I am going to be in the Lake Charles region am am looking for a recommendation for a nearby place to fish bass! Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

Bank or boat?

Most likely bank this time!

There is a small lake behind the Louisiana Tourist Center near the Sabine river bridge. I've been catching few on plastics.

Google Lacassine Wildlife Refuge, it doesn't open until March 15th, it produces double digit bass.

does that pond behind the welcome center allow kayaks?

It's actually a lake whose name eludes me right now, what y'all see from the bank aint half of it. It's connected to a hung marsh on the south side, I'm trying to find out if the marsh is open to the public. The marsh is connected to thr Sabine River on the east side. I've seen 3 boats with outboards wnhich means they came in from the Sabine. I see a lot of kayaks, Bass Raider type boats, & Jon Boats.

The lake has a healthy population of bass, white perch, & bream; I've caught bass up to 7 pounds.

Thanks for the info! Most appreciated!

Lacassine is another good banking fishing place, I've caughr 3 over 10# & 1 over 11# off the bank!

catt knows his stuff i live in lake charles. Bank wise best bets are lacassine and lake bienvineu(tourist bureau lake) feel free to pm me always up to fish. Not to mention i know a few spots bankwise on the river also

Calcasieu river has several local access points... Anthony Ferry boat launch, White Oak park, Sam Houston State park, English Bayou launch off of 171, Riverside Park/Launch in Westlake.

 

You can also make the drive to Sabine River and fish Nibletts Bluff Park.

Hello. I just recently moved to Lake Charles. What tourist center are y’all referring to? The lake Charles tourist center just has lake Charles behind it or at least that’s all I see on google maps. I googled lake bienvenue and nothing came up. I’ve been catching specs and a few reds but would love to catch some bass. Any help would be appreciated. 

@Brewp13 How y'all are? ?

 

Lake Charles is saltwater

 

Lake Bienvineu is behind the Toomey/Starks Visitor's Center off I10 near the Sabine River. The center is currently closed for renovations.

6 hours ago, Catt said:

@Brewp13 How y'all are? ?

 

Lake Charles is saltwater

 

Lake Bienvineu is behind the Toomey/Starks Visitor's Center off I10 near the Sabine River. The center is currently closed for renovations.

 Yeah I know Lake Charles and all the surrounding lakes are brackish that’s why I was confused. Do you know if anybody’s has caught bass out of Lake Charles or further down in Prien  lake? 

 

Thank you so much for the info about the tourist bureau, I really appreciate it! Can you still fish the pond behind it while it’s closed for renovation?

 

 

2 hours ago, Brewp13 said:

 Yeah I know Lake Charles and all the surrounding lakes are brackish that’s why I was confused. Do you know if anybody’s has caught bass out of Lake Charles or further down in Prien  lake? 

 

Thank you so much for the info about the tourist bureau, I really appreciate it! Can you still fish the pond behind it while it’s closed for renovation?

 

 

 

From Lake Charles to the Gulf of Mexico is saltwater. North of Lake Charles is a saltwater barrier, above that is freshwater.

 

You can fish Lake Bienvineu, you just can not access it from the tourist center. I'm waiting for it to opened any time now but aint heard no opening date.

2 hours ago, Catt said:

 

From Lake Charles to the Gulf of Mexico is saltwater. North of Lake Charles is a saltwater barrier, above that is freshwater.

 

You can fish Lake Bienvineu, you just can not access it from the tourist center. I'm waiting for it to opened any time now but aint heard no opening date.

Ok thanks. How do you access it other than the tourist center?

1 hour ago, Brewp13 said:

Ok thanks. How do you access it other than the tourist center?

 

By boat from the Sabine River, there's a boat trail through the marsh but I can't find it.

3 hours ago, Catt said:

 

By boat from the Sabine River, there's a boat trail through the marsh but I can't find it.

Oh ok thanks. Where is the nearest boat launch? I could probably use google maps to find it. 

 

Edit: It’s a long way from the river entrance to Lake Bienvenue and most likely shallow but could probably idle through if the water is up enough unless you have a mud motor. I don’t but I’ll try it in a couple weekends. I’ll let you know if I find it. 

5 hours ago, Catt said:

 

By boat from the Sabine River, there's a boat trail through the marsh but I can't find it.

Do you normally launch at the orange Texas boat ramp on pier rd?

@Brewp13

 

I launch at the "Burnt out Bridge" at the end of old Hwy 90.

 

I've tried getting to LakeBienvenue in a 16' Alweld with a 40 Tohatsu.

 

Never made it!

 

If you're not in the right trail you will run a ground. You also have to be concerned with private property!

On 2/18/2019 at 11:53 PM, Brewp13 said:

Do you normally launch at the orange Texas boat ramp on pier rd?

@Brewp13 the launch in Orange is nice especially living only about 25 minutes from it in Sulphur. The launch at burnout is awesome and you can fish immediately after launching. The drawback to burnout is people really don’t take care of it and the ramp itself can get kinda sketchy. Once you’ve backed a boat down it a time or two you’ll learn where the steep drop off is. 

On 2/19/2019 at 4:15 AM, Catt said:

@Brewp13

 

I launch at the "Burnt out Bridge" at the end of old Hwy 90.

 

I've tried getting to LakeBienvenue in a 16' Alweld with a 40 Tohatsu.

 

Never made it!

 

If you're not in the right trail you will run a ground. You also have to be concerned with private property!

@Catt especially during duck season back in those marshes. 

I need a fishing partner this weekend hahaha