Bossier City, LA Fishing: Riverfront City Angling Adventure

Bossier City is situated in northwestern Louisiana, part of the Bossier Parish. It is the most crowded city in the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan statistical area, next to Shreveport. Bossier City is found on the eastern bank of the Red River. It is tied, economically and socially, to Shreveport, its larger sister city, which is located on the opposite bank. Bossier City is the biggest city in Louisiana that is not held as the parish seat.

The Bossier City area was known to be the Elysian Grove plantation. It was purchased by James Cane and his wife, Mary Doal Cilley Bennett Cane. Anna B., the granddaughter of James and Mary Cane, deemed the Bossier City area would thrive and started promoting the idea of a riverfront city. As the city grew faster, so did transportation around it. In 1803, the unincorporated settlement where immigrants lived was often called Cane City. Around 1907, Cane City was incorporated by former Louisiana Governor Newton C. Blanchard and renamed Bossier City. From the late 1930s to the 70s, Bossier was known for its entertainment district, The Bossier Strip. Bossier also started to host three riverboat casino gambling resorts along the east bank of the Red River. The sister city of Shreveport-Bossier is the festival capital of North Louisiana. Tourists flock to Bossier to watch and witness the Mardi Gras.

With its characteristic as a riverfront city, Bossier offers opportunities for anglers wanting to explore the area's fishing locations.

Bossier Fishing

The eastern bank of the Red River faces Bossier City. It joins the cities of Bossier City and Shreveport. Aside from fishing, the Red River system offers various recreational activities, including tubing, skiing, boating, kayaking, and more. The river was one of the US's top 25 bass fishing destinations. The famous Bassmaster Classic has held two tournaments in Red River in the past years. Aside from bass, anglers can catch channel catfish, crappie, and bluegill in the river system. The river has an area for boat launches; anglers can also try kayak fishing. Twelvemile Bayou and Cross Bayou are tributaries of the Red River. Twelvemile Bayou offers largemouth bass, blue catfish, freshwater drum, white crappie, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, garfish, and yellow bullhead.

Flag Lake lies near the border of Bossier City. Anglers can catch largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, bowfin, spotted gar, redear sunfish, and blue catfish in the area. The lake area has hiking trails for extra outdoor activities. It also has a parking space for traveling anglers. Boat ramps are available in the area, as well as banks for bank fishing. Harmon Lake, located near Flag Lake, is a reservoir near Bossier City that holds fish species like largemouth bass, channel catfish, spotted gar, bluegill, spotted bass, white bass, black crappie, white crappie, bowfin, and smallmouth bass. Anglers aiming to take home white crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bowfin, freshwater drum, smallmouth bass, and black crappie are welcome to fish in the waters of Flat River, a stream that runs through Bossier Parish. Mack's Bayou is connected to the Flat River, which flows throughout Bossier. The bayou is the perfect place to fish for largemouth bass, yellow bullhead, freshwater drum, bowfin, smallmouth bass, alligator gar, blue catfish, and bluegill. Trophy bass and bluegill are the top species anglers can catch in Red Chute Bayou.

Bossier City is an excellent location for fishing. Numerous lakes and streams surround the area. Massive largemouth bass and bowfin can be found in Green Lake, Swan Lake, and Round Lake. Meanwhile, Willow Chute, a stream located in the northern part of Bossier, is abundant with largemouth bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, bowfin, alligator gar, bluegill, and striped bass. Traveling to the southern region of Bossier is where Stumpy Lake and Moon Lake await. Stumpy Lake is a spot to visit when targeting fish species bowfin, channel catfish, yellow bullhead, white crappie, and flathead catfish. On the other hand, Moon Lake is where anglers can catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, alligator gar, bowfin, black crappie, and bluegill.

Anglers prefer to fish in Bossier City because of its family-friendly environment. Bossier City's fishing locations have facilities that anglers can utilize, such as docks and piers. Fly fishing, baitcasting, bank fishing, kayak fishing, drift fishing, and light tackle fishing are the techniques often used by anglers. When fishing, choosing the most suitable bait is essential. Fish are more attracted to live prey, but plastic bait and electronic lures are still widely used in the absence of live bait.

Anglers are encouraged to purchase appropriate licenses and permits when fishing in Louisiana. The state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has set bag and possession limits for the various fish species.

Top 10 Fish Species in Bossier City, LA

The top 10 fish species found in Bossier City, LA, are crappie, white bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, bowfin, redear sunfish, spotted gar, freshwater drum, and blue catfish.

Seasonal Fishing

Crappie can be caught year-round, but the best time to capture them is during the spring spawning season. Catfish species have a particular spawning duration. Blue catfish breed every spring or summer when the temperatures commence to warm, while channel catfish begin their breeding period during the early summer days. Anglers catch bluegill during spring and the early weeks of summer. These times are the most suitable seasons to target them. Unlike bluegill, redear sunfish have only one spawning period, which takes place during the early spring. Bossier is known for fantastic bass fishing. Bass season is open year-round, but spring is the perfect time to target bass. Largemouth bass spawn during spring, while the spawning season for the white bass is from mid-March to late May. Anglers stand their best attempt at catching bowfin during spring. It is the time when bowfin occasionally gather in small groups to begin their spawning course. June and July provide anglers with the most impressive freshwater drum fishing conquest. They typically breed once a year for six to seven weeks in late spring to early summer. Summer is the time anglers go for spotted gar fishing. Their spawning season begins from April to May in shallow water with low flow and rich vegetation.

A Quick Trip to the Beautiful Bossier City

Aside from fishing, Bossier City offers places tourists can enjoy while learning about Bossier's history and its people. Here are some activities and areas visitors to Bossier City can do and see.

1. Book A Fishing Charter

With its adjacency to the Red River, Bossier and Shreveport are where anglers can find several fishing charters that offer extraordinary angling experiences. Boat rental services and bait and tackle shops are usually located near fishing locations. Anglers fishing in the waters in Bossier are advised to hire a fishing charter and a charter captain as they are a big help, especially when navigating the area for the first time.

2. Museum Tours Are Always A Good Idea

Mardi Gras fans are encouraged to visit the Krewe of Gemini Mardi Gras Museum, where beautiful intricate costumes and displays that showcases the history of the festival in northern Louisiana are displayed. Tourists interested in war history are welcome to tour around Barksdale Global Power Museum. The museum shows the history of Strategic Bombardment at the home of the 2nd Bomb Wing, the mighty 8th Air Force, and the new Air Force Global Strike Command. It is located at Barksdale Air Force Base, an Active Duty military installation.  

3. Time For Family Fun Adventure!

The Party Central Fun Center is perfect for family-friendly entertainment. The center features an arcade center, jungle gym, go-karts, and kiddie rides. Visitors can also visit and try their miniature golf course, batting cages, bungee trampoline, and rock climbing wall. It is open to tourists, whether kids or kids-at-heart.