Live wading and fishing conditions for 40 Louisiana rivers
Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
Red River
The Red is big, locked-and-dammed navigation water through northwest and central Louisiana — a boat and bank fishery for blue and flathead catfish, largemouth, white and yellow bass, and drum rather than a wade stream. Its slackwater pools behind the locks have become a genuine trophy bass and catfish destination; frame conditions as boat-launch and bank safety, not a wading number.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Red River 6.5 Miles Below Black River, La
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Bogue Chitto River
One of Louisiana's premier sand-bottom float streams — the Bogue Chitto ('big thicket' in Choctaw) runs clear over white sandbars from the Mississippi line down through Bogue Chitto State Park to the Pearl basin. A genuine paddle-and-wade river for spotted and largemouth bass, bream, and sac-a-lait, and a summer tubing favorite.
Region: Florida Parishes · Fish for: Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bogue Chitto River Near Bush, La
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Atchafalaya River
The Atchafalaya is the Mississippi's great distributary and the heart of the largest river swamp in North America — a vast maze of river, bayou, and backwater draining from Simmesport down to Morgan City and the Gulf. World-class sac-a-lait, largemouth, catfish, bowfin, gar, and buffalo; a boat fishery governed by the seasonal flood pulse, not a wade number.
Region: Atchafalaya & Big River · Fish for: Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish · USGS gauges: Atchafalaya River At Simmesport, La, Lower Atchafalaya River At Morgan City, La
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Pearl River
The Louisiana–Mississippi border river, the Pearl runs from the Bogalusa reach down through the vast Pearl River WMA swamp to the Gulf — bass, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar in tannic, cypress-and-sand water. A boat, paddle, and bank fishery: the upper reaches are sandy and floatable, the lower a maze of tidal-influenced distributaries.
Region: Florida Parishes · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Pearl River Near Bogalusa, La
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Ouachita River
The Ouachita winds through the northeast delta as a slow, tannic, locked river — prime largemouth, spotted bass, crappie (sac-a-lait), and big-catfish water around Monroe. This is a boat and bank fishery among cypress, oxbows, and river bends, not a wade stream; treat conditions as stage and bank safety.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Ouachita River At West Monroe, La
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Tangipahoa River
A popular sand-bottom float and tubing river running from the Mississippi line near Kentwood down to Lake Pontchartrain — spotted and largemouth bass, bream, sac-a-lait, and catfish over clean sand and gravel. One of the Florida Parishes' most floatable streams, busiest on summer weekends.
Region: Florida Parishes · Fish for: Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Tangipahoa River At Robert, La
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Tchefuncte River
A clear, sandy Florida-Parishes stream running from the piney woods near Folsom down through Covington and Madisonville to Lake Pontchartrain — spotted and largemouth bass, bream, sac-a-lait, and catfish. The upper reaches are floatable and sandy; below Covington it slows and takes on tidal influence toward the lake.
Region: Florida Parishes · Fish for: Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Tchefuncte River Near Folsom, La
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Calcasieu River
Above the tidal estuary, the upper Calcasieu runs as a clear-to-tannic sand-and-gravel stream through the piney woods and Kisatchie country near Oberlin and Kinder — largemouth and spotted bass, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish. This card covers the fresh upper river (the famous brackish 'Big Lake' redfish estuary is a separate saltwater fishery); a float-and-bank river up here.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait) · USGS gauges: Calcasieu River Nr Glenmora, La, Calcasieu River Near Oberlin, La, Calcasieu River Near Kinder, La
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Ouiska Chitto Creek
The Ouiska Chitto — 'Whiskey Chitto' to everyone who floats it — is one of Louisiana's premier clear sand-bottom streams, running over white sandbars through Allen Parish to the Calcasieu. A genuine paddle-and-wade river for spotted and largemouth bass, bream, and sac-a-lait, and a summer tubing favorite.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Ouiska Chitto Creek Near Oberlin, La
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Bayou Bartholomew
Reckoned the longest bayou in the world, Bayou Bartholomew runs some 360 miles out of Arkansas down through Morehouse Parish to the Ouachita — a slow, tannic, cypress-lined bayou with an exceptional native fishery. Largemouth and spotted bass, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar; a paddle-and-bank fishery among the oxbows, not a wade stream.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Bartholomew Near Jones, La
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Amite River
The Amite drains the Florida Parishes from the hills near Darlington down through the Denham Springs–Baton Rouge suburbs to Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain — largemouth and spotted bass, bream, sac-a-lait, and catfish. Sandy and floatable up top, it slows and takes on tidal and flood-prone character below Denham Springs.
Region: Florida Parishes · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Amite River Near Darlington, La, Amite River Near Denham Springs, La
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Bayou Teche
The storied heart of Cajun country, Bayou Teche is a slow, sinuous, cypress-lined bayou threading Breaux Bridge, St. Martinville, and New Iberia — largemouth and spotted bass, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar. Once a Mississippi channel, today it's a managed paddle-and-bank fishery with a marked water trail; frame conditions as bayou stage and access.
