Lake Bruin Fishing
A 2,842-acre Louisiana lake in Tensas Parish.
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First facts on Lake Bruin from LDWF
By the LDWF size figure, Lake Bruin spreads across 2,842 acres of Tensas Parish. Average depth: near 15 feet in the LDWF text. Tallulah lies some 30 miles from the outline point.
LDWF tallies 2 launches, with 1 listed as public. 5 reef sites of brush, pallets or concrete sit on its bottom. LDWF names it in 1 water-body exception. LDWF handles it from District 2.
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.
The LDWF popular-species line for Lake Bruin
LDWF biologists rate these as the main catch at Lake Bruin: Very good for largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, channel and flathead catfish; stocked hybrid striped bass.
How biologists say to work Lake Bruin
Largemouth bass: around cypress trees and piers, best on crankbaits and worms; crappie: ends of deep piers and artificial reefs on jigs; hybrid stripers: near artificial reefs on deep crankbaits, also caught around lighted piers at night
Cover worth casting to in Lake Bruin
Cypress trees and piers around entire 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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Below: 5 reef sites LDWF placed at Lake Bruin, with what each was built from.
| Reef | Deployed | Depth | Material | Target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island | 2017 | 12-20 ft | Feed pallet trees | Crappie, Sunfish |
| State Park | 2017 | 14-22 ft | Feed pallet trees | Crappie, Sunfish |
| Osceola | 2017 | 16-24 ft | Feed pallet trees | Crappie, Sunfish |
| Wellhead | 2017 | 16-18 ft | Feed pallet trees | Crappie, Sunfish |
| Pumping Station | 1/10/2019 | 15 – 25 ft | 6 pvc gas pipe structures | crappie, sunfish |
LDWF Freshwater Artificial Reefs layer (deployment, depth, material and target species as published), retrieved October 28, 2026.
LDWF-listed launches on Lake Bruin
- Bruin State Park2-lane concrete ramp, public, Public – State Park
- Netterville's Boat Launch and Cabins on Lake Bruin1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
LDWF on shoreline access: Pier at state park
Nearby launches when Lake Bruin is busy
- North end of lake in Newellton on Lake St. JosephLake St. Joseph, 7 miles north
- Yucatan LandingYucatan Lake, 7 miles north
- Saddletree launchSaddletree Lake, 10 miles west
- Marydale launchLake Marydale, 13 miles west
- Hopaka launchHopaka Lake, 14 miles west
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
What hatcheries stocked in Lake Bruin
LDWF hatcheries report these releases into Lake Bruin.
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 20,000 fingerlings, 2025 (Stocked January-June 2025.)
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 20,200 fingerlings, 2024 (Stocked January-June 2024.)
- Hybrid Striped BassHybrid Striped Bass, 6,700 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.
What may go in the ice chest at Lake Bruin
| 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 |
Begin with the statewide freshwater table for Lake Bruin; pamphlet exceptions take priority.
Where the pamphlet singles out Lake Bruin
| 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.
Clubs and trails that weigh in on Lake Bruin
Upcoming Lake Bruin events and past weigh-ins are listed on their own page.
Lake Bruin and five nearby lakes
Anglers wanting a bigger lake can run to Yucatan Lake, 2,525 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Bruin | 2,842 | 15 ft | 2 | 5 | |
| Lake St. Joseph | 5 miles north | 1,000 | 2.5 ft | 1 | 0 |
| Yucatan Lake | 6 miles north | 2,525 | 1 | 0 | |
| Lake St. John | 24 miles southwest | 2,100 | 10 ft | 3 | 3 |
| Lake Concordia | 30 miles southwest | 1,100 | 20 ft | 4 | 0 |
| Lake Louis | 31 miles southwest | 1,000 | 25 ft | 2 | 0 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Shops, towns and water by Lake Bruin
Neighbouring lakes to Lake Bruin
- Lake St. Joseph5 miles north
- Yucatan Lake6 miles north
- Lake St. John24 miles southwest
- Lake Concordia30 miles southwest
- Lake Louis31 miles southwest
Louisiana overnight bases for Lake Bruin
- Tallulah30 miles
- Ferriday32 miles
- Vidalia32 miles
Parish pages that list Lake Bruin
- Tensas Parishseat: St. Joseph
Reels and line from Piscifun ahead of Lake Bruin
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Fish to recognise before a trip to Lake Bruin
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: moxostoma, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Prof. emerit. Dr. Hans Schneider ( Geyersberg ), CC BY-SA 3.0
What first-timers on Lake Bruin want to know
Where in Louisiana is Lake Bruin?
The outline sits in Tensas Parish, about 30 miles from Tallulah.
How many acres does LDWF credit to Lake Bruin?
Roughly 2,842 acres.
Where is the closest launch to Lake Bruin?
Yes: LDWF lists 2 launches, Bruin State Park among them.
Which gamefish does LDWF credit to Lake Bruin?
LDWF names largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill, flathead catfish, hybrid striped bass and channel catfish.
Is there a size limit at Lake Bruin?
Black bass (largemouth and spotted): 10 daily; Open year-round. Its own pamphlet rules sit in the limits band.
Can a visitor from Texas fish Lake Bruin?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
What is the average depth of Lake Bruin?
LDWF lists roughly 15 feet as the average.
Where can I pick up shiners near Lake Bruin?
Buy bait before the drive; no listed shop is close.
Has LDWF added fish cover to Lake Bruin?
Yes: 5 sites on the LDWF freshwater reef layer.
Were Florida bass put in Lake Bruin?
The stocking band shows Florida Bass, 20,000 fingerlings, 2025.
Spend a Louisiana weekend on Lake Bruin
Buy the Louisiana license online before you go.