Lake Charles, Louisiana Overview
Lake Charles, Louisiana is called “The City of Lakes” because it has enough nearby bodies of water that most anglers could spend a lifetime fishing there and never get to all of the spots. The lake that the city gets its name from is also named Lake Charles and is filled with freshwater from the Calcasieu River. Saltwater flows in from the Gulf of Mexico flows making the lake brackish and creating an ideal environment for popular coastal sportfish to thrive.
Fishing Lake Charles
Anglers will find familiar inshore species in the rich brackish waters of Lake Charles. With the mixed water in the lake, there is a mix of both fresh and saltwater species that live here. The most popular saltwater species include redfish, black drum, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead and even cobia occasionally venture into the lake. For freshwater species, the usual suspects including bass, catfish, and sunfish also live here but don't grow as large as they do in freshwater lakes.
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Unlike Calcasieu Lake,Lake Charles is protected from the wind which makes it a great spot to fish during the winter months. With such a wide variety of fish and a diverse environment, Lake Charles has exceptional fishing opportunities that are perfect for any trip.
Lake Charles Speckled trout
While Lake Charles is a small body of water the environment is diverse and offers the perfect habitat for three of America’s favorite gamefish. With the shipping channel on the edge of the lake, there is deep water which is great for catching speckled trout in the winter. The speckled trout fishing is so good because of the varied terrain which allows anglers to target these fish in almost any depth of water.
Lake Charles Redfish & Black Drum
The lake is also home to redfish and black drum thanks to the mix of fresh and saltwater. Red and black drum thrive in estuaries like Lake Charles with an abundance of food resources to choose from. When the bull reds are running in Lake Charles it’s one of the best fishing spots in the state with some of the biggest fish in the state passing through the area.
Lake Charles Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass are also a fan favorite here thanks to the river that feeds the area. The bass are more likely to be found up the river where lower salinity favors freshwater fish. The bass produced on the Calcasieu River have been known to grow over double digits but consistent bites from six pound bass make for an amazing trip.
Things to Do in Lake Charles
Lake Charles is a city with plenty of things to do with plenty of nearby lakes and casinos. The casinos around the area are perfect if you want an exciting evening out. If you can’t get enough of the action on the water you can check out the Calcasieu River, Calcasieu Lake, and Prien Lake for similarly incredible fishing. Lake Charles is also home to the Mardi Gras museum if you are looking for a bit of history.
Lake Charles Weather
Check out the weather forecast for Lake Charles here to be better prepared for your trip.
