Grand Bayou Reservoir Fishing
A 2,500-acre Louisiana reservoir in Red River Parish.
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Grand Bayou Reservoir at a glance for Louisiana anglers
Grand Bayou Reservoir spans 2,500 acres of reservoir water in Red River Parish, by the LDWF figure. Its average depth is about 10 feet, per LDWF. A run of about 5 miles reaches Coushatta, the closest town.
The LDWF launch inventory lists 1 launch, 1 of them public. There are 1 pier or bank site as well. Anglers can fish 3 LDWF reef sites. Read 2 water-body exceptions before keeping fish. Questions go to LDWF District 10.
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.
Bass, sac-a-lait and catfish on Grand Bayou Reservoir
Popular species on the LDWF record for Grand Bayou Reservoir: Largemouth bass (stocked), bluegill, redear, crappie.
Seasonal patterns LDWF gives for Grand Bayou Reservoir
Bass: trophy fish from Jan-Apr, crankbaits, Carolina rigs, and spinnerbaits along drains with vegetation during spawn, topwater lures, crankbaits, and soft plastics along points and drains adjacent to deep water after spawn, topwater, deep crankbaits, an
Stumps, grass and timber in Grand Bayou Reservoir
Submerged aquatic vegetation, occasional logs and stumps, shallow flats, old creek channels
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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LDWF reef crews left 3 sites at Grand Bayou Reservoir; each row gives depth, material and target fish.
| Reef | Deployed | Depth | Material | Target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Bayou Reservoir – Spillway Point | 8/20/2016 | 14-17ft | (30) 18 inch diameter PVC drain pipe cut into 3-4 foot stumps with 3/4 inch … | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Grand Bayou Stump Hump #1 | 6/6/2022 | 14 – 17 Ft | 9 Gas pipe structures (~1/4 acrea area & averaging 6 ft tall), with Sweet Gum … | Crappie and Bass |
| Grand Bayou Stump Hump #2 | 6/6/2022 | 14 – 17 Ft | 8 Gas pipe structures (~1/4 acrea area & averaging 6 ft tall), with Sweet Gum … | Crappie and Bass |
LDWF Freshwater Artificial Reefs layer (deployment, depth, material and target species as published), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Backing a trailer down at Grand Bayou Reservoir
- Grand Bayou Resort2-lane concrete ramp, public, fee, Public; park entrance fee required
Fishing Grand Bayou Reservoir on foot
- Grand Bayou Resortfishing pier, Piers, bank access, restrooms
Bank access, in the LDWF words: Two piers at Grand Bayou Resort; access along Hwy 784 near bridge
More LDWF launches a short tow from Grand Bayou Reservoir
- Red Oak Lake Recreation AreaRed River, 5 miles south
- Coushatta Recreation Area on Red RiverRed River, 5 miles west
- Dixon's Camp on Black Lake and Clear LakeBlack Lake and Clear Lake, 9 miles southeast
- Black Lake Lodge on Black Lake and Clear LakeBlack Lake and Clear Lake, 13 miles east
- Chandler's Camp on Black Lake and Clear LakeBlack Lake and Clear Lake, 13 miles east
- Westwind Ramp on Black Lake and Clear LakeBlack Lake and Clear Lake, 14 miles east
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Pool stage on Grand Bayou Reservoir
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Bayou Reservoir At Spillway Nr Coushatta, La | 40.18 ft gage height, 133.55 ft lake elevation | Oct 31 7:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 31, 2026 8:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Every Grand Bayou Reservoir reading names its agency and date.
The LDWF stocking file for Grand Bayou Reservoir
Releases LDWF lists for Grand Bayou Reservoir:
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 36,000 fingerlings, 2025 (Stocked January-June 2025.)
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 30,000 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 Grand Bayou Reservoir
| 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 Grand Bayou Reservoir, with any listed exception on top.
Water-body rules LDWF prints for Grand Bayou Reservoir
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| John K. Kelly-Grand Bayou Reservoir (Red River Parish) | Black bass: Whole water | 14-17" protected SL; 8 daily; no more than four over 17" total length |
| John J. Kelly-Grand Bayou Reservoir | Whole water | No fish seines, gill nets, hoop nets, trammel nets or wire 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.
Competitive fishing at Grand Bayou Reservoir
For Grand Bayou Reservoir schedules and winners, open the tournament page.
Comparing Grand Bayou Reservoir with nearby Louisiana lakes
The biggest lake in the table is Black Lake and Clear Lake with 13,800 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Bayou Reservoir | 2,500 | 10 ft | 1 | 3 | |
| Black Lake and Clear Lake | 16 miles southeast | 13,800 | 8 ft | 7 | 0 |
| Mill Creek Reservoir | 18 miles northeast | 560 | 10.6 ft | 1 | 0 |
| Sibley Lake | 19 miles southeast | 2,175 | 7 ft | 3 | 8 |
| Clear Lake and Smithport Lakes | 22 miles northwest | 3,028 | 4 ft | 1 | 0 |
| Cane River Lake | 22 miles southeast | 1,350 | 8.9 ft | 4 | 0 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
The parish country around Grand Bayou Reservoir
Louisiana lakes a short drive from Grand Bayou Reservoir
- Black Lake and Clear Lake16 miles southeast
- Mill Creek Reservoir18 miles northeast
- Sibley Lake19 miles southeast
- Clear Lake and Smithport Lakes22 miles northwest
- Cane River Lake22 miles southeast
Louisiana tackle counters close to Grand Bayou Reservoir
- Bayou Outdoors Incbait and tackle shop, Natchitoches, 21 miles
Places to sleep near Grand Bayou Reservoir
- Coushatta5 miles
- Natchitoches21 miles
- Ringgold22 miles
Parish guides covering Grand Bayou Reservoir
- Red River Parishseat: Coushatta
A Piscifun outfit to take down to Grand Bayou Reservoir
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Pictures of fishing water by Grand Bayou Reservoir
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michael McCarthy (msm62166), CC BY 2.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions people ask LDWF about Grand Bayou Reservoir, answered here
How do I spot Grand Bayou Reservoir on a parish map?
Look in Red River Parish, about 5 miles from Coushatta.
How big is Grand Bayou Reservoir by the LDWF figure?
2,500 acres by the LDWF size field.
Is there a public launch on Grand Bayou Reservoir?
1 launch in the LDWF inventory; try Grand Bayou Resort.
What does LDWF say anglers catch at Grand Bayou Reservoir?
largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and white crappie, by LDWF and the records.
Which pamphlet rules reach Grand Bayou Reservoir?
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 Grand Bayou Reservoir?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
Is Grand Bayou Reservoir a shallow lake?
Average about 10 feet; LDWF prints no deepest point.
Which tackle counter on our Louisiana list sits nearest Grand Bayou Reservoir?
Bayou Outdoors Inc is the nearest tackle stop we list, about 21 miles away.
Where did LDWF put reefs in Grand Bayou Reservoir?
The reef band maps 3 sites.
What is the pool stage on Grand Bayou Reservoir today?
USGS reports it; the figure is in the level band.
What has LDWF stocked in Grand Bayou Reservoir?
Hatchery rows include Florida Bass, 36,000 fingerlings, 2025.
Take the back roads to Grand Bayou Reservoir
Every Louisiana fee and creel limit is one click away.