Prairie Lake Fishing Guide, Concordia Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  Set in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, this is Prairie Lake. What surrounds it is pine and hardwood. At 6 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Concordia Parish list. Simmesport sits 13 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 48 miles to Baton Rouge, the nearest city. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Prairie Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records collected within a few miles name brighteye darter, brown madtom, bluegill, channel catfish and dusky darter. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Prairie Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 82°F and January near 48°F on the long-run figures. Cold never closes this one. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It holds true on Prairie Lake more years than not. Conditions on the day matter more than the month on the calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Quarter Lake sits 4.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Prairie Lake.