Coushatta, LA Fishing: Access to Top Bass Waterways

Coushatta is the parish seat of Red River Parish, located in the northern part of Louisiana. It is a small and deeply historic community. Its residents are predominantly African-American whose families had long lived in the area, most dating back to when Coushatta and the rest of the parish thrived on slave labor for their plantation economy. Coushatta takes its name from the Coushatta Native American tribe, inhabitants of the area who were forced out of their lands in Alabama and Georgia by white settlers. 

One of the most tumultuous parts of the area's history is the Coushatta Massacre during the Civil War. The massacre was launched with the attack of the White League, a paramilitary white supremacist group that sought to overthrow the Republicans from Louisiana. The attack resulted in the assassination of 6 white Republicans and an estimated 20 freedmen.

Red River Parish was established in 1871 from parts of Bienville, Caddo, Desoto, Bossier, and Natchitoches Parishes. It is one of the smallest in the state, but its fertile lands - part of the Mississippi River Watershed - more than make up for its size. The rich lands made the area a particularly productive plantation site for cash crops such as cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane. The parish continued to plant these crops well after the Civil War devastation, though the plantations disappeared soon after. Nowadays, the parish cares about preserving the area’s natural resources by building refuges to protect them.

Anglers looking for freshwater charters to join should include Coushatta and Red River Parish in their Louisiana fishing itinerary. The area in and around this tiny locale lends itself to productive fishing and other outdoor recreational activities with its excellent facilities and well-preserved natural surroundings.

Coushatta Fishing

If you're an angler who wants to experience the best of many worlds, fishing in Louisiana should be on your list. The Sportsman's Paradise offers a range of fishing experiences - from calm scenic fishing to high-octane deep-sea fishing and everything in between. Louisiana offshore fishing and freshwater fishing charters are some of the best in the world of fishing, so booking a trip with one of them is an experience in and of itself.

Coushatta offers inshore fishing experiences that could rival your Venice offshore fishing adventure. From Coushatta, anglers can directly access the Red River waterway. Officially known as the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway, this Louisiana section of the rich river is a top bass fishery. Apart from being included in the Bassmaster list of the Top 100 Bass Lakes in the state, it's also a favorite venue for many regional and national bass tournaments and derbies. Its top catch include largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, bluegill, sunfish, buffalo, carp, gar, and bowfin.

The Louisiana waterway has five locks and dams. Between each lock and dam is a pool 12 to 13 miles long: 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. Pools 3, 4, and 5, in particular, are usual fishing tournament venues. The pool near Coushatta, Pool 4, is considered the best fishery when the water levels are high. Most of the oxbows in Pool 4 are exposed to the river, which means they're more affected by the changing conditions in the river compared to the other pools.

One of Coushatta's best-kept secrets is a relatively new reservoir filled up in 1996. Grand Bayou Reservoir, officially named John K. Kelley Grand Bayou Reservoir, is a 2,700-acre lake that was originally a lunker lake. Today, it is more well-known as a "numbers lake" where you can fill your daily creel limit without a hitch. Its average depth is about 9 feet though it drops as deep as 30 feet in the old channel. The reservoir's upper end is mostly flats and brushes. Bass are typically found in the covers, such as gravel beds, docks, points, and drop-offs. Docks and shorelines are great spots to find them as well.

While its most common catch is the largemouth bass, anglers can find crappie in the lake. The lake is wide open, so finding the baitfish will work best in your favor when you can't find the trophies near the cover or structure. Another key to successful fishing in this lake is changing your pattern often, especially when the crappie are unpredictable.

The only public access to the Grand Beyou Reservoir is in Grand Bayou Resort, an 84-acre park with a boat ramp, marina, fish cleaning station, and fishing piers. Anglers can likewise choose to stay in the park overnight in their cabin accommodations and campground.

Top 10 Fish Species in Coushatta, LA

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

Seasonal Fishing

Louisiana fishing is productive all year round, except in winter when fishing slows down a bit. During summer, targeting schooling bass is great fun. Anglers will usually find them on main channels. If you want to try night fishing, summer is the best season to do so. Spring is always a good season for fishing, especially if you get there ahead of the crowd for the pre-spawn. Fall is quite productive as well - it's usually the best time to fish for lunkers in big numbers in the Grand Bayou Reservoir. While winter fishing may be less productive, patient anglers working the deep holes near the dam may land a solid catch.

Go Deep Into Nature in Coushatta

How do you like nature - a venue for active recreation or relaxing and escaping your worries? In Coushatta and Red River Parish, you can enjoy nature both ways. Take your friends and family for a beautiful Louisiana nature trip in Coushatta and Red River Parish.

1. Book a Fishing Guide

Ensure a safe and productive time fishing in Louisiana by booking a local master guide. Some of Louisiana's best include Serigne's Fishing Charters, Fowl Language Guide Service, Nock Em Dead Bowfishing Charters, and Get'n Hooked Inshore Adventures, each offering diverse fishing experiences with a side of Southern charm.

2. Stay in a Family-Friendly Cabin

Grand Bayou Outfitters is a few minutes from Coushatta, overlooking the Grand Bayou Reservoir. It's a small family-owned rental place offering one- and two-bedroom cabins. Each cabin is furnished for your convenience. Staying in such a cabin is the most comfortable way to immerse in nature and escape from the hustle and bustle of your daily life. 

3. Hunt, Bird-Watch, and Fish in a Wildlife Refuge Area

Loggy Bayou Wildlife Management Area is in the Red River Alluvial Valley in northwestern Louisiana, one of the region’s remaining bottomland hardwood territories. Apart from lush forest views, the WMA is a wonderland for hunters, anglers, and bird watchers. The most popular archery game is the white-tailed deer. Other game species in the area include rabbits, waterfowl, and squirrels. Tree lovers will love seeing the area’s different tree species, including hackberry, elm, honey locust, pecan, ash, willow, and more.