“Cross Lake has an excellent channel catfish population,” said Jeff Sibley, an LDWF biologist in Minden. “It can produce some good numbers. Lake Claiborne and Kepler are popular for flathead cats. Kepler had a drawdown in the fall of 2006, but it should be good this spring. Lake Bistineau and Caddo Lake have good flathead populations.”

On the Louisiana-Texas line, gigantic Toledo Bend Reservoir — its area a whopping 186,000 acres — can produce huge catfish. Many people string trotlines, but few people intentionally fish for cats with rod-and-reel tackle. Anglers can catch good quantities of all three species of cats just about anywhere in the sprawling reservoir. Many people fish the wooded coves or grassy flats.

“Toledo Bend has a tremendous catfish population, but it's underutilized,” said Ricky Yeldell, a LDWF biologist. “It's not uncommon to catch 40- to 50-pound blue cats. It's possible to catch a catfish over 100 pounds in Toledo Bend. The bigger catfish are usually flatheads, but we have some pretty impressive blue cats.”

The official lake-record flathead, which Otis Pleasant of Texas caught by running a trotline on May 24, 1991, stands at 97.5 pounds. Another Texan, Pamela Gray, landed a 68.5-pound blue cat on June 12, 1999, also by trotline. Doug Skinner landed a 67.65-pound blue cat on April 12, 1995.

Fortunately for parts of south Louisiana, nature can replenish empty waters quickly. Anglers in the rest of the state should find exceptional catfish action just about anywhere they wish to fish this spring.

Find more about Louisiana fishing and hunting at: LAgameandfish.com