Toledo Bend Reservoir Fishing
A 181,600-acre Louisiana reservoir in Sabine and De Soto parishes, shared with Texas.
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What LDWF records about Toledo Bend Reservoir
Wildlife and Fisheries rates Toledo Bend Reservoir at 181,600 acres; it sits in Sabine and De Soto parishes. Being a Texas border water, it puts near 99% of its outline inside Louisiana. Expect an average of roughly 24 feet of water. The nearest town is Zwolle, roughly 10 miles out.
LDWF records 49 launches here, 14 open to the public. Anglers without a boat get 9 pier and bank sites. LDWF has placed 35 freshwater reefs in it. The 2026 rules list 7 water-body exceptions here. The LDWF office for it: 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.
What lands in the boat on Toledo Bend Reservoir
LDWF names these as the popular fish of Toledo Bend Reservoir: Largemouth and white bass, black and white crappie, bluegill, redear, blue, channel, and flathead catfish.
Working Toledo Bend Reservoir through the seasons
Bass: year-round, sight-fishing in spring, structure and brush piles in summer, fall, and winter, jigs, crankbaits, soft plastics, Carolina rigs, and spinnerbaits; crappie: brush piles, artificial reefs, and bridge pilings with shiners and artificial jig
Where structure sits in Toledo Bend Reservoir
Highly developed shoreline with houses, camps, businesses; submerged aquatic weeds and stumps on southern end; old creek or river channels on northern end
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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The 35 LDWF reef sites at Toledo Bend Reservoir appear below with their depth and material.
| Reef | Deployed | Depth | Material | Target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spillway Experimental Reef | 8/1/2003 | 10-16 ft | 40 feed pallet trees located on an underwater hump along south side of spillway channel | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Megastructure #1 | 8/25/2007 | 17-18 ft | large one-piece strucutre made from 1.25 inch PVC pipe. The stucture holds 400 … | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| South Toledo Bend State Park Reef #1 | 8/1/2004 | 10-20ft | 50 feed pallet trees located on sloping point. | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| South Toledo Bend State Park Reef #2 | 8/1/2004 | 10-20 ft | 50 feed pallet trees located in the middle of cove | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Eagle Scout Reef | 8/1/2004 | 12-20 ft | 50 feed pallet trees located on sloping point. | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Pirate's Cove Reef #1 | 8/10/2009 | 17-18 ft | (2) 10 foot sections of 36-inch diameter PVC pipe. Each section has 1.5 inch … | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Negreet Cove #1 | 8/12/2009 | 17-18 ft | (2) 10 foot sections of 36-inch diameter PVC pipe. Each section has 1.5 inch … | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Megastructure #2 | 8/25/2010 | 16-18 ft | large one-piece strucutre made from 1.25 inch PVC pipe. The stucture holds 400 … | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Cypress Bend Fishing Pier | 7/2/2018 | 10-14 ft | Commercial product that looks like kelp. | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Twin Island Reef | 8/12/2009 | 16-17 | (2) 10 foot sectiosn of 36-inch diameter PVC pipe. Each section has 1.5 inch … | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Louisiana end of Pendleton Bridge Piling numbers 2-12 | 8/25/2006 | 14-24 ft | 20 feed pallet trees clustered around base of each set of pilings. | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| Louisiana end of Pendleton Bridge Piling number 13 | 8/15/2010 | 14-24 ft | (2) 10 foot sectiosn of 36-inch diameter PVC pipe. Each section has 1.5 inch … | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| North Toledo Bend State Park Reef #1 | 8/1/2005 | 14-24ft | 100 feed pallet trees located along slop of an underwater ridge. | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
| North Toledo Bend State Park Reef #2 | 8/1/2005 | 14-24ft | 68 feed pallet trees located along slop of an uderwater ridge. | Crappie, Sunfish and Bass |
LDWF Freshwater Artificial Reefs layer (deployment, depth, material and target species as published), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Bass boats in the water at Toledo Bend Reservoir
- A-1 Camp on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Bar-B Campground on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, Private; registered guests only
- Bass Haven launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Big Bass Marina on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Blue Lake Boat Launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
- Bridge Bay Resort on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, Private; registered guests only
- Buckeye Landing on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Circle Drive Landing on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Cozy Point on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Dreamcatcher RV Camp on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, Private; registered guests only
- Driftwood launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Fisherman's Wharf on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Garrett Park on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
- Grace's Landing on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Griffin's Lodge launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, Private; residents and guests only
- Holly Point Marina on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Hot Wells Ramp on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane dirt ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
