Black Lake and Clear Lake Fishing
A 13,800-acre Louisiana lake in Natchitoches and Red River parishes.
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Sizing up Black Lake and Clear Lake from the LDWF file
The LDWF management layer gives 13,800 acres for Black Lake and Clear Lake, a lake of Natchitoches and Red River parishes. LDWF gives an average depth near 8 feet. Natchitoches, about 14 miles away, is the nearest Census place.
Boaters can pick from 7 launches in the LDWF inventory (4 public). It carries 1 water-body exception of its own. LDWF lists District 10 for it.
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 10; 615 South Dr, Natchitoches, LA 71457; 318-357-3214.
Species LDWF ties to Black Lake and Clear Lake
At Black Lake and Clear Lake, LDWF calls out Largemouth bass, black and white crappie, bluegill, redear, channel catfish.
Baits and timing on Black Lake and Clear Lake, per LDWF
Bass: in spring and fall on soft plastics, jigs, and spinnerbaits around cypress trees, shoreline, and submerged aquatic weeds; crappie: around cypress trees, brush piles, and near bridge pilings on Hwy 9 with shiners and jigs
The cover LDWF describes in Black Lake and Clear Lake
Cypress trees, submerged and emergent vegetation along shoreline
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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- Black Lake Lodge on Black Lake and Clear Lake2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Chandler's Camp on Black Lake and Clear Lake2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Dixon's Camp on Black Lake and Clear Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
- Lonadier Landing on Black Lake and Clear Lakeboat launch public
- Motter's Landing on Black Lake and Clear Lake2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Sandy Point on Black Lake and Clear Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
- Westwind Ramp on Black Lake and Clear Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
Shore access as LDWF describes it: Access at Black Lake Lodge, Chandlers Landing, and along Old Hwy 9
Second-choice LDWF launches around Black Lake and Clear Lake
- Saline Lake SpillwaySaline Lake, 6 miles southeast
- Mulligan Inn launch on Saline LakeSaline Lake, 7 miles east
- Grand Ecore Recreation Area on Bayou PierreBayou Pierre, 7 miles southwest
- Keyhole Ramp on Saline LakeSaline Lake, 8 miles east
- Sand Point on Saline LakeSaline Lake, 8 miles east
- Kisatchie Forest launch on Saline LakeSaline Lake, 9 miles northeast
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Hatchery fish LDWF released in Black Lake and Clear Lake
What went into Black Lake and Clear Lake, per LDWF hatchery reports:
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 105,400 fingerlings, 2025 (Stocked January-June 2025.)
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.
Legal keepers at Black Lake and Clear Lake
| 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 |
For Black Lake and Clear Lake, statewide freshwater limits hold except where LDWF prints a change.
Pamphlet lines naming Black Lake and Clear Lake
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Black Lake, Clear Lake and Prairie Lake (Natchitoches Parish), Caddo Lake (Caddo Parish), Chicot Lake (Evangel | Whole water | Trotlines and yo-yos: Except for an object used strictly in the construction of a pier, boathouse, seawall, or dock, no object which is driven into the lake bottom, a stump, tree, or the shoreline shall be used to anchor a yo-yo or trigger device. |
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.
Black Lake and Clear Lake beside the closest LDWF lakes
By the LDWF size figures, Saline Lake heads the list at 8,400 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Lake and Clear Lake | 13,800 | 8 ft | 7 | 0 | |
| Saline Lake | 7 miles east | 8,400 | 7 ft | 5 | 0 |
| Cane River Lake | 12 miles south | 1,350 | 8.9 ft | 4 | 0 |
| Sibley Lake | 12 miles southwest | 2,175 | 7 ft | 3 | 8 |
| Grand Bayou Reservoir | 16 miles northwest | 2,500 | 10 ft | 1 | 3 |
| Mill Creek Reservoir | 17 miles north | 560 | 10.6 ft | 1 | 0 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Next Louisiana stops near Black Lake and Clear Lake
More lakes and brakes by Black Lake and Clear Lake
- Saline Lake7 miles east
- Cane River Lake12 miles south
- Sibley Lake12 miles southwest
- Grand Bayou Reservoir16 miles northwest
- Mill Creek Reservoir17 miles north
Where to buy shiners and crickets for Black Lake and Clear Lake
- Bayou Outdoors Incbait and tackle shop, Natchitoches, 13 miles
- Cypress Knee Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Natchitoches, 21 miles
- Point Place Marinamarina, Natchitoches
Home bases for Black Lake and Clear Lake
- Natchitoches14 miles
- Coushatta21 miles
- Winnfield22 miles
The parish pages for Black Lake and Clear Lake
- Natchitoches Parishseat: Natchitoches
- Red River Parishseat: Coushatta
Piscifun tackle a Sportsman's Paradise angler might load for Black Lake and Clear Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling apart the fish of Black Lake and Clear Lake by photo
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: qfc79, CC BY 4.0
Settling the details of a day on Black Lake and Clear Lake
Which corner of the Pelican State holds Black Lake and Clear Lake?
It is in Natchitoches and Red River parishes, about 14 miles from Natchitoches.
What size does LDWF give Black Lake and Clear Lake?
Near 13,800 acres.
Where does a Louisiana bass boat go in at Black Lake and Clear Lake?
7 launches, including Dixon's Camp on Black Lake and Clear Lake (4 public in all).
What fish does LDWF list for Black Lake and Clear Lake?
On the list: largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish.
Does Black Lake and Clear Lake have its own fishing rules?
Black bass (largemouth and spotted): 10 daily; Open year-round. A water-body rule changes part of that here, shown above.
Is a saltwater license needed on Black Lake and Clear Lake?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
How much water is under the boat at Black Lake and Clear Lake?
Near 8 feet on average, LDWF says.
Who sells shiners and crickets near Black Lake and Clear Lake?
Head to Bayou Outdoors Inc, about 13 miles away, for bait and ice.
When did LDWF hatcheries last stock Black Lake and Clear Lake?
Yes, for example Florida Bass, 105,400 fingerlings, 2025.
Circle a Louisiana weekend for Black Lake and Clear Lake
Check the creel limit before a fish goes in the ice chest.