While many people think of Louisiana’s best fishing is in the salty waters of its coast, the Baton Rouge area offers plenty of public fishing ponds that are great for beginners, families, and experienced anglers. You don’t have to drive very far to catch a fish!
Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Tangipahoa parishes have many fishing ponds at public parks that you can fish at year-round. The most common species in these ponds are bluegill, largemouth bass, and channel catfish.
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Some of these ponds will be stocked with catfish in the spring and summer months and rainbow trout in the winter months by BREC or the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).
Click here for more information on catfish and trout pond stockings
Keep in mind, when fishing at any public pond you must follow all LDWF freshwater fishing regulations.
Anglers 16 years of age and older must have a basic Louisiana fishing license. For more on freshwater fishing regulations in Louisiana, click here.
List of public fishing spots in the Baton Rouge Area
Ascension Parish:
- Lamar Dixon-Expo Center – 9039 S St Landry Ave, Gonzales, La.
East Baton Rouge Parish:
- Blackwater Conservation Area – 9385 Blackwater Road, Baton Rouge, La.
- Burbank Park -12400 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, La. (Check LDWF’s website for dates of catfish and trout stockings for this pond)
- Central Sports Park – 10501 Lovett, Central, La.
- City Brooks Community Park – 1515 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, La.
- Doyle’s Bayou – 7801 Port Hudson-Pride Road, Pride, La.
- Flanacher Road Park – 864 Flanacher Road, Zachary, La.
- Forest Community Park – 13950 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge, La.
- Greenwood Community Park – 13350 Hwy. 19, Baker, La.
- Hartley/Vey Sports Park – 2615 Oak Villa Blvd., Baton Rouge, La.
- Hooper Road Park – 6261 Guynell Drive, Baton Rouge, La.
- Howell Community Park – 5509 Winbourne Avenue, Baton Rouge, La.
- Milford Wampold Memorial Park – 901 Stanford Ave., Baton Rouge, La.
- North Sherwood Forest Community Park – 3140 N. Sherwood Forest Drive Baton Rouge, La.
- Palomino Drive Park – 14100 Palomino Drive Central, La.
- Perkins Road Community Park – 7122 Perkins Road Baton Rouge, La.
- Zachary Community Park – Hwy. 964, Zachary, La.
Livingston Parish:
- Sidney Hutchinson Park – 13750 Ball Park Rd, Walker, La. 70785 (Check LDWF’s Get Out and Fish website for dates of catfish and trout stockings for this pond)
Tangipahoa Parish:
- Zemurray Park – 400 S Oak St, Hammond, La. 70403 (Check LDWF’s Get Out and Fish website for dates of catfish and trout stockings for this pond)