Henderson Lake Fishing
A 5,000-acre Louisiana lake in St. Landry and St. Martin parishes.
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The LDWF picture of Henderson Lake
In St. Landry and St. Martin parishes, Henderson Lake offers 5,000 acres of lake water by the LDWF count. On average it runs about 7 feet deep, LDWF says. Fuel and ice are closest in Henderson, near 7 miles away.
There are 12 launches on file with LDWF; 9 are public. Biologists work it out of District 9.
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 9; 2415 Darnall Rd, New Iberia, LA 70560; 337-262-2080.
Fish LDWF biologists name for Henderson Lake
The popular species LDWF lists for Henderson Lake: Largemouth and spotted bass, crappie, catfish, sunfish.
The LDWF playbook for Henderson Lake
Largemouth bass: along canals and bayous in spring and fall, jigs and spinnerbaits; crappie: spring and early summer, jigs and live bait (minnows); catfish and bream: under a cork around structure or pilings with live or artificial bait
Habitat notes for Henderson Lake
Cypress, willow, and cottonwood trees, stumps, logs, submerged vegetation, piers, duck blinds, pilings
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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- Atchafalaya Basin Landing on Henderson Lake1-lane concrete ramp, private
- Bayou Amy on Henderson Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Bayou Courtableau Landing on Henderson Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public
- Borrow Pit at Bayou Portage on Henderson Lake1-lane dirt ramp, public
- Dixie Pipeline Launch on Henderson Lakeboat launch public
- Grimmitt Canal launch on Henderson Lake1-lane dirt ramp, public
- Half Moon Bayou on Henderson Lake1-lane shell ramp, public
- Kern's Landing on Henderson Lake1-lane concrete ramp, private
- McGee's Landing on Henderson Lake2-lane concrete ramp, private
- Public Landing on Henderson Lake3-lane concrete ramp, public
- Two O'Clock Bayou on Henderson Lake1-lane shell ramp, public
- Uncle Dick Davis Park Landing on Henderson Lake1-lane concrete ramp, public
From the LDWF access note: Limited access near boat ramp under I-10 at Butte/La Rose exit and at Indian Bayou
If the Henderson Lake launch is crowded
- Bayou Portage GuidryBayou Portage, 5 miles west
- Big Alabama Bayou South Boat Launch on Atchafalaya BasinAtchafalaya Basin, 6 miles east
- Big Alabama South Landing on Atchafalaya BasinAtchafalaya Basin, 6 miles east
- Bobby Perry's Boat Launch on Atchafalaya BasinAtchafalaya Basin, 6 miles north
- Section 120 Launch on Atchafalaya BasinAtchafalaya Basin, 7 miles east
- Little Alabama Bayou Landing on Atchafalaya BasinAtchafalaya Basin, 8 miles north
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
LDWF hatchery releases into Henderson Lake
Henderson Lake received these LDWF releases:
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 50,300 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.
Creel and size limits for Henderson 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 |
Henderson Lake follows the statewide freshwater limits unless named below.
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.
Weigh-ins held on Henderson Lake
Organizer dates, launch sites and printed winning weights for Henderson Lake share one page.
Parish lakes near Henderson Lake, side by side
Atchafalaya Basin has the most water in this group, 833,000 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson Lake | 5,000 | 7 ft | 12 | 0 | |
| Atchafalaya Basin | 15 miles southeast | 833,000 | 40 | 0 | |
| Lake Martin | 16 miles southwest | 800 | 1 | 0 | |
| False River | 24 miles northeast | 3,212 | 21 ft | 8 | 17 |
| Fausse Point, Dauterive and Catahoula Complex | 24 miles south | 17,000 | 3 | 0 | |
| Spanish Lake | 25 miles south | 1,260 | 4.8 ft | 1 | 0 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
More of Louisiana near Henderson Lake
Lakes worth a look after Henderson Lake
- Atchafalaya Basin15 miles southeast
- Lake Martin16 miles southwest
- False River24 miles northeast
- Fausse Point, Dauterive and Catahoula Complex24 miles south
- Spanish Lake25 miles south
Louisiana bait stops around Henderson Lake
- Breaux's Crawfish & Crab Baitbait and tackle shop, Breaux Bridge, 7 miles
- Melancon Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Saint Martinville, 13 miles
- L & L Bait Grocerybait and tackle shop, Maringouin, 15 miles
- Cajun Bait Seasoningbait and tackle shop, Port Barre, 16 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Lafayette, 3001 Louisiana Avenuesporting goods store, Lafayette, 17 miles
- Wellbore Fishing & Rentalbait and tackle shop, Broussard, 21 miles
Where to stay for Henderson Lake
- Henderson7 miles
- Arnaudville10 miles
- Breaux Bridge12 miles
Parishes along Henderson Lake
- St. Landry Parishseat: Opelousas
- St. Martin Parishseat: St. Martinville
Bayou-tough Piscifun reels for a day on Henderson Lake
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A picture guide to fish at Henderson Lake
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
Photo: qfc79, CC BY 4.0
Before the drive to Henderson Lake, the common questions
What parish line does Henderson Lake sit on?
It lies in St. Landry and St. Martin parishes, about 7 miles from Henderson.
How much water does Henderson Lake spread across its parish?
About 5,000 acres.
Which launch should I use at Henderson Lake?
Use Bayou Amy on Henderson Lake, one of 12 launches.
Which species can I catch at Henderson Lake?
LDWF points to largemouth bass, spotted bass, white crappie, channel catfish and bluegill.
What creel does LDWF allow on Henderson Lake?
Black bass (largemouth and spotted): 10 daily; Open year-round.
Do I need a Louisiana license to fish Henderson Lake?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
How deep does Henderson Lake run on average?
About 7 feet on average, per LDWF; no maximum is printed.
Is there a bait stand on the way to Henderson Lake?
Breaux's Crawfish & Crab Bait, about 7 miles away, is the first bait counter on our Louisiana list.
Is Henderson Lake on the LDWF stocking list?
LDWF reports Florida Bass, 50,300 fingerlings, 2025.
Put Henderson Lake on the Sportsman's Paradise list
License prices and the statewide creel limits sit on one page.