Cottonport, LA Fishing: Quaint Entry Point to the Red River System

Cottonport is a small and lively locale in historic Avoyelles Parish in Central Louisiana. This intimate community wears its Native American and French heritage on its sleeves, making it a wonderfully fascinating place to immerse in. It is situated near the heart of the parish, with easy access to both the cities and the more rural spots of the region.

Before French descendants settled in Cottonport and the parish, the area was once inhabited by the Avoyel Indians. Once Cottonport was established by the settlers along the banks of Bayou Rouge, it quickly became a thriving port. Back then, the bayou was still deep enough for large boats to ply, so its port was once a hotspot for ships exporting crops. Its most notable export was cotton, hence the name.

Bayou Rouge is no longer navigable after being blocked as part of the area’s development. However, it remains an essential natural backdrop for the town. Locals go to the bayou for the annual Christmas Festival and take their kids to children’s fishing tournaments.

Fishing in Cottonport and the rest of the parish is a big deal, as it is in most of the state. This area provides top-notch passage to streams, bayous, and waterways that you can fish all year round. Some of the best Louisiana inshore fishing charters consider this area their home, making it a fantastic addition to your southern fishing trip.

Cottonport Fishing

Fishing in Louisiana offers adventurous anglers a diverse range of opportunities — from Venice offshore fishing to bowfishing and everything in between. Cottonport and Avoyelles Parish add to the diversity of fishing opportunities by giving anglers access to the Red River System, considered one of the richest spots you can include in your jam-packed Louisiana fishing trips.

Spring Bayou Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is part of the Red River backwater system. Approximately 40% of the area is water — various lakes, bayous, sloughs, and bays. Its forest cover is rich with several types of foliage, making it a healthy place for diverse wildlife. The area offers hunting, trapping, fishing, and boating opportunities.

The bayou is a favorite fishing spot for locals, especially during the spring and summer. Its most common targets include largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and various panfish species. To keep the fishing excellent, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) typically holds drawdowns for the bayou to improve its fish habitat and control invasive aquatic vegetation. During such times, daily creel limits will be imposed.

Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge was developed to protect the Mississippi and Red River floodplain ecosystem. The refuge is lush with bottomland hardwood forest combined with croplands, fields, and cypress-tupelo breaks. Surrounding and flowing through the area are bayous, lakes, sloughs, ponds, and sections of the Red River. It supports diverse vegetation, attracting wildlife of many kinds — birds and other waterfowl, mammals, reptiles, insects, and fish. Some of the most common fish species anglers can catch in the refuge are largemouth bass, gar, bowfin, bluegill, carp, catfish, and crappie. Apart from excellent fishing, the area is also visited by many migratory songbirds. Sometimes, the endangered arctic peregrine falcon might make an appearance. The refuge prides itself on its bald eagle reintroduction project and is one of the best places to spot a bald eagle in the wild.

The Red River is considered by bass anglers a top bass fishery. It has even been included in the list of Top 100 Bass Lakes in the state by Bassmaster. The rich river starts near the Oklahoma-Texas border, flowing south into Arkansas and Louisiana. The Louisiana section of the river begins at the border with Arkansas, ending where the river joins the Lower Old River and the Atchafalaya River near Simmesport. It is called the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway, with five locks and dams on the river — Pool 1 near Marksville, Pool 2 below Alexandria, Pool 3 at Natchitoches, Pool 4 at Coushatta, and Pool 5 near the end at Shreveport-Bossier.

This part of the Red River, particularly Pools 3, 4, and 5, has been a venue for the Bassmaster Classic tournament, so that should clue you in on its incredible bass numbers. They should be included in anyone’s Louisiana fishing tours. The pools in the water system greatly vary in the influx of water and clarity. The clarity of the water can also change due to rainfall runoff. There are plenty of oxbows and backwaters in the river as well. Each pool is 12 to 13 miles long.

While the pools have been a particular favorite for bass experts, the river system’s reputation was tarnished by the floods that occurred in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Much of the water was silted in, the vegetation washed out, and some dams and rock walls toppled over due to the floods ravaging the area. About 50% of the fishable waters were lost, and the toppled-over structures made the water harder to navigate. However, local guides quickly note that the pools have not lost their fish, particularly the bass, which are still at home with all the woody cover in the river system. If you’re new to the area, your best chance at catching bass and staying safe is by booking a local fishing guide who knows the area inside out — including navigating the water system’s tricky waters and where the fishable spots are.

Top 10 Fish Species in Cottonport

The top 10 fish species found in Cottonport, LA, are largemouth bass, striped bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, bowfin, gar, crappie, and bluegill.

Seasonal Fishing

Spring and summer are the peak fishing seasons in Cottonport and Avoyelles Parish, owing to its bass, catfish, and panfish populations. Bass are best targeted in the early spring during the pre-spawning season. They get active yet again in the fall. Catfish is your best bet in the region if you’re fishing during summer. Fishing turns less active around the colder months in winter, though you’ll still find some crappie from November to February in their pre-spawning season. If you’re looking for gar, the best months are July and August, when you can find them in the shallows during pre-spawning and spawning seasons.

Immerse in the Heritage of Cottonport

Cottonport is a rich and picturesque community. It might not have the usual tourist spots, but it’s an excellent destination if you want an authentic Louisiana experience.

1. Book a Fishing Guide

The Red River system is quite a tricky fishing hole for newbies and experts who are not local to the area. The same can be said for all your Louisiana fishing trip destinations. Book a fishing charter to enjoy a safe and productive fishing trip in Louisiana and anywhere. Louisana has some of the fishing charters in the south, including Tapped-Out Charters in Lafitte, Serigne's Fishing Charters and Cajun Outcast Inshore Charters in Saint Bernard, and Fowl Language Guide Service in Marksville. Just don’t forget your fishing license!

2. Visit the Cottonport Museum and Cultural Center

The Cottonport Museum tells the story of the locale with its beautiful displays depicting the intimate history of the place. It is notable for placing importance on the ordinary lives of its people through the years. It is housed in the former Cottonport Drug Store.

3. Spot the Historical Markers

Avoyelles Parish pays homage to its history with many markers around the area. See if you can spot the Historic Oaks of Cottonport, supposedly the oaks planted by Joseph Ducote II. Ducote donated part of his property along Bayou Rouge, which would later grow into what we now know as Cottonport.