Ball, LA Fishing: Southern Small-Town Angling

Ball, LA offers fantastic freshwater angling in a southern small town.

Ball, LA Fishing: Southern Small-Town Angling
Ball, LA Fishing: Southern Small-Town Angling
Team Guidesly

May 12, 2022, 6 min read

Updated on June 2, 2022

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Ball can be found just north of Pineville in Rapides Parish in central Louisiana. It is included in the Alexandria, Louisiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the third-largest municipality in the parish. Ball’s earliest recorded settlement dates back between 1840 and 1863. The place is named after Captain Chittendwin Edwin Ball, a Union County, Kentucky native who named the sawmill settlement after himself. In the late 1880s, he settled in Rapides Parish, building Sweet Home Mill. After starting as a logging town, the area was established and incorporated in May 1972 under the Lawrason Act.

Ball is a growing and thriving community that encapsulates gracious southern living combined with modern amenities in North America. The establishment of Camp Livingston brought Ball many job opportunities and a boom in population. To this day, many families of military personnel from World War II still reside in the area. As a tourist destination, Ball offers quaint attractions and relaxing landscapes. Its location is surrounded by lush greenery, such as the Kisatchie National Forest. It is also very accessible, with US Route 165 running midway through the community. Anglers looking for a toned-down fishing experience can visit Ball and get the chance to catch game in nearby waters surrounded by diverse nature scapes.

Ball Fishing

Ball doesn’t possess many waterways, but it has the advantage of being in the center of several water bodies known for their excellent fishery (including the Mississippi River). The area provides anglers a chance to take a step back and immerse themselves in the peacefulness of a small community surrounded by nature.

man patiently fishing by the river

Anglers can head west within Ball and fish from Dry Prong, Kitchen Creek, and Flagon Bayou, which are all connected. Aside from being excellent freshwater fishing spots, the small streams also act as the western border to the area. Dry Prong’s waters are home to freshwater species such as largemouth bass, brown trout, brook trout, blue catfish, white crappie, and bluegill. Kitchen Creek plays host to fish like largemouth bass, white crappie, black crappie, murray cod, chain pickerel, and bowfin; in Flagon Bayou, one can find largemouth bluegill, black crappie, pumpkinseed, and rock bass. Due to their size and narrowness, all waterways can be fished from the banks or wading. These relatively shallow water areas make for great must-tries for the keen bass angler. The streams are also surrounded by many trees, making it possible for anglers to fish all day without staying out too long under direct sunlight. Simple baitcasting, spinning, fly fishing, and jigging techniques can result in a productive angling session. The best way to find fish in those waters is to locate nearby structures such as bridges where swimmers and their forage tend to gather or hide out. An angler using live bait like smaller fish or lure shrimp can have a successful session.

Further up north, within the Kisatchie National Forest, is Kisatchie Lake. The reservoir can be accessed through Airbase Road or Springhill Loop. Its waters contain bluegill, panfish, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass; most water bodies within the national forest allow bank fishing. There is a dock on the southeast and a concrete boat launch area to the south.

Those willing to travel farther east can have the chance to fish in Catahoula Lake. The large freshwater lake can find an abundance of largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, black bass, crappie, paddlefish, channel catfish, and blue catfish. Some parts of the lake are covered with vegetation due to its water management; therefore, drift fishing is a suitable method to employ in those areas. Anglers can also wade fish in rocky areas near the lake’s banks. The two boat launch areas are prosperity Landing off Prosperity Road and the Diversion Canal Road Ramp. 

Ball’s southwest provides access to the Red River. Anglers can have the opportunity to fish in one of the country’s major rivers, which is known for its reddish water. The river is also known as one of Louisiana’s best places to catch bass. The river itself and its acres of backwaters offer active and fertile fishing opportunities. Anglers can find plenty of bass in all of the river’s five pools, shad in grass mattes, flathead catfish, channel catfish, grass carp, crappie, paddlefish, and bluegill in various areas of the river. Look out for fish in backwaters, vegetation like lilies or submerged grasses near the banks, any ledge or drop where there is grass, logjams, lilyjams, rock jetties, tiny canals, oxbows, and where waters are relatively clearer. Those who want to use a boat can launch their vessels (such as a kayak) among the numerous ones available from Bossier City to Marksville. Using lures such as crankbaits and plastics in opaque colors is great for targeting bass. Fishing in the river’s backwaters provides terrific topwater action. Because it's a popular angling spot, one may find a fishing lodge in the area. The Red River has also been the site of numerous bass fishing tournaments such as the BASSmasters Classic, The Bass Federation  National Championship, and the LA BASS Nation.

Top 10 Fish Species in Ball, LA

The top 10 fish species found in Ball, Louisiana, are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, black bass, white crappie, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, and shad.

Seasonal Fishing

Generally, summer is the best season to target bass species like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, and black bass. However, anglers can spot plenty of them as early as February until April, when they spawn. The prime time to fish for crappie is in the spring months of February and March when their long spawning season starts. Anglers can hook various catfish species such as channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish in late spring to early summer. If they extend their spawning season, there are still chances of spotting them in local waters until August. Chain pickerel can be caught all year, even in the winter, as they can withstand colder temperatures. Bluegill and panfish seasons peak in the early summer to fall when they spawn.

Fun and Educational Attractions in Ball

Ball isn’t just a pretty place surrounded by nature, but it also possesses a rich history and heritage that it boasts through many of its attractions.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Ball has an advantageous location that makes it the central access point to many of Louisiana’s greatest fishing destinations. Anglers can book a fishing charter or local guide to ensure their next angling trip is met with plenty of action and fun. Boat rental services and bait and tackle shops can be found near established fishing locations in and around the area.

2. Stop by Historical Military Museums

The Louisiana National Guard Museum and the Louisiana Maneuvers and Military Museum can be found to the south of Ball on Camp Beauregard in Pineville. The museums pay tribute to the service members and civilians of the state. They house memorabilia collections that date back to Colonial Louisiana and have exhibits that depict the War of 1812’s Battle of New Orleans and World War II. The museums also have digital and hardcopy archives of Louisiana National Guard Publications and a library open to the public.

3. Go On a Safari

To the northwest corner of Ball is a safari area on Hooper Road in Pineville, home to many exotic animals that were initially either abandoned, injured, or unwanted. The site has many facilities and offers many services, such as a petting zoo, a safari drive-through, a gift shop, a playground, a mining company, a bird enclosure, and a party room. All animals are cared for and have plenty of space to roam about while people explore and interact with them safely and appropriately.

Fish in Ball and beyond.