Fishing at Old Jail Lake, Washington Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  Louisiana holds Old Jail Lake, in Washington Parish. Salt water lies 37 miles off. At roughly 8 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The nearest place of any size is Bogalusa, 5.5 miles away. Then Poplarville, 15 miles, and Carriere, 18 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Old Jail Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include gulf logperch, threadfin shad, gizzard shad, longear sunfish and blacktail shiner. Check the state or provincial list before planning around one species. The shape of Old Jail Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 81°F in July and bottom out at 49°F in January. Winter is simply the pleasant end of an unbroken season. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. The season on Old Jail Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Gator Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. For Old Jail Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.