Keith Lusher 12.04.25
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has officially begun developing the state’s first stakeholder driven Black Bass Management Plan, a project that aims to shape the future of largemouth, spotted and Florida bass management across Louisiana.
Black bass are among the most pursued sport fish in the state, drawing anglers to reservoirs, rivers, farm ponds and tidal marshes. This popularity fuels a major economic engine for communities that rely on year round fishing activity. LDWF biologists say the new plan will establish a long term vision for both conservation and expanded fishing opportunities.
According to the agency’s announcement, the plan will rely heavily on public involvement. LDWF has created a Stakeholder Working Group that includes anglers, guides, tournament directors and conservation organizations. The agency is also launching a comprehensive angler survey that will help identify priorities for the management plan.
The working group held its first meeting Oct. 23 at the Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery. Bass anglers can take the online survey through Dec. 7.
“This process will capture the opinions, values, and priorities of Louisiana’s bass fishing community,” LDWF stated on its website. For more information, anglers can contact Black Bass Coordinator Zane LeBlanc at zleblanc@wlf.la.gov or (225) 765-2312.
Biologists say the need for a statewide plan grew more urgent following reports of declining bass numbers and shrinking average size in parts of the Atchafalaya Basin.
While research continues on the causes behind those declines, LDWF is broadening the conversation to include bass anglers across the state. Officials say the goal is to balance expectations while protecting a fishery that ranges from small ponds to massive reservoirs and dynamic river systems.
Louisiana’s bass populations are as diverse as the waters they inhabit. Fish living in river systems face floods, shifting habitat, and seasonal stress, while bass in reservoirs benefit from stable water, vegetation growth, and periodic drawdowns that improve spawning success. Tidal and marsh bass deal with hurricanes that can wipe out year classes in a single event. Because of these differences, LDWF says a one-size-fits-all approach will not work.
Hatchery-raised bass in Louisiana are stocked mainly to influence genetics and growth rates, with the greatest success typically seen in controlled reservoir environments. Floodplain and tidal systems are far more unpredictable, making management more challenging.
With bass fishing generating more than 530 million dollars in annual economic impact, LDWF says developing a unified long-term management strategy is critical.
The survey will remain open throughout late fall and early winter, and biologists encourage every Louisiana bass angler to participate. Their input will help determine how the resource is managed for years to come and could lead to better fishing opportunities across the state.
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