Fishing at Johnson Lake, Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  This water sits in Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Elevation runs to 36 feet. The nearest place of any size is Pearlington, 5.4 miles away. For a city, New Orleans is 34 miles off. Water in the same corner: Perch Lake lies 2.3 miles on, Scarborough Lake 2.3 miles away, Bullock Lake lies 3 miles on, Cotton Box Pond 3.9 miles away and Holden Pond lies 4 miles on. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists blue catfish, longnose gar and gizzard shad. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Work Johnson Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 82°F, the coldest about 51°F. Summer is the season to work around, not winter. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. It holds true on Johnson Lake more years than not. As the season turns, fish follow food rather than temperature alone.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Perch Lake sits 2.3 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Johnson Lake in what we hold.