Region: Atchafalaya & Big River · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Teche At Keystone L&D Nr St. Martinville, La, Bayou Teche At Adeline Bridge Near Jeanerette, La
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Tickfaw River
A quiet Florida-Parishes stream running from Mississippi down through Tickfaw State Park to the Lake Maurepas swamp — largemouth and spotted bass, bream, sac-a-lait, and catfish in tannic, sandy, cypress-lined water. A paddle-and-bank river that slows and swamps out toward the lake.
Region: Florida Parishes · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Tickfaw River At Montpelier, La, Tickfaw River At Holden, La
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Mississippi River
The continent's great river runs its final reach past Baton Rouge and New Orleans to the Gulf — an immense, powerful navigation channel and a serious trophy catfish, buffalo, and gar fishery best worked from the batture, revetment, and rock dikes. This is a boat and heavy-bank fishery only; treat conditions as big-river stage and current safety, never a wading number.
Region: Atchafalaya & Big River · Fish for: Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Mississippi River At Baton Rouge, La, Mississippi River At Belle Chasse, La
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Sabine River
The Louisiana–Texas border river below Toledo Bend Reservoir — a broad, sandy, tannic bottomland river winding through hardwood swamp toward the Gulf. Largemouth and spotted bass, white bass, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar; a boat and bank fishery whose flow and clarity are driven by Toledo Bend dam releases as much as by rain.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Sabine Rv nr Bon Wier, TX, Sabine Rv nr Ruliff, TX
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Vermilion River
A slow, coffee-colored prairie-and-Teche-fed river winding through Lafayette down toward Vermilion Bay — largemouth and spotted bass, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar. Urban and agricultural in its middle reach and tidal near the bay, it's a boat and bank fishery rather than a wade stream.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Vermilion River At Surrey St. At Lafayette, La, Vermilion River At Perry, La
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Bayou Dorcheat
A designated Louisiana Natural and Scenic River, Bayou Dorcheat is a sandy, cypress-lined stream running down toward Lake Bistineau in the northwest — a quiet paddle-and-bank fishery for largemouth, spotted bass, crappie, bream, and catfish. Lower and clearer than the big rivers, it rewards patient wood-and-sand fishing.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Dorcheat Near Springhill, La
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Bayou Lafourche
The Cajun-country Bayou Lafourche flows from Donaldsonville down through Thibodaux and the bayou parishes toward the Gulf — a managed freshwater bayou, 'the longest main street in the world,' for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar. A bank-and-boat fishery along the bayou-side towns; the upper reaches are fresh, the lower turns tidal near the coast.
Region: Atchafalaya & Big River · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Lafourche Sw Of Donaldsonville, La, Bayou Lafourche At Thibodaux, La
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Saline Bayou
A National Scenic River through the Kisatchie National Forest, Saline Bayou is one of Louisiana's prettiest paddle streams — clear-to-tannic water winding through hardwood bottoms toward Saline Lake. A float-and-bank fishery for largemouth, spotted bass, crappie, bream, and catfish in a wild forest setting.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Saline Bayou Near Lucky, La
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Comite River
The Comite drains the East Baton Rouge hills down to join the Amite near Denham Springs — a sandy, gravelly Florida-Parishes stream for spotted and largemouth bass, bream, sac-a-lait, and catfish. Floatable and sandy up top, flood-prone through the suburbs; a paddle-and-bank fishery.
Region: Florida Parishes · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Comite R. At Pt. Hudson-Pride Rd Near Milldale, La, Comite River Near Comite, La
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Boeuf River
A slow delta river winding out of Arkansas through the northeast Louisiana bottomlands toward the Ouachita — tannic, oxbow-fed water for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar. A boat-and-bank fishery through the farm-country bottoms, not a wade stream.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Boeuf River At Ark/La State Line, Boeuf River Near Girard, La
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Tensas River
The Tensas threads the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge and the northeast Louisiana delta — a slow, tannic, hardwood-bottom river famous for its wildlife and its bass, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar. A boat-and-bank fishery among cypress and oxbows.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Tensas River At Tendal, La
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Little River
Formed where the Dugdemona and Castor meet in central Louisiana, Little River runs down through Grant and LaSalle parishes to Catahoula Lake — a tannic bottomland river for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar. A boat-and-bank fishery feeding one of the state's famous waterfowl and fish lakes.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Little River Near Rochelle, La
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Bayou Courtableau
Bayou Courtableau gathers the prairie bayous of St. Landry Parish and carries them into the Atchafalaya Basin near Washington and Krotz Springs — a slow, tannic bayou for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar. A boat-and-bank fishery on the basin's western edge.
