Lower Old River Fishing Map & Spots (LA/MS)

Hatch outlook

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

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Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · in ~6 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours here are interpolated from real agency depth surveys (state DNR / USACE). Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Lower Old River

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Lower Old River on the board.

Fishing Lower Old River: what the data says

5 km of the Lower Old River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 24 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. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.

The drawn water covers 1,680 acres wrapped in 8.6 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 98% of this chart. The basin spans about 3.2 mi end to end and 2.4 mi across at its widest. Atchafalaya River sits 18 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.

Largemouth Bass fishing at Lower Old River

Spring largemouth bass on Lower Old River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 24 ft. The chart's best answer is Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) — creek channel, 8 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait.

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 2.1) (8 ft)	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	7 to 24 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

Crappie fishing at Lower Old River

Early season crappie use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 7 to 24 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 24 ft. Put Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 8 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)	1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub
Summer	7 to 24 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)	Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled)
Fall	8 to 20 ft	dawn	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)	Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2")
Winter	7 to 24 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)	Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon

Blue Catfish fishing at Lower Old River

Start shallow in spring: blue catfish sit in 5 to 24 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 6 to 24 ft covers summer, 7 to 24 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Main-channel hole (mile 0.2), a creek channel in the 8 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 24 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Summer	6 to 24 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Fall	7 to 24 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Winter	7 to 24 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)

Flathead Catfish fishing at Lower Old River

Spring flathead catfish on Lower Old River hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 6 to 24 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 24 ft. Put Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 8 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 20 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Summer	6 to 24 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Fall	7 to 24 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Winter	7 to 24 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)

Channel Catfish fishing at Lower Old River

Spring channel catfish on Lower Old River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 24 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 24 ft. The chart's best answer is Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) — creek channel, 8 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Summer	7 to 24 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Fall	7 to 24 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)
Winter	7 to 24 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)

Longnose Gar fishing at Lower Old River

Spring longnose gar on Lower Old River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 1 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 24 ft. Put Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 8 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run midday and the evening. The summer box starts with a rope lure or a small white spinner.

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 0.2) (8 ft)	Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy)
Winter	7 to 24 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) (8 ft)

Lower Old River also holds freshwater drum (6 to 24 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 2 features, led in depth by Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) at roughly 8 ft.

Main-channel hole (mile 0.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
Channel current seam (mile 2.1): current seam, around 8 ft

Lower Old River fishing regulations

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 Lower Old River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Louisiana fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Lower Old River?

Lower Old River is about 24 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.

What fish are in Lower Old River?

Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, longnose gar, freshwater drum on Lower Old 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.

Where is the best fishing spot on Lower Old River?

Main-channel hole (mile 0.2) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.

When is the best time to fish Lower Old River?

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.

What are the fishing regulations for Lower Old River?

Fishing on Lower Old 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.

Nearby waters

Atchafalaya River 18 mi, LA · False River 28 mi, LA · Lake Chicot 38 mi, LA · Lake Concordia 45 mi, LA · Lake Okhissa 58 mi, MS · Kincaid Lake 59 mi, LA · Vermilion River 68 mi, LA · Lake Iatt 71 mi, LA · Lake Bruin 72 mi, LA · Amite River 77 mi, LA · Belle River 81 mi, LA · Lake Verret 84 mi, LA

See how Lower Old 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.