Fishing Maknockanut Lake in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  In Louisiana, Maknockanut Lake falls inside Catahoula Parish. This is oak and grass ground. At about 51 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The whole outline is near 1.0 miles, and most of it is walkable. Deville is the closest town at 14 miles. It is 83 miles to Baton Rouge, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Maknockanut Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include bluegill, black crappie, warmouth, bantam sunfish and bowfin. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish on the day. Anyone new to Maknockanut Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 82°F in July and bottom out at 47°F in January. The season runs year-round, with the peak either side of summer. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Expect Maknockanut Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Shad Lake is 3.2 miles distant. For Maknockanut Lake in particular, ask before you travel.