Region: Atchafalaya & Big River · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Courtableau At Washington, La
Live Bayou Courtableau conditions →
Bodcau Bayou
Bodcau Bayou runs down from Arkansas through the Bodcau WMA and reservoir in northwest Louisiana — a tannic, cypress-lined bottomland bayou for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish. A paddle-and-bank fishery through the WMA swamps.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bodcau Bayou Near Springhill, La
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Bayou Pierre
A Red River distributary looping through northwest Louisiana's De Soto and Red River parishes, Bayou Pierre runs slow and tannic through the bottomlands — largemouth, spotted bass, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish. A bank-and-paddle fishery among the cypress and oxbows.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Pierre Near Lake End, La
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Bayou Anacoco
A clear, sandy Vernon Parish stream running through the piney woods and Fort Polk country toward the Sabine — spotted and largemouth bass, bream, sac-a-lait, and catfish over clean sand and gravel. A wade-and-paddle stream in the southwest uplands.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bayou Anacoco Near Rosepine, La
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Bayou Macon
Bayou Macon (say 'May-sun') runs down the northeast delta past the Poverty Point country toward the Tensas — a slow, tannic farm-country bayou for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish. A quiet bank-and-paddle fishery among the oxbows and cypress.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Macon Nr Kilbourne, La
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Bayou Lafourche (North)
Not to be confused with the Cajun-country bayou of the same name to the south, this northern Bayou Lafourche drains the Boeuf–Ouachita bottoms near Crew Lake in northeast Louisiana — largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish in slow, tannic backwater. A bank-and-paddle fishery among the cypress.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Lafourche Near Crew Lake, La
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Bundick Creek
A clear, sandy piney-woods creek feeding Bundick Lake in Beauregard Parish — spotted and largemouth bass, bream, and sac-a-lait over clean sand. A small wade-and-paddle stream in the southwest Louisiana uplands.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bundick Creek Near Deridder, La
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Red Chute Bayou
Red Chute Bayou drains Bossier Parish east of Shreveport toward Loggy Bayou and the Red River — a slow, tannic lowland bayou for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish. A bank-and-paddle fishery among the cypress and cutbanks.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Red Chute Bayou At Sligo, La
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Natalbany River
A small tannic Florida-Parishes stream running through Hammond down to the Tickfaw and the Lake Maurepas swamp — largemouth and spotted bass, bream, sac-a-lait, and catfish. A quiet paddle-and-bank fishery among cypress and sand.
Region: Florida Parishes · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear), Spotted (Kentucky) Bass · USGS gauges: Natalbany River At Baptist, La
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Bayou Nezpique
A prairie bayou draining the southwest Louisiana rice country toward Lake Arthur and the Mermentau, Bayou Nezpique runs slow and tannic for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar. A bank-and-paddle fishery through the prairie bottoms.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Nezpique Near Basile, La
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Bayou Cocodrie
This Bayou Cocodrie winds through the Concordia–Catahoula bottomlands of central Louisiana past the Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge toward the Black and Red — largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar in slow, tannic backwater. A boat-and-bank fishery among the cypress. (Distinct from the coastal bayou of the same name.)
Region: Atchafalaya & Big River · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Cocodrie Near Clearwater, La
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Chemin-A-Haut Bayou
The bayou at the heart of Chemin-A-Haut State Park in Morehouse Parish — a tannic, cypress-lined stream running toward Bayou Bartholomew for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish. A quiet paddle-and-bank fishery in a state-park setting.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Chemin-A-Haut Bayou Near Beekman, La
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Little Corney Bayou
Little Corney Bayou drains the hills of Union Parish toward Bayou D'Arbonne and Lake D'Arbonne — a small tannic bayou for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish. A paddle-and-bank fishery feeding one of north Louisiana's best bass lakes.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Little Corney Bayou Near Lillie, La
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Bayou Des Cannes
A prairie bayou running through the rice country of Evangeline and Acadia parishes toward the Mermentau — largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, catfish, and gar in slow, tannic water. A bank-and-paddle fishery through the southwest prairie.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Bayou Des Cannes Near Eunice, La
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Cypress Bayou
Cypress Bayou feeds Wallace Lake southwest of Shreveport — a small tannic Caddo-country bayou for largemouth, sac-a-lait, bream, and catfish. Low and intimate, it's a paddle-and-bank fishery among the cypress, best at moderate stage.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Crappie (Sac-a-lait), Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Cypress Bayou Near Keithville, La
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Big Creek
A clear-to-tannic Kisatchie-country creek near Pollock in central Louisiana, Big Creek runs sandy over the piney-woods bottoms toward the Little River basin — largemouth, spotted bass, bream, and catfish. A small wade-and-paddle stream in a national-forest setting.
Region: North Louisiana · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear), Spotted (Kentucky) Bass · USGS gauges: Big Creek At Pollock, La
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Bayou Toro
A small, clear sand-bottom creek in Sabine Parish's piney woods, Bayou Toro runs toward the Sabine and Toledo Bend country — spotted and largemouth bass, bream, and sac-a-lait. An intimate wade-and-paddle stream at low flow.
Region: Southwest / Prairie · Fish for: Spotted (Kentucky) Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bream (Bluegill & Redear) · USGS gauges: Bayou Toro Near Toro, La
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