Broussard, LA Fishing: An Angling Paradise on the Mountain Ridge

Found in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Broussard lies on the flood plain of one of the old meandering trails of the Mississippi River. Broussard is geographically situated within the parishes of Lafayette and St. Martin.

French-speaking Acadians who first settled in the region originally named this particular area of Broussard 'Cote Gelee' or frozen hills, mainly because of its hilly ridge geography and the extreme winter of 1784. Broussard was founded in 1884. Acadians named Broussard after Valsin Broussard, a well-known local trader who formed the first vigilante committee, the Cote Gelee Vigilance Committee, after a group of bandits robbed his store. Valsin Broussard is a direct descendant of Joseph Gaurhept Broussard de Beau Soleil, one of the first 200 Acadians to settle in Louisiana in 1765 aboard the Santo Domingo. Broussard was designated a city in 2002.

Broussard's agricultural resources include sugarcane, soybean, and hay production. Horse and cattle farming have also been the main economic driver of Broussard. The development of petroleum mining activity on the Louisiana gulf coast and Broussard's location near the US Highway 90 advanced the growth of commercial activity in the community into the oil and gas manufacturing and services industry. Broussard has seen progress in residential development from being a horse-and-buggy community. Broussard is a unique city and serves as a way to access many fishing locations in the parishes of Lafayette and St. Martin.

Broussard Fishing

Anglers can easily access water without the need to travel very far from Broussard. Lake Martin is a famous wildlife preserve and one of Louisiana's most visited swamplands. The lake is excellent for largemouth bass, crappie, and sunfish fishing. Anglers can hook fish species in the lake, such as crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, blue catfish, freshwater drum, common carp, and common bream. Lake Martin is ideal for kayak fishing. Bank fishing is a widely observed fishing technique in the lake. Lake Martin follows strict put-and-take fishing, where anglers can catch the stocked fish in the water. Aside from being a haven for fishing, Lake Martin is famous as a bird-watching bucket list destination. It is a paradise for birdwatchers. Many nesting waterbirds, including the great blue heron, great egret, and white ibis, visit the lake. Lake Martin is also home to more than 1,000 alligators. The lake is utilized as a rookery year-round for many species. Other reptiles and amphibians, including snakes, turtles, lizards, and frogs, are also common in the lake and surrounding bushes. Nutria, also known as coypu, is one of the most commonly-sighted animals in Lake Martin. Coypu is a sizeable invasive rodent believed to have escaped a fur production facility back in the 1030s during a hurricane.

Spreafico Lake is a reservoir located just 1.4 miles from Broussard and Lafayette near Beavers Park and Lil Woods Park. The lake has a boat launch, fishing docks, a small playground, a picnic area, a bike path, and benches that anglers can utilize. Fishing in Spreafico Lake is open to the public. Largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, channel catfish, black crappie, blue catfish, alligator gar, and rock bass are some species that anglers can hook from Spreafico Lake. Bank fishing is allowed in the lake, as well as fly fishing. Anglers can also use a boat for fishing in the lake.

Anglers can find Charlo Lake by traveling to the northern part of Broussard. Charlo Lake is located southeast of Lafayette Regional Airport and southeast of Beavers Park. Boat ramps and launches are found in the lake area for a fun boat ride and fishing. Charlo Lake is a secluded area. Anglers can target various fish species in Charlo Lake, such as largemouth bass, black crappie, blue catfish, bowfin, channel catfish, and pumpkinseed. Aside from the fish species that anglers can hook here, it is also home to spoonbills, osprey, owls, alligators, and bald eagles. Anglers can access the lake by launching a boat from Beaver Park. They can also go drift fishing in the lake.

Bayou Tortue, known initially as Bayou Queue de Tortue or turtle-tail bayou, is a partly navigatable waterway in the Mermentau River basin of southern Louisiana. Bayou Tortue starts near Lafayette and through Broussard. The bayou forms the natural border dividing Lafayette Parish and Acadia Parish to the west and Acadia Parish and Vermilion Parish to the south. The fish anglers can capture in the bayou are black crappie, white crappie, largemouth bass, spotted bass, bowfin, bluegill, black drum, and blue catfish. Anglers are permitted to fish from the Bayou Tortue Bridge. LaSalle Coulee is a stream that runs through Broussard. It is a perfect spot for anglers targetting largemouth bass, bluegill, red drum, yellow bullhead, freshwater drum, white crappie, and blue catfish. Anglers can fly fishing and bank fishing in the lake but are urged to follow the put-and-take rule strictly. 

Before fishing for the current season's most up-to-date rules and regulations, anglers are advised to check the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries page.

Top 10 Fish Species in Broussard, LA

The top 10 fish species found in Broussard, LA, are crappie, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass, bluegill, blue catfish, freshwater drum, common carp, common bream, bowfin, and channel catfish.

Seasonal Fishing

Broussard experiences a long, hot, and oppressive summer season, while the winters are short, cold, and windy. Summer is the perfect time to aim for catfish. Blue catfish spawn every late spring or early summer, while channel catfish breeding season is from May to July. For anglers seeking to hook crappie, spring and summer are the ideal seasons to head out and cast the lines. Crappie usually lay their eggs in warmer waters. Bass fishing is open year-round, but they are best caught during spring. In the spring, largemouth bass begin their spawning season. Bluegill spawn annually from April through October; their breeding season primes between May and June. Spring and early summer are the most appropriate seasons to target them. Freshwater drum spawn between April and May in large schools in open water. Freshwater drum are available all year round. Common carp spawn season in Louisiana commences in late spring and runs till mid-summer. Anglers aiming to hook big carp are advised to do it during spring. Common bream is best targeted when the moon is full in spring and early summer. They spawn from April to June. Pumpkinseed spawning period start from May to July and the best time to target them is during the spawning season.

Engage on a Memorable Journey in Broussard

1. Book A Fishing Charter

Enjoy a peaceful fishing trip at the lakes, bayous, and streams with the help of a fishing charter. Take advantage of the scenic view without worrying about your following fishing location. Broussard is a pivotal point to various water bodies, provides excellent freshwater fishing opportunities, and offers a great experience for catching massive fish species.

2. Zoo Day at Zoosiana

Zoosiana provides children and families with a fun and delightful experience to learn about our planet's wildlife. Zoosiana is home to over a thousand animals from 125 species. The zoo takes care of some species deemed to be endangered. The guests' favorite animals include the giraffe family, white tiger, white-handed Lar gibbons, and alligators. Zoosiana also helped and accommodated many animal births over the past 25 years, such as Scimitar-horned Oryx, Clouded Leopards, Scarlet Macaws, Giraffe, Ring-tailed Lemurs, and Spur-thighed Tortoises.

3. Camp at Maxie’s Campground

Lodged under beautiful trees, Maxie's Campground was founded in 1968 by couple Maxie and Veda Girouard. Maxie and Veda's love of the RV lifestyle is why the campground was born. Maxie's Campground has been in business and has been Broussard for 53 years. Maxie's Campground offers all you will need during the camp, from a  newly remodeled bathhouse and laundry facility, excellent WiFi connection, and even clean and affordable RVs.