Featured photo by Glynn Harris: The sun rises over Lake Claiborne, the state’s seventh best fishing lake, according to Fishmasters.com.
Louisiana is known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise” with good reason. Although we’re not at the top for deer, turkey and duck hunting, we hold our own rather well. With our proximity to the Gulf and its great salt-water fishing along with top-notch lakes and rivers within the state, we often turn heads when it comes to fishing.
An organization, Fishmasters.com, recently did a yeoman’s job in selecting the top 30 lakes in states across the country. These lakes were chosen after talking with local anglers and followers on social media. The list was compiled not just about popularity but about where people actually go to fish and what they catch.
Louisiana’s top 30 lakes, as compiled by Fishmasters.com, cover lakes all over the state. What attracted my attention was how the organization shined the spotlight on lakes in north Louisiana. A few of note included Bussey Brake, a lake that has recently caught on fire for the number of lunker bass it is producing. It sits at number 16 and if the list were more recent, Bussey might be higher.
Black Lake in Natchitoches Parish was listed as number 12 and Bistineau at number 11. What especially caught my attention was the top ten lakes that included those in north Louisiana. Number 1 was no surprise, Toledo Bend with Caney Lake coming in at number 2 and D’Arbonne at number 3. What really pleased me was the lake sitting at number 7, Lake Claiborne.
When I lived in Homer during the late 1960s, the big news was that a new lake was being planned and drawn up for the hills of Claiborne Parish. State Senator, Danny Roy Moore, a civil engineer working with Representative John S. Garrett drew up plans for the lake and were able to secure funds to construct the 6500 acre lake. The lake was completed and water coursed over the spillway for the first time on May 17, 1968.
Before the lake filled, I would drive out before work and enjoy some exciting early morning duck hunts on the potholes that would eventually be inundated by 30 feet of water.
Once the lake filled, Lake Claiborne became a school bass paradise and fishing for bass that churned the surface chasing shad became my go-to sport.
A lot has happened to Lake Claiborne over the past 57 years since it filled. The lake’s popularity started waning somewhat with the construction of Caney Lake, which became known as the big bass capitol of Louisiana. The state record 15.97 pounder was caught by Greg Wiggins on Caney, a record that has stood for over twenty years. Catching a four or five pounder on Claiborne was about the high standard.
Over the past decade, Lake Claiborne has quietly and steadily been making a comeback and much of the success today has to do with the introduction of Tiger Bass, a hybrid cross between native largemouth bass and Florida strain largemouth bass. Tiger bass are known for their faster growth rates compared to pure strains of largemouths. During a recent tournament held on the lake, the top eight fish averaged nearly 8 pounds each with the largest weighing in at over 11 pounds.
“Lake Claiborne doesn’t try to impress,” quoting Fishmasters.com. “It delivers, especially for those who know how to read the water and come ready to fish.”
Area fishermen should be proud to know that four of our north Louisiana lakes are in the top ten for the state, Toledo Bend, Caney, D’Arbonne and rather surprisingly, Lake Claiborne.