Larto Lake in Catahoula Parish: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Larto Lake stands in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. Everything around it is open plain. It covers about 3.9 sq miles, which means weather matters as much as tactics. The perimeter is close to 24 miles, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. It is the biggest water on our Catahoula Parish list. The closest town, Deville, is 14 miles distant. Baton Rouge sits 78 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Larto Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Biodiversity records within roughly six miles include channel catfish, common carp, gizzard shad and sauger. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. At Larto Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 82°F, with January the cold end at about 48°F. Heat sets the pattern from late spring onward. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. It sets the rhythm of the year at Larto Lake. After heavy rain, give the water a day to settle.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a reservoir by origin, with the deepest water near the dam. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Round Brake at 1 mile is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Larto Lake.