Ashland, LA Fishing: Great Bass Fishing Opportunities in Natchitoches Parish

Ashland is a tiny and sparsely populated village in the northernmost region of Natchitoches Parish in Central Louisiana. When the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway passed through its area in 1899, it came into being, resulting in its subdivision. It took its name from a northern Wisconsin locale.

In the early 20th century, Ashland produced cotton and corn and manufactured railroad cross ties. They could distribute their cotton all over the region via freight which they had custom-built with a platform to lift cotton. The village, however, suffered through hard times as drought-affected its crops. Its population soon declined, and now it remains a tight-knit residential community, sharing a convenience store with nearby Bienville Parish to its north.

Ashland is part of the bigger Natchitoches Micropolitan Statistical Area and gateway to the Red River, Louisiana’s second-biggest stream. Historically, the Red River was an unnavigable water body that was so salty that its waters could not be used for irrigation. It was dammed in 1994 and has since become one of the most important fishing destinations in the south.

Aside from the Red River, Ashland and Natchitoches Parish has a few more notable fishing spots worth exploring, some of them offering all-time bests in the state that sport anglers will surely enjoy.

Ashland Fishing

Louisiana is known as one of the best fishing states in the country, with each region offering abundant fishing opportunities for anglers of all levels. Ashland and Natchitoches Parish are no different. This part of Central Louisiana is known for its excellent freshwater and brackish water fisheries, offering up vast water bodies with healthy bass, crappie, and more.

One such river system you should explore when in Natchitoches Parish is the Red River. This unique river is also known as the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway and is one of the best recreational fishing spots in the south. The entire river system is divided into five pools, with pools 3, 4, and 5 being the most popular. It regularly hosts fishing tournaments; the most notable is the Bassmaster Classic Tournament.

What makes the Red River a fantastic water body to fish is its backwater areas which tend to have a lot of fish. These backwater areas often have many vegetation and underwater structures, which fish love. Likewise, the main river area is the best to fish in during hot summer days. The catch of choice in this vast river system is largemouth bass, but the river does have an array of fish species like white bass, spotted bass, crappie, channel catfish, bream, and sunfish.

Anglers in Natchitoches Parish have two options for accessing the Red River. One is Grand Ecore RV Park which offers a boat launch that’s free to use and a floating pier for 16 boats. The other is Midway RV Park & Marina, which offers its dock for overnight boaters exploring the river system on an extended trip. Some boat anglers also use this particular RV park as an entry point to nearby Saline Bayou, a National Scenic River that offers fair fishing and bird-watching opportunities.

Cane River Lake is a 30-mile channel cut off from the Red River. It was once a commercial waterway that shrank due to the removal of the logs that once jammed the area. The river can be divided into two portions for anglers’ convenient access, with the Shell Beach Boat Ramp in between. The northern part is shallow and murky, while the southern reaches 22 feet with lots of grass beds. Because of this variety in terrain, fish thrive in the lake. The most popular catch here is the largemouth bass. Anglers can expect other fish species in the oxbow lake: crappie, white bass, striped bass, and channel catfish. There are three public boat launches where anglers can fish: one at Shell Beach, another on Natchitoches’ Washington Street, and the last on the lake’s southern edge.

In West Natchitoches, Sibley Lake is a man-made reservoir that provides drinking water for the city. It was once called Lake Terre Noir. It has a shoreline of 38 miles that is open for a variety of water-based recreational activities such as boating and fishing. The lake has three public boat launching ramps on Oak Grove Community, Old Highway 1 at the marina, and Highway 504. The lake is a productive spot for crappie, channel catfish, and largemouth bass. Other species that can be found semi-regularly in the water include hybrid striped bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish. There is plenty of baitfish such as small shad and sunfish in the lake. 

Top 10 Fish Species in Ashland, LA

The top 10 fish species in Ashland are largemouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish, crappie, white bass, spotted bass, bream, redear sunfish, shad, and green sunfish.

Seasonal Fishing

Fishing in Ashland and Natchitoches Parish gets quite active in spring and summer. Channel catfish and largemouth bass both move to the shallows during spring. During the warmer months, anglers can move to the deeper parts of water bodies to target largemouth bass and striped bass. Meanwhile, if you’re keen to fish for crappie, the months of February and March are your best bet when crappie gather on the shorelines. However, you can still find them in the brush and treetops around water bodies during spring and in the deeper parts of the water during summer and well into fall.

Discover the Unique History of Central Louisiana in Ashland

Ashland provides a lovely entry point to the rest of Natchitoches Parish, one of the oldest districts in Louisiana, filled with fascinating historical landmarks.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Explore the rich fishing opportunities of Natchitoches Parish with the guidance of a local expert who can assure you a safe and comfortable fishing experience in the area’s river systems.

2. Immerse in Creole Culture

Visit the Oakland, Magnolia, and Melrose Plantations for an in-depth insight into the lives of Creole people. Oakland and Magnolia’s Plantations are inside Cane River Creole National Historical Park, while Melrose Plantation is on the African-American Heritage Trail.

3. Travel Back in Time 

Learn more about Louisiana’s unique history in these two historic sites. Los Adaes was once the capital of Texas and was a significant symbol of New Spain during the 1700s. Today, the site has a collection of historic structures and artifacts that provide insight into that era.

To add even more to your experience of Los Adaes, include the Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site in your itinerary. It has a replica fort based on the original blueprints of the Spanish outpost from the 1700s.