Fishing at Pace Lake, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  Pace Lake lies within the bounds of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. The setting is open plain on every side. It measures about 194 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.3 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. For a base, Sterlington sits 4.2 miles out. Shreveport is the closest city, 95 miles away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Pace Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records collected within a few miles name gizzard shad, bluegill, freshwater drum, black crappie and shortnose gar. It reflects what has been logged, which depends on who was looking. Fish Pace Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 82°F and January near 44°F. Long warm spells define the calendar more than any cold. 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. That shapes the year on Pace Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Wall Lake, 1.4 miles out. Rules at Pace Lake are worth checking on the day.