Lake Claiborne Fishing
A 6,400-acre Louisiana lake in Claiborne Parish.
Pick for hybrid striped bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sizing up Lake Claiborne from the LDWF file
The LDWF management layer gives 6,400 acres for Lake Claiborne, a lake of Claiborne Parish. LDWF gives an average depth near 15.8 feet. Homer, about 6 miles away, is the nearest Census place.
Boaters can pick from 7 launches in the LDWF inventory (4 public). The Banks and Piers layer adds 2 pier and bank sites. There are 30 artificial reefs on the LDWF map. It carries 1 water-body exception of its own. LDWF lists District 1 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 1; 9961 Hwy 80, Minden, LA 71055; 318-371-5216.
Species LDWF ties to Lake Claiborne
At Lake Claiborne, LDWF calls out Excellent for hybrid striped bass; good for black and white crappie; fair for largemouth bass, bream, catfish.
Baits and timing on Lake Claiborne, per LDWF
Crappie: in deep water along main channel, school near dam in winter, use jigs and shiners with spider-rigging; bass: near docks, points, and drop-offs near main lake, in shallows in spring, night fishing around lighted piers in summer; hybrid striped ba
The cover LDWF describes in Lake Claiborne
Stumps and submerged timber; two artificial reef areas near state park
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.
For the hybrid striped bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Mapped reef sites on Lake Claiborne
LDWF lists 30 freshwater reef sites in or beside Lake Claiborne; target species and materials are as LDWF prints them.
| Reef | Deployed | Depth | Material | Target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Claiborne #1 | Jan. 2003 | 14-18 ft | Feed pallet trees | Crappie, Sunfish |
| Lake Claiborne #2 | Jan. 2003 | 14-18 ft | Feed pallet trees | Crappie, Sunfish |
| Lake Claiborne #3 | 4/25/2023 | 8' | MossBack Fish Habitats (root wads) | crappie and bass |
| Lake Claiborne #4 | 4/25/2023 | 10' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Trophy Trees) | crappie |
| Lake Claiborne #5 | 4/25/2023 | 14' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Trophy Trees) | crappie |
| Lake Claiborne #6 | 4/25/2023 | 12' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Trophy Trees) | crappie |
| Lake Claiborne #7 | 4/25/2023 | 8' | MossBack Fish Habitats (root wads) | Bream and Bass |
| Lake Claiborne #8 | 4/25/2023 | 8' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Conservation Cube) | Bream and Bass |
| Lake Claiborne #9 | 4/25/2023 | 8' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Conservation Cube) | Bream and Bass |
| Lake Claiborne #10 | 4/25/2023 | 8' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Conservation Cube) | Bream and Bass |
| Lake Claiborne #11 | 4/25/2023 | 6' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Conservation Cube) | Bream and Bass |
| Lake Claiborne #12 | 4/25/2023 | 6' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Conservation Cube) | Bream and Bass |
| Lake Claiborne #16 | 4/25/2023 | 6' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Conservation Cube) | Bream and Bass |
| Lake Claiborne #17 | 4/25/2023 | 6' | MossBack Fish Habitats (Conservation Cube) | Bream and Bass |
LDWF Freshwater Artificial Reefs layer (deployment, depth, material and target species as published), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Public and private launches around Lake Claiborne
- Arizona Landing on Lake Claiborne2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Lake Claiborne State Park1-lane concrete ramp, public, no fee, Public; park entrance free required
- Lake Claiborne State Park Campground Ramp1-lane concrete ramp, public, Public; registered campers only
- Lisbon Landing on Lake Claiborne2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Parden's Paradise launch on Lake Claiborne1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Pleasure Point on Lake Claiborne1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Port Au Prince launch on Lake Claiborne1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
Piers and cleared banks at Lake Claiborne
- Lake Claiborne Dambank fishing, Bank access
- Lake Claiborne Arizona Public Ramp Fishing Pierfishing pier, Fishing Pier
Shore access as LDWF describes it: Access at Lake Claiborne State Park
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
The latest level for Lake Claiborne
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Claiborne Near Aycock, La | 7.77 ft gage height, 183.77 ft lake elevation | Oct 31 6:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 31, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Match the date in the caption before trusting the Lake Claiborne figure.
Hatchery fish LDWF released in Lake Claiborne
What went into Lake Claiborne, per LDWF hatchery reports:
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 143,800 fingerlings, 2025 (Stocked January-June 2025.)
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 80,000 fingerlings, 2024 (Stocked January-June 2024.)
- Hybrid Striped BassHybrid Striped Bass, 16,100 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.
Legal keepers at Lake Claiborne
| 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 Lake Claiborne, statewide freshwater limits hold except where LDWF prints a change.
Pamphlet lines naming Lake Claiborne
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo Lake and Lake Claiborne | Whole water | No 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.
Lake Claiborne on the trail calendar
Every Lake Claiborne event we found, with its source, sits on one page.
Lake Claiborne beside the closest LDWF lakes
By the LDWF size figures, Lake Bistineau heads the list at 17,200 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Claiborne | 6,400 | 15.8 ft | 7 | 30 | |
| Caney Lakes | 21 miles west | 220 | 2 | 0 | |
| D'Arbonne Lake | 31 miles east | 15,000 | 8.5 ft | 12 | 3 |
| Kepler Creek Lake | 31 miles south | 1,925 | 8.7 ft | 3 | 0 |
| Ivan Lake | 32 miles west | 520 | 6.5 ft | 1 | 1 |
| Lake Bistineau | 32 miles southwest | 17,200 | 9 ft | 19 | 0 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Next Louisiana stops near Lake Claiborne
More lakes and brakes by Lake Claiborne
- Caney Lakes21 miles west
- D'Arbonne Lake31 miles east
- Kepler Creek Lake31 miles south
- Ivan Lake32 miles west
- Lake Bistineau32 miles southwest
Home bases for Lake Claiborne
- Homer6 miles
- Arcadia15 miles
- Haynesville17 miles
The parish pages for Lake Claiborne
- Claiborne Parishseat: Homer
Piscifun tackle a Sportsman's Paradise angler might load for Lake Claiborne
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling apart the fish of Lake Claiborne 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: Prof. emerit. Dr. Hans Schneider ( Geyersberg ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Settling the details of a day on Lake Claiborne
Which corner of the Pelican State holds Lake Claiborne?
It is in Claiborne Parish, about 6 miles from Homer.
What size does LDWF give Lake Claiborne?
Near 6,400 acres.
Where does a Louisiana bass boat go in at Lake Claiborne?
7 launches, including Arizona Landing on Lake Claiborne (4 public in all).
What fish does LDWF list for Lake Claiborne?
On the list: hybrid striped bass, white crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish.
Does Lake Claiborne 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 Lake Claiborne?
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 Lake Claiborne?
Near 15.8 feet on average, LDWF says.
Who sells shiners and crickets near Lake Claiborne?
Pack bait; nothing on our list is near.
Does Lake Claiborne have brush piles?
LDWF lists 30 reef sites.
How full is Lake Claiborne by the newest reading?
The level band pulls from USGS.
When did LDWF hatcheries last stock Lake Claiborne?
Yes, for example Florida Bass, 143,800 fingerlings, 2025.
Circle a Louisiana weekend for Lake Claiborne
Check the creel limit before a fish goes in the ice chest.