Located in north-central Louisiana’s Piney Hills Country is the quaint little community of Arcadia. It is the parish seat of Bienville Parish and has the highest elevation among all incorporated municipalities in the state. Its name came from its first postmaster, Shadrick P. Sutton. Arcadia means ‘beautiful hills’ and celebrates the ancient region situated in Greece. The settlement was established in the 1820s and was later incorporated as a village in 1855. In 1903, Arcadia officially became a town. The famous and notorious criminal couple, Bonnie and Clyde, were ambushed and killed near the area in 1934.
Arcadia has a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere yet exudes the features and benefits of a large city. The area boasts an eighteen-hole golf course, museums, restaurants, antique shops, and bluegrass music. Because it is centrally located between Monroe and Shreveport, Arcadia has the advantage of being surrounded by some of the state’s best deer and turkey hunting. Its primary industry is poultry, as it has around 300 independent growers. It also offers lakes and trails that enable anyone who visits, even anglers, to experience why the region is known as a true sportsman’s paradise.
Arcadia is surrounded by numerous waterways that offer anglers a chance to reel in various freshwater gamefish while getting to experience its historical and natural beauty.
Running along Arcadia’s east and south is Saline Bayou. It is considered a National Wild and Scenic River. This 19-mile river is ideal for anglers who want to fish in a peaceful setting, as it has bald cypress and other hardwood trees lining its banks and calm waters. Saline Bayou supports various wildlife and plant species due to its diverse ecosystem. Fish species that one can find in the river include largemouth bass, white perch, redear sunfish, black crappie, white crappie, bigmouth buffalo, bluegill, and flathead catfish. Anglers can fish from the river’s banks, wade through shallow areas, or launch boats from the five available launch sites. Baitcasting and spinning are common ways to reel fish from the river. Besides fishing, Saline Bayou is also a site for other recreational activities such as canoeing, boating, hunting, camping, hiking, and photography.
Anglers can find Blake Lake Creek or Black Lake Bayou in the west. The adjacent lake produces large, deep-colored bream in great numbers; it is also known for its terrific bass fishery. The creek has fish like largemouth bass, striped bass, white crappie, blue catfish, and channel catfish. In the Boggy Branch area, there are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white perch, bluegill, channel catfish, black bullhead, yellow bullhead, and chain pickerel. Using worms or frogs as bait effectively hook fish from its waters.
One can find Lake Foursome and the adjacent Sugar Creek to the northeast. Both the lake and creek host largemouth bass and black bullhead. There is also Threemile Creek linked up with Sugar Creek. Anglers can find more fish like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, redear sunfish, bluegill, channel catfish, and spotted bass.
Near the neighboring village of Athens are more fishing spots such as Craighead Pond, Marsalis Pond, and Cox Creek. In the creek, there are fish such as largemouth bass, yellow bullhead, black crappie, rainbow trout, lake trout, and pumpkinseed. The ponds also have largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill.
Outside Arcadia, anglers can head north and have the chance to fish in Lake Claiborne. The almost 6000-acre lake is stocked with freshwater fish such as largemouth bass, striped bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, chain pickerel, and bream. Other species one can find in the lake include spotted bass, yellow bass, flathead catfish, blue catfish, flier sunfish, green sunfish, longear sunfish, redear sunfish, warmouth, bowfin, and spotted gar. Numerous boat docks and piers surround the lake, and amenities such as boat and fishing gear rental services are readily available for anglers. People can also launch canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and pontoons from some available portage sites. The lake is primarily known for producing big bass, but anglers will see fantastic results if they target crappie, catfish, stripers, bowfin, gar, and sunfish. The lake area is known for its wonderful lake cabin lodgings and outdoor camping.
The top 10 fish species found in Arcadia, Louisiana are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white perch, redear sunfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, flathead catfish, striped bass, and channel catfish.
Anglers are urged to check local fishing rules and regulations before catching various species of fish in Arcadia. Largemouth bass and other bass species can be found in abundance when spawning starts in April. Spring and fall are the best seasons for bass fishing when water temperatures are ideal. Sunfish species, especially redear sunfish, are best targeted in the late spring to summer when they spawn. The prime time to catch crappie is in February and March. For bluegill and bream, the peak season is early summer through fall. Catfishing is best done in the summer for those who want to catch them. White perch are active in the fall months and in November and December. Trout species are available year-round, but one can catch large-sized fish during the spring. Warmouth can be fished from March through September. Bowfin is another fish that is best targeted during the spring. Bullhead fishing is best done during daylight, especially when waters are muddy or stained.
Though Arcadia is small, it has several historical and natural offerings to pique one’s interest.
Booking a fishing charter will help anglers navigate local waterways and learn where the best places to fish and the best methods to reel fish in. Boat and fishing gear rental services are also readily available near fishing spots.
Multiple buildings dating back to the turn of the 20th century are riddled throughout Arcadia’s downtown area. Today, there are many antique stores and periodically aesthetic restaurants that can be found in the area. People can also visit the almost century-old post office still in use today. It is located on North Railroad Avenue and features a mural titled 'Cotton Time,' painted by an artist employed by the New Deal's Work Project Administration. The second Saturday of every month also features a fun and lively Bluegrass Show near the shopping district.
The area of Bienville Parish, which Arcadia is a part of, is known as a fishing and hunting paradise. Ponds, lakes, and woody areas make it an excellent hunting ground for deer and turkey. The entire state is also known for good populations of alligators, rabbits, and all kinds of waterfowl. The best areas to go hunting are wildlife management areas and forests. It is vital to ensure that one has their licenses and permits before going hunting in the area. People are also urged to check local hunting rules and regulations.