RM
Russ McVey's Guide Service
Doyline, LA
Fishes Lake Bistineau
Reservoir · Northwest Louisiana · Louisiana
Lake Bistineau Fishing Guides and Conditions, Louisiana
An old, shallow, cypress-filled lake south of Shreveport with a long history, a persistent salvinia problem, and excellent fishing when the vegetation is under control.
Gauge location. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Guides on the Lake Bistineau
Claimed profiles take booking requests. Unclaimed profiles are built from public records so the river is never empty; the guide can claim or remove one any time.
About the Lake Bistineau
Lake Bistineau is one of the older lakes in Louisiana, a shallow cypress-filled water south of Shreveport that was formed when the Red River raft dammed the Loggy Bayou drainage and later stabilised behind a dam. It is dark, shallow and full of standing timber, and it looks more like a flooded forest than a reservoir.
Largemouth bass fishing around the cypress, the stumps and the vegetation is the main draw, and it is close-quarters fishing: flipping and pitching to cover rather than covering water. Crappie fishing around the timber is very good, and the bream and redear fishing in early summer is excellent. Chain pickerel and bowfin add fish that fight harder than their reputation suggests.
The defining management problem here is giant salvinia, an invasive floating fern that can cover large areas of the lake and make it unfishable. The state has fought it with drawdowns and treatment for years, and those drawdowns are themselves a major feature of the lake calendar. Anyone planning a trip should check the current status rather than assume.
When the lake is in good condition it is one of the most pleasant places to fish in the state, quiet and shaded and full of cover. It is also a genuinely good paddling lake, and a kayak gets into the back of the timbered arms where a bass boat cannot follow.
The gauge below reports pool elevation. On Bistineau that number carries more meaning than usual, because a deliberate drawdown to control vegetation is a normal part of the year rather than an emergency, and it changes the lake completely.
Pool right now
134.84ft NGVD29
- 24 hours-0.11 ft ↓ falling
Reading taken 1h ago at USGS 07349250, Lake Bistineau near Ringgold, LA. Elevation is the surface of the lake above the survey datum, not depth. Source.
Fished this water? Add a photo
Reviewed by hand before it appears. Pick the water, not the spot — we never publish exact locations.
Access
Lake Bistineau State Park: ramps, cabins and camping on the east side.
Public ramps at Ringgold, Doyline and Koran: spread around the lake.
Bayou Dorcheat arm: the upper end, shallow and heavily timbered.
Dam area near Ringgold: the deepest water and the gauge.
Bank access is limited outside the state park.
Shreveport and Minden are the nearest towns with services.
Note: drawdowns for vegetation control are routine. Check the level before you go.
Seasons
Winter: crappie on the timber and a drawdown often in progress.
Spring: the refill, the bass and crappie spawn, and the best fishing of the year.
Summer: bream on the beds, bass in the shade, and salvinia at its worst.
Fall: cooling water, clearing vegetation, and steady bass and crappie fishing.
From the water
No logged trips yet. Be the first to put this water on your map.
Log this water
Fished it or cleaned it? Log in or create a free account to log a trip with photos and earn the waterway badge.
Questions
What species can you catch on the Lake Bistineau?
Anglers target Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, White Crappie on the Lake Bistineau in Louisiana.
Are there fishing guides on the Lake Bistineau?
GuidedFloats lists 1 guide and outfitters on the Lake Bistineau. Claimed profiles accept booking requests; unclaimed profiles are built from public records and link to the business.
Where can you access the Lake Bistineau?
Lake Bistineau State Park: ramps, cabins and camping on the east side. Public ramps at Ringgold, Doyline and Koran: spread around the lake. Bayou Dorcheat arm: the upper end, shallow and heavily timbered. Dam area near Ringgold: the deepest water and the gauge. Bank access is limited outside the state park. Shreveport and Minden are the nearest towns with services. Note: drawdowns for vegetation control are routine. Check the level before you go.
When is the best time to fish the Lake Bistineau?
Winter: crappie on the timber and a drawdown often in progress. Spring: the refill, the bass and crappie spawn, and the best fishing of the year. Summer: bream on the beds, bass in the shade, and salvinia at its worst. Fall: cooling water, clearing vegetation, and steady bass and crappie fishing.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Lake Bistineau?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Louisiana agency site: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/recreational-fishing