo tress, and floating vegetation throughout lake
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.
For the catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Backing a trailer down at Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
- Noah Tyson Park on Black Bayou Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public
- Robert L. Nance Park on Black Bayou Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public
Fishing Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) on foot
- Robert E. Nance Park (Black Bayou Lake) on Black Bayou Lakefishing pier, Pier, restrooms
Bank access, in the LDWF words: Pier at Robert L. Nance Park
More LDWF launches a short tow from Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
- Hwy 2 Ramp on Red RiverRed River, 9 miles east
- Shady Rest launch on Caddo LakeCaddo Lake, 11 miles south
- Corney LakeCorney Lake, 13 miles east
- Shady Acres launch on Caddo LakeCaddo Lake, 13 miles south
- Earl G. Williamson Park on Caddo LakeCaddo Lake, 14 miles south
- Pelican Lodge launch on Caddo LakeCaddo Lake, 14 miles south
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
The LDWF stocking file for Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
Releases LDWF lists for Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish):
- 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.
Louisiana freshwater limits on Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth and spotted) | 10 daily | Open year-round |
| Striped or hybrid striped bass (or any combination thereof) | 5 daily; no more than two over 30" total length | Open year-round |
| White bass | 50 daily | Open year-round |
| Yellow bass | 50 daily | Open year-round |
| Sunfish (bream) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Crappie (black and white) | 50 daily; 100 fish possession limit | Open year-round |
| Bowfin (choupique) | No daily limit; 16" MLL | Open year-round |
| Buffalo fish (or their hybrids) | 25 daily; 16" MLL | Open 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" MLL | Open year-round |
| Freshwater drum (gaspergou) | 25 daily; 12" MLL | Open year-round |
| Paddlefish | 2 daily (fish cannot be retained alive & cannot be harvested by snagging methods); 30" max lower jaw fork length | Open year-round |
| Shad | 50 pounds daily | Open year-round |
| Sturgeon | No legal harvest or possession | Closed (no legal harvest or possession) |
| Other freshwater fish (all species of bream and garfish) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Crawfish | 150 pounds daily | Open 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 |
The statewide rows are the default on Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish), with any listed exception on top.
Water-body rules LDWF prints for Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Cypress Lake and Black Bayou Reservoir | Whole water | No 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.
Comparing Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) with nearby Louisiana lakes
The biggest lake in the table is Caddo Lake with 26,800 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) | 3,960 | 4.6 ft | 2 | 0 | |
| Caddo Lake | 12 miles south | 26,800 | 4.8 ft | 6 | 0 |
| Black Bayou Reservoir | 24 miles southeast | 620 | 9.9 ft | 1 | 0 |
| Cypress Bayou Reservoir | 25 miles southeast | 3,100 | 8.3 ft | 3 | 0 |
| Ivan Lake | 28 miles east | 520 | 6.5 ft | 1 | 1 |
| Cross Lake | 29 miles south | 8,576 | 7.7 ft | 4 | 1 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
The parish country around Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
Louisiana lakes a short drive from Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
- Caddo Lake12 miles south
- Black Bayou Reservoir24 miles southeast
- Cypress Bayou Reservoir25 miles southeast
- Ivan Lake28 miles east
- Cross Lake29 miles south
Louisiana tackle counters close to Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
- Drift Inn Landingmarina, Mooringsport, 16 miles
- The Bait Shackbait and tackle shop, Plain Dealing, 20 miles
- Northwood Bait & Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Shreveport, 23 miles
- Gator Bait Incbait and tackle shop, Shreveport, 24 miles
- Bait Bucketbait and tackle shop, Benton, 25 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Shreveportsporting goods store, Shreveport
Places to sleep near Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
- Vivian4 miles
- Benton21 miles
- Blanchard23 miles
Parish guides covering Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
- Caddo Parishseat: Shreveport
A Piscifun outfit to take down to Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Pictures of fishing water by Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
Photo: Shiva Shenoy, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Questions people ask LDWF about Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish), answered here
How do I spot Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) on a parish map?
Look in Caddo Parish, about 4 miles from Vivian.
How big is Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) by the LDWF figure?
3,960 acres by the LDWF size field.
Is there a public launch on Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)?
2 launches in the LDWF inventory; try Noah Tyson Park on Black Bayou Lake.
What does LDWF say anglers catch at Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)?
black crappie, largemouth bass and bluegill, by LDWF and the records.
Which pamphlet rules reach Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)?
Black bass (largemouth and spotted): 10 daily; Open year-round. The pamphlet also prints an exception for this water; see the limits band.
Which LDWF license do I carry on Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
Is Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish) a shallow lake?
Average about 4.6 feet; LDWF prints no deepest point.
Which tackle counter on our Louisiana list sits nearest Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)?
Drift Inn Landing is the nearest tackle stop we list, about 16 miles away.
What has LDWF stocked in Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)?
Hatchery rows include Florida Bass, 84,200 fingerlings, 2025.
Take the back roads to Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)
Every Louisiana fee and creel limit is one click away.