Louisiana reference
Pick for largemouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 $129.99
Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers
The protected stream segments of the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System, with river pages and limits.
Pick for largemouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Bogue Chitto: michael_miceli, CC BY-SA 2.0
The system
What a Louisiana Natural and Scenic River designation means
The Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System protects named stream segments from channelization, clearing and other alterations; LDWF describes each segment and its limits. This page matches 49 designated streams to river and bayou pages here, from the Abita River in St. Tammany Parish to Bayou Bartholomew on the Arkansas line. Fishing on them follows the statewide freshwater rows.
49scenic streams
49with pages
39parishes
2,487 mimain-channel length (NHD)
LDWF scenic rivers descriptions and map; lengths from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset; read October 28, 2026.
The list
Every Louisiana Natural and Scenic River segment matched here
| Stream | LDWF name | Segment as described | Parishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abita Creek | Abita River | in St. Tammany Parish: from its headwaters to its entrance into the Bogue Falaya River | St. Tammany Parish |
| Amite River | Amite River | (East Feliciana and St. Helena Parishes): from the Louisiana-Mississippi state line to LA Hwy 37 | Livingston Parish and 4 other parishes |
| Barnes Creek | Barnes Creek | from LA Hwy 27 to the Calcasieu River in Allen and Beauregard Parishes | Beauregard Parish and 2 other parishes |
| Bayou Bartholomew | Bayou Bartholomew | (Morehouse Parish): from the Louisiana-Arkansas state line to Dead Bayou | Morehouse and Ouachita parishes |
| Bayou Bienvenue | Bayou Bienvenue | (Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes): from Bayou Villere to Lake Borgne | Orleans and St. Bernard parishes |
| Bayou Chinchuba | Bayou Chinchuba | (St. Tammany Parish): from the West Causeway approach south to Lake Pontchartrain | St. Tammany Parish |
| Bayou Cocodrie (Concordia Parish) | Bayou Cocodrie | (Concordia Parish): from Wild Cow Bayou to Little Cross Bayou | Concordia Parish |
| Bayou Cocodrie (Evangeline Parish) | Bayou Cocodrie | (Rapides and Evangeline Parishes): from US Hwy 167 to the Bayou Boeuf-Cocodrie Diversion Canal | Evangeline Parish and 2 other parishes |
| Bayou D'Arbonne | Bayou D'Arbonne | (Union and Ouachita Parishes): from the Lake D'Arbonne dam to its entrance into the Ouachita River | Claiborne Parish and 3 other parishes |
| Bayou Dorcheat | Dorcheat (Dauchite) Bayou | (Webster Parish): from the Arkansas state line to the bayou’s entrance into Lake Bistineau | Webster Parish |
| Bayou La Branche | Bayou La Branche | (St. Charles Parish): from its source to where it drains into Lake Pontchartrain | St. Charles Parish |
| Bayou Pirogue | Pirogue Bayou | (St. Bernard Parish): from Bayou Dupre to New Canal | St. James Parish |
| Bayou Trepagnier | Bayou Trepagnier | (St. Charles Parish): from Norco to where the bayou joins Bayou La Branche | St. Charles Parish |
| Bayou des Allemands | Bayou Des Allemands | (Lafourche and St. Charles Parishes): from Lac Des Allemands to Lake Salvador | St. Charles and Lafourche parishes |
| Beckwith Creek | Beckwith Creek | from its headwaters to the west fork of the Calcasieu River in Beauregard and Calcasieu Parishes | Beauregard and Calcasieu parishes |
| Big Creek (Grant Parish) | Big Creek | (Grant Parish): from Hwy 167 to the creek’s entrance into Little River | Grant Parish |
| Black Lake Bayou (Bienville Parish) | Black Lake Bayou | (Red River, Winn and Bienville Parishes): from the Webster-Bienville parish line to Black Lake in Natchitoches Parish | Bienville Parish and 4 other parishes |
| Blind River | Blind River | (St. James, Ascension, Livingston, and St. John Parishes): from its origin in St. James Parish to its entrance into Lake Maurepas | St. James Parish and 3 other parishes |
| Bogue Chitto | Bogue Chitto River | (Washington and St. Tammany Parishes): from the Louisiana-Mississippi state line to the river’s entrance into the Pearl River Navigation Canal | Washington and St. Tammany parishes |
| Bogue Falaya | Bogue Falaya River | (St. Tammany Parish): from its headwaters to LA Hwy 437 in St. Tammany Parish | St. Tammany and Washington parishes |
| Bradley Slough | Bradley Slough | (St. Tammany Parish): all of that portion of the slough within the boundaries of St. Tammany Parish | St. Tammany Parish |
| Calcasieu River | Calcasieu River | (Vernon and Rapides Parishes): from LA Hwy 8 east through Vernon Parish and all of that portion of the river within the boundaries of Rapides Parish | Vernon Parish and 5 other parishes |
| Cane Bayou | Bayou Cane | (St. Tammany Parish): from its head waters to Lake Pontchartrain | St. Tammany Parish |
| Comite River | Comite River | (East Feliciana and East Baton Rouge Parishes): from the Wilson-Clinton Hwy (Hwy 10) in East Feliciana Parish to the entrance of White Bayou in East Baton Rouge Parish | East Feliciana Parish and 2 other parishes |
| Corney Bayou | Corney Bayou | (Claiborne and Union Parishes): from the Louisiana-Arkansas state line to Corney Lake and Corney Lake Dam to Lake D'Arbonne | Claiborne and Union parishes |
| Drakes Creek | Drake's Creek | (Vernon Parish): from Lookout Road to the creek’s confluence with Whiskey (Ouiska) Chitto Creek in Vernon Parish | Vernon Parish |
| Fish Creek | Fish Creek | (Grant Parish): from its origin near Williana to its entrance into Little River | Grant Parish |
