Lakes around America are formed in a lot of different ways. Most are just natural. Others are captured by placing spillways across rivers and streams. Sometimes flooding and levee construction forms lakes. But Lake Bistineau, located in Webster, Bossier and Bienville parishes in northwestern Louisiana, may hold the distinction of being the only lake to ever form because of a logjam. Way back in the 1800’s a huge logjam on the nearby Red River backed water up Bayou Dorcheat and formed the lake. The water level ebbed and flowed for years, but in 1942 a large dam and spillway were completed at the southern end of the lake to maintain a constant water level. Since that time, the lake has been a go-to spot for area largemouth bass, crappie and catfishermen. The lake is a long, narrow waterway of 15,550 acres. Most all of the lake is thick with cypress and tupelo gum trees and there isn’t much deep water. The most consistent deep water is in the old Bayou Dorcheat channel, which meanders the entire length of the 14-mile long lake. The name comes from the Caddo Indians and means “big broth” because of the variety of plant life found around and in the water of the lake. The lake has thousands of submerged stumps and looks like a swamp with so many cypress trees. There are channels in and around most areas that take anglers back into fish holding sloughs and flats. The sloughs are deeper areas that are key to finding fish most of the year. The flats are shallower area where fish visit in the spring for spawning. Most look alike, so knowledge of the lake or a good depth finder is essential. Some sloughs have signs tacked to trees that identify them.

Fishing Lake Bistineau

Average bass are 2-3 pounds with 5-7 pounders being the “big bass” norm. However, several over 10 pounds have been caught and a recent fish sampling survey netted two 14 pounders. Because of the thick cypress tree structure, most anglers after bass either cast underhand, flip or pitch lures like jigs, worms and small spinnerbaits to get baits under the limbs. The best fishing is in February and March when the big fish are ready to spawn. The sheer number of trees leave so many options for fishing, narrowing them down can be tough. The best way to find fish is to focus on the depth. The male fish in the spring will be in the shallows and the big females will hang off on the edges of the sloughs and deeper areas. In the summer, anglers here often turn to the outer trees with big plastic baits. Because of the thick cover and aquatic grass, spinnerbaits and crank baits are almost impossible to fish. Crappie utilize the shallow areas for spawning in the spring. Many anglers forego the spring spawn fishing because the fish have so many places to hide that you can’t even get a boat to them. As the water warms and they move out to the channels, fishermen take advantage of the large number of crappie in the lake. Fall and winter are perhaps the most productive times, even though fishermen have to share the lake with duck hunters much of the winter. If you can’t remember which lure is best on this lake for crappie, just think about dancing — do the Bistineau jig. The locally made jig named after the lake has a pink head wrapped in purple thread and chartreuse hair. It’s a favorite with Bistineau crappie. Recently 14 fish-attracting brush tops were deployed into Lake Bistineau. Catching crappie from brush tops on the edge of the channels is a time- honored Lake Bistineau tradition. The brush tops are marked with reflective metal signs so they are easily identifiable by anglers.

Visiting Lake Bistineau

Anglers break the lake into three areas — the upper section from Bayou Dorcheat itself down to Port O’ Bistineau boat launch; the middle section from Port O’ Bistineau to the Gregg Lake area and the lower lake from Gregg Lake to the dam. Fishing is pretty much the same from one end of the lake to the other. Like many older, shallow lakes, Bistineau has been plagued by new infestations of giant salvinia. Fortunately, regular drawdowns, freezes and the addition of weevils that eat these plants are helping to manage it. Although the lake is in a rural area, several restaurants are located on the shores of the lake or nearby, and both Minden and Shreveport offer a multitude of eating, shopping and entertainment choices.