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57,675-acre estuary near Hackberry. The water tops out around 43 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 55,282 acres wrapped in 85.1 miles of bank — 6 islands included. The 2.6 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Call it 17.5 mi long by 11.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. Cameron Parish claims this one. If the bite dies, Sabine Lake is 31 mi to the west.
Come spring, look for red drum (redfish) tight to the bank in 1 to 8 ft. They move out to 2 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Feeding flat: a feeding flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A weedless gold spoon or a paddletail swimbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (6 ft) | Gold weedless spoon, Paddletail on 1/4 oz jighead |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Weedless gold spoon, Paddletail swimbait |
| Fall | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & midday | Calcasieu Ship Channel inflow (11 ft) | 1/2 oz spoon (schools), Big paddletail |
| Winter | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Old creek channel (5 ft) | Scented soft plastic on 1/8 oz head, Slow-rolled paddletail |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: spotted seatrout in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 15 ft, wintering in 5 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a popping cork + shrimp or a 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Topwater walker, Suspending twitchbait |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Popping cork + shrimp, 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Weed flat (6 ft) | Popping cork rig, Soft plastic jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dusk | Deep basin (16 ft) | Suspending twitchbait (long pauses), Scented plastic crawled on bottom |
Come spring, look for southern flounder tight to the bank in 2 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 18 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 40 ft. Start at Old creek channel. It's a creek channel holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning. A jighead + gulp swimming mullet or a bucktail tipped with shrimp is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (5 ft) | 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (white/chartreuse), Bucktail + Gulp shrimp |
| Summer | 3 to 18 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (5 ft) | Jighead + Gulp swimming mullet, Bucktail tipped with shrimp |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | midday | Calcasieu Ship Channel inflow (11 ft) | 3/8 oz bucktail + Gulp (passes), Big paddletail on the jetty edge |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (16 ft) | Slow jig + scented grub in the holes |
Calcasieu Lake carries 23 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 16 ft down.
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 Calcasieu Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Louisiana fishing regulations →
Calcasieu Lake is about 43 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target red drum (redfish), spotted seatrout, southern flounder on Calcasieu Lake.
Feeding flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for red drum (redfish) in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For red drum (redfish), 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 Calcasieu Lake 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.
Sabine Lake 31 mi, TX/LA · Sabine River 51 mi, TX · Vermilion River 77 mi · Anacoco Lake 81 mi · B.A. Steinhagen Lake 81 mi, TX · Lake Chicot 87 mi · Vernon Lake 88 mi · Kincaid Lake 100 mi · San Jacinto River 101 mi, TX · Sam Rayburn Reservoir 106 mi, TX · Atchafalaya River 109 mi · Lake Houston 110 mi, TX
Browse all Louisiana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). 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.