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Poverty Point Reservoir

Poverty Point Reservoir is a reservoir in Richland County, Louisiana.

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Poverty Point Reservoir Fishing Weather

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Fish species in Poverty Point Reservoir

Official stocking history

Stocking records show that the following fish or strains were stocked here. A historical stocking does not by itself prove that a self-sustaining population remains today.

Poverty Point Reservoir is a 2,460-acre north Louisiana reservoir in Richland Parish with a fishery that has been studied much more closely than most lakes its size. Largemouth bass, black and white crappie, channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, hybrid striped bass, gar, buffalo, bowfin, drum, and shad are among the species found here.

Poverty Point Reservoir Size, Maximum Depth and Volume

Published figures put the reservoir at about 2,460 acres, a maximum depth of 35 feet, and 31,000 acre-feet of storage. That works out to approximately 10.1 billion gallons of water.

What Makes Poverty Point Different

LDWF conducted a tag-return study after anglers raised concerns about heavy crappie harvest. In 2009, 243 crappie were tagged and the estimated exploitation rate was 59.3 percent under the study assumptions. The state followed that with a multi-year crappie stock assessment, giving this lake unusually detailed information about fishing pressure.

Crappie

Both black and white crappie are present. Live minnows and small jigs are the obvious starting baits, especially around brush, submerged structure, and deeper water outside the spawn. During cooler months, vertical presentations can keep a bait in the strike zone longer. In spring, move toward protected shallow areas as fish stage and spawn.

Largemouth Bass, Hybrids and Catfish

Largemouth bass are managed under a protected slot limit, so check the current regulation before keeping fish. LDWF has stocked Florida bass and hybrid striped bass. For largemouths, use moving baits to cover water and switch to Texas rigs or jigs when fish hold tighter to cover. For hybrids, watch open water for baitfish activity and keep a spoon or swimbait ready. Channel catfish respond well to fresh cut shad, chicken liver, worms, and prepared bait.

A Practical Poverty Point Game Plan

Start by deciding whether you want crappie, bass, hybrids, or catfish because each can pull you into a different part of the lake. For crappie, begin around deeper structure and adjust shallower with the season. Bass anglers should keep the slot regulation in mind, while catfish anglers can cover flats and deeper water with cut bait.

Check the evidence

Sources and what they establish

Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.

  • Bigmouth Buffalo — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Buffalo — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Bullhead — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Crappie — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Crappie — supporting source

    Louisiana State Parks

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Blue Catfish — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bluegill — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bluegill — supporting source

    Louisiana State Parks

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bowfin — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brook Silverside — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bullhead Minnow — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Channel Catfish — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Channel Catfish — supporting source

    Louisiana State Parks

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Common Carp — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Flathead Catfish — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Freshwater Drum — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Gizzard Shad — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Golden Shiner — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Wiper — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largemouth Bass — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largemouth Bass — supporting source

    Louisiana State Parks

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largemouth Bass — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largemouth Bass — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Longnose Gar — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Mosquitofish — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Redear Sunfish — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Smallmouth Buffalo — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Spotted Gar — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Threadfin Shad — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Warmouth — supporting source

    Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

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