| Hickory Branch | Hickory Branch | (Beauregard and Calcasieu Parishes): from its headwaters to the west fork of the Calcasieu River | Beauregard and Calcasieu parishes |
| Holmes Bayou | Holmes Bayou | (St. Tammany Parish): all of that portion of the bayou within the boundaries of St. Tammany Parish | St. Tammany Parish |
| Kisatchie Bayou | Bayou Kisatchie | (Natchitoches Parish): from its entrance into Kisatchie National Forest to its entrance into Old River | Natchitoches and Sabine parishes |
| Lacombe Bayou | Bayou LaCombe | (St. Tammany Parish): from its headwaters to Lake Pontchartrain | St. Tammany Parish |
| Liberty Bayou | Bayou Liberty | (St. Tammany Parish): from its designation at Horseshoe Island Road to Bayou Bonfouca | St. Tammany Parish |
| Little River | Little River | (Rapides, Grant, and LaSalle Parishes): from the juncture of Dugdemona and Castor Creek to the river’s entrance into Catahoula Lake | LaSalle Parish and 3 other parishes |
| Middle Fork Bayou D'Arbonne | Middle Fork of Bayou D'Arbonne | (Claiborne, Lincoln, and Union Parishes): from its origin near LA Hwy 2 Alternate to Lake D'Arbonne | Claiborne Parish and 2 other parishes |
| Morgan Bayou | Morgan River | (St. Tammany Parish): from its juncture with the Porters River to its reentry into the West Pearl River | St. Tammany Parish |
| Ouachita River | Ouachita River | (Morehouse and Union Parishes): from the north bank of Bayou Bartholomew at its intersection with the Ouachita River to the Arkansas state line | Caldwell Parish and 4 other parishes |
| Pearl Creek | Pearl Creek | (Vernon Parish): from LA Hwy 111 to the creek’s entrance into the Sabine River | Vernon Parish |
| Pushepatapa Creek | Pushepatapa Creek | (Washington Parish): from where East Fork and West Fork join near the state line to where the creek breaks up prior to entering the Pearl River | Washington Parish |
| Saline Bayou (Bienville Parish) | Saline Bayou | (Bienville, Winn, and Natchitoches Parishes): from its origin near Arcadia to LA Hwy 156 in Winn Parish | Bienville Parish and 2 other parishes |
| Saline Bayou (Catahoula Parish) | Saline Bayou | (Catahoula and LaSalle Parishes): from Saline Lake to Larto Lake | Catahoula and LaSalle parishes |
| Sixmile Creek | Six Mile Creek | (Allen and Vernon Parishes): includes the East and West Forks and beginning at the boundary of Fort Polk Military Reservation (Lookout Road) and extending south through Vernon and Allen parishes to the creek’s entrance into Whiskey (Ouiska) Chitto Creek | Vernon and Allen parishes |
| Spring Creek | Spring Creek | (Rapides Parish): from Otis to Cocodrie Lake in Rapides Parish | Rapides Parish |
| Tangipahoa River | Tangipahoa River | (Tangipahoa Parish): from the Louisiana-Mississippi state line to the river’s entrance into Lake Pontchartrain | Tangipahoa Parish |
| Tchefuncte River | Tchefuncte River and its tributaries | (Washington, Tangipahoa, and St. Tammany Parishes): from its origin in Tangipahoa Parish to its juncture with the Bogue Falaya River; tributaries include Beech, Champagne, Clark, Cowpen, Cypress, Hornsby, Horse, Mary, McClothlin, Mile, Rattlesnake, Savannah, S | St. Tammany Parish and 4 other parishes |
| Tenmile Creek | Ten Mile Creek | (Rapides, Allen, and Vernon Parishes): from the boundary of Fort Polk Military Reservation (Lookout Road) through Vernon Parish and all of that portion of the creek within the boundaries of Rapides and Allen Parishes | Vernon Parish and 2 other parishes |
| Tickfaw River | Tickfaw River | (St. Helena and Livingston Parishes): from the Louisiana-Mississippi state line to LA Hwy 42 | St. Helena Parish and 2 other parishes |
| Trout Creek | Trout Creek | (LaSalle Parish): from its origin near Hwy 8 to its entrance into Little River | LaSalle Parish |
| West Pearl River | West Pearl River | (St. Tammany Parish): from the state line to the river’s entrance into Lake Borgne | St. Tammany Parish |
| Wilson Slough | Wilson Slough | (St. Tammany Parish): within the boundaries of St. Tammany Parish | St. Tammany Parish |
By parish
Parishes with the most scenic stream segments
Limits
Statewide freshwater limits that apply on Louisiana scenic streams
| 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 |
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 16 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF freshwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
For the largemouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Photos
Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers, with Louisiana water shown
Photo: Thank You (25 Millions ) views, CC BY 2.0
Photo: michael_miceli, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jill Spence, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: brando, CC BY 2.0
Answers
Natural and Scenic Rivers, the short answers
How many Louisiana scenic rivers have pages?
49 designated streams are matched here; 49 have their own river or bayou page.
Can I fish a Natural and Scenic River?
Yes; the designation limits changes to the stream itself, and fishing follows the statewide freshwater rules.
Which parish has the most scenic streams?
St. Tammany Parish, with 13.
Is the Tchefuncte River a scenic river?
Yes, with its own page here.
Who manages the system?
LDWF administers the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System and its permits.
Do I need a license on these streams?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
Where are the segment limits described?
In the LDWF descriptions, quoted in the table above for each stream.
Are paddling launches listed?
Each river page lists the LDWF launches and bank sites along that stream.