D'Arbonne Lake Fishing
A 15,000-acre Louisiana lake in Union and Lincoln parishes.
Pick for crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: (WT-de) Mistoffeles, CC BY-SA 4.0
D'Arbonne Lake in the LDWF management layer
LDWF lists D’Arbonne Lake at 15,000 acres, lying in Union and Lincoln parishes. LDWF puts the mean depth at about 8.5 feet. Count on about 2 miles of road to Farmerville, the closest town.
Trailers go in at 12 launches, of which 12 are public. The LDWF reef layer marks 3 sites in it. Statewide limits change here through 3 water-body exceptions. Its LDWF contact is the District 2 office.
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.
What LDWF says bites on D'Arbonne Lake
For D'Arbonne Lake, LDWF points anglers to Crappie, sunfish, channel and flathead catfish, stocked largemouth bass.
LDWF advice for fishing D'Arbonne Lake
Largemouth bass: gold rogues in spring, crankbaits and worms near creek channels in summer; crappie: along edges of creek channels and near bridges during winter, sloughs during summer, caught on jigs and shiners; catfish: on stump flats using worms and
What the bottom of D'Arbonne Lake holds
Cypress trees and stumps, piers, creek channels, vegetation
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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Here are the 3 artificial reefs LDWF built at D'Arbonne Lake.
| Reef | Deployed | Depth | Material | Target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terral Cove – snag near ramp | 1/13/2026 | 11 ft. | 18 Christmas trees | Crappie, Bass |
| Terral Cove – mid cove snag | 1/13/2026 | 10 ft. | 18 Christmas trees | Crappie, Bass |
| Terral Boat Lane CM171 | 1/13/2026 | 12 ft. | 1 dozen Christmas trees | Crappie, Bass |
LDWF Freshwater Artificial Reefs layer (deployment, depth, material and target species as published), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Putting an LDWF-registered boat onto D'Arbonne Lake
- D'Arbonne State Park2-lane concrete ramp, public
- D'Arbonne Village launch2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Gills Ferry launch on D'Arbonne Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public
- Hog Pen Landing on D'Arbonne Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public
- Hwy 2 Ramp on D'Arbonne Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Jake's Landing on D'Arbonne Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Old Hwy 33 launch on D'Arbonne Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Spillway Ramp – North on D'Arbonne Lake6-lane concrete ramp, public
- Spillway Ramp – South on D'Arbonne Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Stowe Creek launch on D'Arbonne Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Tech Landing on D'Arbonne Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public
- Terral Island launch on D'Arbonne Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public
Where LDWF says you can fish from land: 2 piers at state park, shoreline access at most public ramps
Other trailer launches by D'Arbonne Lake
- Meeks Landing on Bayou D'ArbonneBayou D'Arbonne, 12 miles southeast
- Lake Drain on Bayou D'ArbonneBayou D'Arbonne, 14 miles southeast
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Reading the level on D'Arbonne Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Bayou Darbonne Lake At Dam Near Downsville | 38.52 ft gage height, 78.72 ft lake elevation | Oct 31 5:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 31, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Agencies mark these D'Arbonne Lake levels provisional.
Florida bass and fry LDWF put in D'Arbonne Lake
Hatchery releases on file for D'Arbonne Lake:
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 300,400 fingerlings, 2025 (Stocked January-June 2025.)
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 271,700 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.
The pamphlet rules for D'Arbonne 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 |
On D'Arbonne Lake the freshwater statewide rows apply unless an exception below says otherwise.
LDWF exceptions written for D'Arbonne Lake
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| D'Arbonne Lake | Crappie: Whole water | 50 daily, of which no more than 7 may exceed 12" in length |
| 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. |
| Lake Concordia and D'Arbonne Lake | Whole water | No fish seines, gill nets or trammel nets. |
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.
Top LOWA entries naming D'Arbonne Lake
| Species | Division | Weight | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASS, YELLOW | Rod & Reel | 2.67 lb | Eddie Halbrook | January 2014 |
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association state fish records (rank 1 entries; LDWF keeps no record list), retrieved October 28, 2026. All Louisiana records.
Tournament days on D'Arbonne Lake
The D'Arbonne Lake tournament page gathers trail dates and results from the organizers.
Neighbouring lakes and D'Arbonne Lake in one table
Size leader among these neighbours: Cheniere Lake, 3,115 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D'Arbonne Lake | 15,000 | 8.5 ft | 12 | 3 | |
| Finch Lake | 22 miles east | 586 | 1 | 0 | |
| Cheniere Lake | 25 miles southeast | 3,115 | 4.9 ft | 7 | 0 |
| Black Bayou Lake (Ouachita Parish) | 26 miles southeast | 800 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex | 27 miles southeast | 800 | 14 ft | 4 | 0 |
| Bussey Brake Lake | 30 miles east | 2,200 | 11 ft | 1 | 1 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
What else is close to D'Arbonne Lake
Louisiana still water close to D'Arbonne Lake
- Finch Lake22 miles east
- Cheniere Lake25 miles southeast
- Black Bayou Lake (Ouachita Parish)26 miles southeast
- Bartholomew, Desiard and Black Bayou Complex27 miles southeast
- Bussey Brake Lake30 miles east
Stores that stock up D'Arbonne Lake anglers
- Toledo Tackle, 5129 Cypress Stbait and tackle shop, West Monroe, 23 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors West Monroesporting goods store, West Monroe, 25 miles
- Buoys Anchor Point Marinamarina, Farmerville
Towns handy to D'Arbonne Lake
- Farmerville2 miles
- Bernice13 miles
- Ruston20 miles
Parish-by-parish pages for D'Arbonne Lake
- Union Parishseat: Farmerville
- Lincoln Parishseat: Ruston
Piscifun casting and spinning gear packed for D'Arbonne Lake
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Lakes and bayous close to D'Arbonne Lake, pictured
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answers for a trip to D'Arbonne Lake
Which parish is D'Arbonne Lake in?
Head to Union and Lincoln parishes, about 2 miles from Farmerville.
What acreage does LDWF list for D'Arbonne Lake?
LDWF lists 15,000 acres.
Can I trailer a bass boat onto D'Arbonne Lake?
LDWF lists 12 launches (12 public); D'Arbonne State Park is one.
Does D'Arbonne Lake hold bass and sac-a-lait?
Popular catches: white crappie, bluegill, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish and yellow bass.
Which 2026 Louisiana rules apply on D'Arbonne Lake?
Black bass (largemouth and spotted): 10 daily; Open year-round. Check the exception table above as well.
What does LDWF charge for a license to fish D'Arbonne Lake?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
How deep does LDWF say D'Arbonne Lake is?
Its average depth is near 8.5 feet by LDWF.
Which shop on our list serves D'Arbonne Lake?
Try Toledo Tackle, about 23 miles away, for live bait and ice.
Has LDWF sunk artificial reefs in D'Arbonne Lake?
3 sites, each with depth and material above.
Is D'Arbonne Lake low today?
The level band shows the newest reading with its agency and date (USGS).
Which LOWA record traces to D'Arbonne Lake?
BASS, YELLOW, 2.67 lb, by Eddie Halbrook (January 2014).
Does LDWF stock D'Arbonne Lake?
Latest on file: Florida Bass, 300,400 fingerlings, 2025.
Get the bay boat or bass boat to D'Arbonne Lake soon
Read the limits, then choose the launch nearest your target water.