Immerse in the legends and myths of Louisiana’s Wild West when you take a trip down to Anacoco, a small village deep in the heart of Vernon Parish. This quaint community is a fantastic entryway to the wilderness of the Legend Country of Louisiana. It is a region filled with streams, bayous, hills, pinelands, and prairies, a worthwhile getaway destination for travelers who want to be surrounded by deep history and rugged nature. Anacoco is likewise an exciting place for anglers. It is home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the state and offers access to even more productive water bodies in its neighboring district in Central Louisiana.
A productive freshwater fishing escapade awaits at the tiny village of Anacoco. On your fishing trip down to this lovely place, head straight to South Toledo Bend State Park, where you can access the mighty Toledo Bend Reservoir. This waterbody is in the Sabine River, which separates Louisiana from Texas. Toledo Bend Reservoir is consistently at the top of every bass angler’s list. Ten-pound largemouth bass are common here. Other trophy fish you can find in the reservoir are striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, crappie, bluegill, white perch, and yellow bass.
If South Toledo Bend State Park proves too crowded for you, you can still enjoy bass fishing at Anacoco Lake. You can access this underrated lake at many public access points, but the best way to fish here is via the boat ramps at Methodist Landing Recreational Park, the Anacoco Lake Spillway Store, and RV Park. The lake has a healthy population of crappie, sunfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish.
Another productive yet peaceful fishing spot in the region is Vernon Lake. This lake has varying depths, from deep channels and open waters to shallow areas; it has plenty of largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish. It can accommodate different types of boats, from canoes to powerboats.
A portion of Louisiana’s only state forest, Kisatchie National Forest, is accessible from Vernon Parish. From the Vernon Unit of the forest, anglers can fly fish at the Blue Hole Pond and Fullerton Lake; in the woods, other popular water bodies include the Dugdemona River and Saline Bayou, both good wade-fishing waters. Catahoula District has three streams where anglers enjoy fly and spin fishing for rainbow trout. Meanwhile, largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, sand bass, and crappie can be targeted at Beaver Dam Campground in the Caney Ranger District.
See the oldest Protestant Church still in operation today at Holly Grove Road. Or walk through the first graveyard built in Vernon Parish, The Old Mitchell Graveyard.
Camp, hike, bike, or spot some bald eagle— there’s plenty to see and experience at South Toledo Bend State Park apart from its legendary bass fishing.