Planning a fishing vacation to the Gulf of Mexico? Then it’s likely you already know about the awesome Louisiana Catfish that are available there year-round. The main three species of Catfish that call Louisiana home are the Channel, Blue, and Flathead Catfish. These tasty fish can be found in lakes, streams, and rivers throughout LA. There are a variety of techniques to catch them at multitude locations, making them a firm favorite down south.

Where to Go

You can’t swing a cat(fish) without finding a place to catch one of these critters in local waters. Running through Louisiana are some prolific rivers, such as the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. You might not get all three species in each one, but you’re likely to get one or two.

Atchafalaya Basin

West of Baton Rouge is the Atchafalaya Basin, 596,000 acres of land full to the brim with rivers, bayous, canals, lakes, and channels – any angler’s paradise! The best action happens around May or June, after the springtime flooding. The Catfish action will be non-stop in those first eight weeks. Grab a guide – you’ll need a hand in navigating these waters.

Toledo Bend State Park

In Toledo Bend State Park, there’s a huge lake which covers a whopping 196,000 acres! Year-round you can target a host of species, including Catfish. You can also target Crappie, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Gar, and more here.

Lake Claiborne

In the spring, head over to Lake Claiborne near Homer. There are plenty of coves to explore in this 6,000-acre body of water, with good-sized Catfish in every hidey-hole.

Ouachita River

One of the most reliable spots for Catfish fishing is the Ouachita River. Starting in the north in Arkansas, this river winds its way down to Jonesville in the center of LA. This beautiful waterway runs parallel to the Red River and is a top fishery for Catfish. Even with fluctuating water levels, due to the sheer length of the river, there’s always somewhere appropriate for the local Catfish to call home.

Lake Maurepas

Although nearby Lake Pontchartrain may capture anglers’ attention for Speckled Trout and Redfish, Lake Maurepas is an ace fishing hole for Catfish that should not be overlooked! You can launch from Pete's Landing Boat Launch and the Port Manchac boat ramp off Highway 15 – excellent Catfish fishing awaits in these 5,800 acres of water.

How to Fish

• Catfish have a strong sense of smell, which they utilize when looking for food. They love smelly bait! Home concoctions can work well, or stock up on bait fish, cold worms, or nightcrawlers.

• A 12 lb line won’t let you down. Pair with a medium to heavy action rod.

• Once caught, there are many options on how to cook your catch. Channel Catfish is one of the tastier of the Catfish species. It’s also low in mercury, making it a healthy option, too. Blue Catfish is also good eating.

• Noodling is popular in the south – will you dare put your fingers in the Catfish’s mouth and wrestle with it?

When to Go

It’s best to head over in late winter. The action stays hot right up to summer.

Louisiana Catfish should be ticked off your bucket list as soon as possible. These hard-fighting and tasty fish can be found all around the state – come on down and have a battle with them today!