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5 km of the Belle River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 23 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Belle River runs 2,575 acres with 8.7 miles of edge. Nearly circular (index 1.2), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. About 88% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 3.2 mi, about 2.3 mi across. For a second option, Lake Verret lies 5 mi east.
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 7 to 23 ft for winter. Fall largemouth bass concentrate at Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a prime-rated creek channel around 7 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.9) (14 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts crappie in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 7 to 23 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 23 ft. Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for summer crappie. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for blue catfish tight to the bank in 5 to 23 ft. Through summer count on 6 to 23 ft; the winter hold is 7 to 23 ft. Start at Main-channel hole (mile 0.1). It's a creek channel holding about 7 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 23 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 23 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 23 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a creek channel in the 7 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 23 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) |
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 23 ft before dropping to 7 to 23 ft for winter. Summer channel catfish concentrate at Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a prime-rated creek channel around 7 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: longnose gar sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 1 to 12 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 23 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a creek channel in the 7 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in midday and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a rope lure or a small white spinner until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | open water | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) |
Belle River also holds freshwater drum (6 to 23 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 2 structure features on Belle River; the deepest is Channel current seam (mile 1.9) at about 14 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Louisiana waters are set by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries — and special regulations can apply to Belle River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Louisiana fishing regulations →
Belle River is about 23 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, longnose gar, freshwater drum on Belle River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for blue catfish in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Belle River is regulated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Check the official Louisiana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Verret 5 mi · Lower Atchafalaya River 14 mi · Lac Des Allemands 39 mi · Amite River 42 mi · Lake Maurepas 49 mi · Vermilion River 51 mi · False River 53 mi · Tangipahoa River 64 mi, LA/MS · Atchafalaya River 67 mi · Lake Pontchartrain 71 mi · Lower Old River 81 mi, LA/MS · Lake Chicot 88 mi
See how Belle River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Louisiana · best crappie lakes in Louisiana · best channel catfish lakes in Louisiana · best flathead catfish lakes in Louisiana
Browse all Louisiana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.