Fishing Moon Lake in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  Moon Lake sits in Beauregard Parish, out in Louisiana. This is warm green lowland country. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. You are 3.7 miles from Merryville. After that come Newton at 11 miles and DeRidder at 17 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing. The shoreline gives more room than the map suggests.

• Where to Fish on Moon Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover spotted bass, bluegill, Rio Grande longear sunfish and blue sucker. The list reflects reported sightings and surveys rather than what is stocked. At Moon Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 82°F and January at 49°F. There is no cold season worth the name. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Moon Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out. Late evening often out-fishes the whole afternoon.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Horseshoe Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Moon Lake are worth checking on the day.