- Jimmy Bison's Fish Camp on Toledo Bend Reservoirboat launch private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Jolly Roger Marina on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Kites Landing on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Lanan Bridge Ramp on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane dirt ramp, public
- Lanan Landing on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Logansport Boat Launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
- Matthew's Lakeview Lodge on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, Private; residents and guests only
- North Toledo Bend State Park2-lane concrete ramp, public, fee, Public; park entrance fee required
- Ol' Yellow launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Pendleton Bridge Resort on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Pirates Cove Marina on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Rebecca's launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- SRA Parksite 11, Cypress Bend on Toledo Bend Reservoir6-lane concrete ramp, public, fee, Public; park entrance fee required
- SRA Parksite 15, Pleasure Point on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, public, fee, Public; park entrance fee required
- SRA Parksite 2, Oak Ridge Park on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, public, fee, Public; park entrance fee required
- SRA Parksite 3-A on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane dirt ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
- SRA Parksite 4, Converse Bay on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, public, no fee, Public; free launch
- SRA Parksite 7-A, San Miguel Park on Toledo Bend Reservoir2-lane concrete ramp, public, fee, Public; park entrance fee required
- Sepulvado's Landing on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Shadow's Landing on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Solan's Camp on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- South Toledo Bend State Park2-lane concrete ramp, public, fee, Public; park entrance fee required
- Southern Leisure launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir1-lane concrete ramp, private, Private; residents and guests only
Bank casting on LDWF ground at Toledo Bend Reservoir
- Logansport City Park (Sabine River) on Toledo Bend Reservoirbank fishing, Bank access
- Toledeo Bend Oak Ridge Recreation Area on Toledo Bend Reservoirfishing site, Restrooms
- Toledo Bend Reservoir Parksite 4bank fishing, Bank access
- Fishing Pier Clyde's Crossing (SBRA) on Toledo Bend Reservoirfishing pier, Pier
- Bayou San Patricio Fishing Pier on Toledo Bend Reservoirfishing pier, Roadside pier, parking
- San Miguel Park (SBRA) on Toledo Bend Reservoirbank fishing, Bank access, boat house, fish cleaning station, restrooms
- Cypress Bend Park on Toledo Bend Reservoirfishing pier, Pier, bank access, restrooms
- Pleasure Point on Toledo Bend Reservoirbank fishing, Bank access, restrooms
- South Toledo Bend State Parkfishing pier, Pier, bank access, fish cleaning station, restrooms
LDWF lists this bank access: Access at all SRA parks, North and South Toledo Bend State Parks, bridges on LA Hwy 191, 1215, and 6; piers at Cypress Bend Park, San Miguel Park, Clyde’s Crossing, and main SRA office; sand and gravel bed for sunfish at Clyde's Crossing
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
How much water is in Toledo Bend Reservoir
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo Bd Res Nr Burkeville, Tx | 167.74 ft lake elevation | Oct 31 7:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 31, 2026 7:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The Toledo Bend Reservoir panel holds the newest reading we have, dated.
Recent LDWF stockings at Toledo Bend Reservoir
LDWF stocking rows naming Toledo Bend Reservoir:
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 499,400 fingerlings, 2025 (Stocked January-June 2025.)
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 620,000 fingerlings, 2024 (Stocked January-June 2024.)
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 41,900 fingerlings, 2024 (Stocked January-June 2024. Surplus stocking (* in table).)
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.
Daily creel at Toledo Bend 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 |
Read the statewide rows for Toledo Bend Reservoir first, then any water-body rule.
Exceptions to the statewide rows at Toledo Bend Reservoir
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo Bend Reservoir and the Sabine River above Toledo Bend | Black bass: Sabine River upstream from Toledo Bend Reservoir to the point at which the entire river enters TX (state line is marked with a sign). | 14" MLL for Largemouth Bass; no MLL for Spotted Bass; 8 daily in combination or aggregate |
| Toledo Bend Reservoir | Crappie: Whole water | no size limit; 25 daily; 100 fish possession limit |
| Caddo Lake, Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir | White bass: Whole water | no size limit; 25 daily |
| Caddo Lake, Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir | Yellow bass: Whole water | no size limit; No limit |
| Caddo Lake, Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir | Blue and channel catfish: Whole water | Blue & Channel Catfish: None; 50 daily in the aggregate; no more than five over 30" total length |
| Caddo Lake, Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir | Flathead catfish: Whole water | Flathead Catfish: 18" MLL; 10 daily |
| Toledo Bend Reservoir | Whole water | No gill nets, trammel nets, flag webbing or fish seines. No hoop nets from March 1 to May 15 (only in that portion of the reservoir from a point north of Logansport where the lake enters Texas and south to a point on the lake where the Texas Duck Refuge Canal |
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 and Texas residents who hold resident licenses from their resident state or who are exempted from holding resident licenses in their state may fish the border waters between Texas and Louisiana without additional licenses.
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.
