South Lake, Louisiana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  South Lake is a Vermilion Parish water, Louisiana side. The coast is 1.5 miles away. Roughly 112 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Roughly 1.6 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Vermilion Parish. Erath is the closest place, 21 miles off. Lafayette sits 39 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on South Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The tide is the timetable on this water; two hours either side of the change usually fish hardest. The mouth fishes hardest when the run is at its strongest. Oyster and old piling give the only hard structure in sight. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists blue catfish, threadfin shad and skipjack herring. Local agencies keep the authoritative list for each water. South Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 83°F and January about 52°F. Every month fishes, though midsummer narrows the useful hours. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to South Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Bob Lake is 1.2 miles off. Check the current arrangement for South Lake.