Lake Martin Fishing Guide, Saint Martin Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  The Saint Martin Parish entry here is Lake Martin, in Louisiana. The bank gives way to warm bottomland. At some 705 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shape is regular, which means fewer obvious ambush corners. The town to know is Breaux Bridge, 3.9 miles out. Lafayette sits 6.8 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Lake Martin

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include bluegill, yellow bullhead and black crappie. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. On Lake Martin the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 82°F, the coldest about 50°F. The season is continuous, with heat as the only real check. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lake Martin.

• Tackle & Baits

  This sits on public land, so access is generally straightforward. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Spreafico Lake, 5.7 miles away. For Lake Martin in particular, ask before you travel.