Record-book catches from Toledo Bend Reservoir
| Species | Division | Weight | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASS, STRIPED | Rod & Reel | 47.50 lb | James L. Taylor | August. 1991 |
| BUFFALO, SMALLMOUTH | Rod & Reel | 45.00 lb | Glenn Curtis | November 2019 |
| BOWFIN (Choupique) | Rod & Reel | 20.50 lb | Brian Fant | April 1976 |
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association state fish records (rank 1 entries; LDWF keeps no record list), retrieved October 28, 2026. All Louisiana records.
Bass trails and club events at Toledo Bend Reservoir
Trail stops and results for Toledo Bend Reservoir are kept together on one page.
How Toledo Bend Reservoir measures up against its neighbours
Of the five nearest Louisiana lakes with pages, Vernon Lake is the largest at 4,200 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo Bend Reservoir | 181,600 | 24 ft | 49 | 35 | |
| Hodges Garden | 24 miles southeast | 215 | 20 ft | 0 | 0 |
| Vernon Lake | 33 miles southeast | 4,200 | 23 ft | 8 | 2 |
| Anacoco Lake | 37 miles southeast | 2,600 | 9.2 ft | 4 | 5 |
| Sibley Lake | 41 miles east | 2,175 | 7 ft | 3 | 8 |
| Clear Lake and Smithport Lakes | 43 miles north | 3,028 | 4 ft | 1 | 0 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Within a short run of Toledo Bend Reservoir
Other LDWF lakes near Toledo Bend Reservoir
- Hodges Garden24 miles southeast
- Vernon Lake33 miles southeast
- Anacoco Lake37 miles southeast
- Sibley Lake41 miles east
- Clear Lake and Smithport Lakes43 miles north
Bait shops along the drive to Toledo Bend Reservoir
- Cowboy Outdoors Incbait and tackle shop, Many, 7 miles
- A & A Bait Shop, 936 S Main Stbait and tackle shop, Zwolle, 9 miles
- B J's Grocery & Baitbait and tackle shop, Many, 13 miles
- Blue Bird Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Mansfield
- Circle Drive Landingbait and tackle shop, Mansfield
- Fishing Frenzy Tackle & Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Stonewall
Who guides on Toledo Bend Reservoir
- Toledo Bend Guide Service – Hook Em' Upfishing guide, Zwolle, (225) 772-3525
Louisiana towns with a room near Toledo Bend Reservoir
- Zwolle10 miles
- Many17 miles
- Logansport33 miles
Which parishes take in Toledo Bend Reservoir
- Sabine Parishseat: Many
- De Soto Parishseat: Mansfield
Piscifun gear lined up for the bayou run to Toledo Bend Reservoir
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Cypress, marsh and open water by Toledo Bend Reservoir, in photos
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Photo: US Forest Service – Southern Region, Public domain
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Photo: Paredamarilla, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Toledo Bend Reservoir: questions a Louisiana angler asks before launching
Which Louisiana town is nearest Toledo Bend Reservoir?
LDWF maps it in Sabine and De Soto parishes, about 10 miles from Zwolle.
Is Toledo Bend Reservoir a big lake for Louisiana?
Some 181,600 acres, with about 99% of the outline in Louisiana.
How many LDWF-listed launches reach Toledo Bend Reservoir?
49 launches on the LDWF list; Blue Lake Boat Launch on Toledo Bend Reservoir makes a good first stop.
What is biting on Toledo Bend Reservoir, according to LDWF?
Count on largemouth bass, white bass, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, flathead catfish and striped bass at the top of the LDWF list.
How many bass go in the ice chest at Toledo Bend Reservoir?
Black bass (largemouth and spotted): 10 daily; Open year-round. LDWF adds a line of its own for it in the limits band.
What does a nonresident buy for Toledo Bend Reservoir?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents. Louisiana and Texas residents who hold resident licenses from their resident state or who are exempted from holding resident licenses in their state may fish the border waters between Texas and Louisiana without additional licenses.
Does LDWF publish a depth for Toledo Bend Reservoir?
LDWF gives an average depth of about 24 feet; maximum depth is not published.
Where do Toledo Bend Reservoir regulars fill the bait bucket?
Cowboy Outdoors Inc, about 7 miles away, tops our Louisiana shop list.
How many reefs are in Toledo Bend Reservoir?
Yes, 35 LDWF reef sites, tabled and mapped above.
Which agency posts the level of Toledo Bend Reservoir?
Check the level band; the source is USGS.
Which Louisiana record names Toledo Bend Reservoir?
BASS, STRIPED, 47.50 lb, by James L. Taylor (August. 1991).
Which fish go into Toledo Bend Reservoir from hatcheries?
Yes; LDWF lists Florida Bass, 499,400 fingerlings, 2025.
Block out a Saturday for Toledo Bend Reservoir
Fees, seasons and exceptions are on the license page.