Fishing at Lake Toms, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  Look for Lake Toms in the Vermilion Parish part of Louisiana. The country round it is warm bottomland from end to end. It measures about 28 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. On size it sits at the modest end of our Vermilion Parish list. Erath is the closest place, 23 miles off. The big place round here is Lafayette, 40 miles distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lake Toms

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Time trips to the tide table rather than the clock here. Tide runs this water, so time the session to the flow. The mouth fishes hardest when the run is at its strongest. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include shortnose gar, flathead grey mullet and blue catfish. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. Lake Toms gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 82°F on average, January about 52°F. Warm water year-round keeps fish moving through every month. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That is the shape of the year on Lake Toms.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. South Lake, 1.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Lake Toms.