Located along the Louisiana-Texas border, the Toledo Bend Reservoir is the fifth largest reservoir in the United States and covers nearly two hundred thousand acres. The pristine land area surrounding the reservoir is populated with pine trees and cypress swamps, providing a versatile home to many wildlife species.
The Toledo Bend Reservoir is classified as eutrophic. As a result, it harbors a few algae species that can threaten human health. Cyanobacteria, for example, can produce toxins that cause harm to humans and pets. Occasional golden algal blooms cause fish kills and affect aquatic invertebrates and amphibians but pose no known health threats to humans. However, individuals should avoid eating affected fish.
Other ecological hazards include invasive plants. Hydrilla and giant salvinia are two particularly nasty species. They reduce biodiversity within the reservoir and can clog boat propellers, making thick mats of vegetation challenging to move through. Zebra mussels are also a prolific invasive species found in the area. Visitors should adhere to any recommendations provided by state or local agencies regarding environmental safety and follow guidelines to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Toledo Bend Reservoir Fish Species
1) Crappies (Pomoxis spp.)
The common name “crappie” refers to fish in the genus Pomoxis. Species within this genus are distinguished from other sunfish species by the presence of spiny gill covers. Toledo Bend Reservoir is home to two species of crappie: the black crappie (P. nigromaculatus) and the white crappie (P. annularis).
Black crappies inhabit clear water and prefer areas with abundant submerged aquatic vegetation. White crappies are more versatile and do not have a preference. The two species also differ in coloration, with the white crappie having a silver coloration with black bars and the black crappie having an abundance of dark spots along the body. Toledo Bend Reservoir is one of the best places along the Louisiana-Texas border to find crappies, and they are an extremely popular panfish.
The Texas daily bag limit for crappies is 50 fish, and there is a 10-inch minimum for any fish that anglers wish to keep. On the Louisiana side of Toledo Bend Reservoir, the daily limit is 25 fish. They are not difficult to catch and can be fished using a variety of rigs and strategies like classic bobbers and spider rigging.
Both species are predators that hunt for small fish and invertebrates at dawn and dusk. White crappies lay their eggs on aquatic vegetation while black crappies are nest spawners. Male black crappies construct a nest in the sediment of a water body for females to deposit their eggs. Males exhibit short periods of parental care, protecting eggs laid by females in the male’s nest for around five days.
2) Black basses (Micropterus spp.)
There are a total of 9 species of black bass in the genus Micropterus, and three of these species are commonly found in the Toledo Bend Reservoir: the largemouth (M. salmoides), smallmouth (M. dolomieu), and the spotted bass (M. punctulatus). All are popular sportfish, with largemouth bass being the most popular, given its fight on the line and popularity as a food fish. These three species are important predators in their ecosystems and have varied diets. They also share similar mating systems wherein males dig nests and protect eggs laid by females. Up to 8 black bass may be harvested per person per day from the Toledo Bend Reservoir. Smallmouth and largemouth basses have a minimum length requirement of 14 inches (35.6 cm).
The largemouth bass is the largest of the black basses, with a maximum size of 38 inches (97 cm). This species can be easily distinguished from the other two species as it is the only species whose jaw continues past the posterior edge of the eye. Two popular varieties of largemouth bass are routinely stocked in the Toledo Bend Reservoir: the ‘Lone Star’ bass and the Florida largemouth bass. Anglers can use a variety of baits and lures to catch one.
Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are typically smaller than largemouth bass. Smallmouth bass also possess distinct vertical bars that are absent in spotted bass. The average length of a smallmouth bass is between 12 and 20 inches (30 to 51 cm).
A typical spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) will reach a typical length of 12 inches (30cm). These are the smallest of Toledo Bend’s black basses.
3) True sunfish (Lepomis spp.)
The Toledo Bend Reservoir is home to several beautiful true sunfish species in the Lepomis genus. These fish are typically smaller than black basses but taste fantastic. There are no limits on sunfish fishing in Texas or Louisiana. Identifying sunfish species can be tricky, but luckily the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department produced a helpful guide for identifying Lepomis species in Texas. You can find a link to that resource here.
Most true sunfish tolerate a variety of water conditions. Generally, they prefer clean and slow streams, ponds, or impoundments with areas of dense vegetation. They are usually less than 12 inches (30 cm) long. Like black basses, true sunfish have a mating system that begins in the spring and ends in the summer. The male is responsible for digging a nest and caring for eggs once they are laid. Some species have unique characteristics when it comes to mating season. For example, some male longear sunfish will mimic females to trick other males. These individuals have been termed satellite or sneaker males because they “sneak” into other nests, typically constructed by older and larger males, and fertilize eggs in that nest. Another species, the redear sunfish, will produce a popping noise to attract a mate to their nest.
Regarding the diet of true sunfish, most species are crepuscular hunters. They hunt at dawn and dusk for various prey items, including aquatic insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and other small fish. Some exceptions include the redbreast sunfish, which typically specializes in aquatic insects, and the redear sunfish, which prefers mollusks.
4) Temperate basses (Morone spp.)
Fish in the family Moronidae are considered true basses, unlike black basses, which are a type of sunfish. Despite this distinction, both groups of fish are delicious. They can be distinguished from sunfish by the presence of two separated dorsal fins, although this characteristic is sometimes inconsistent. Three species can be found in Toledo Bend: white bass (M. chrysops), striped bass (M. saxatilis), and yellow bass (M. mississippiensis). These species are not as abundant as sunfish. Still, they comprise a substantial portion of the fish species at the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Louisiana and Texas regulate the harvest of white bass and striped bass. A single angler may not harvest more than 25 white bass or 5 striped bass daily. For striped bass, only two fish may exceed 30 inches (76 cm). Potential visitors can find an identification guide for Texas bass species here.
Temperate basses eat zooplankton and invertebrates as juveniles and primarily consume fish as adults. Unlike sunfish, which invest some energy into parental care, temperate basses migrate annually to spawning areas, spawn, and then leave their offspring to fend for themselves. This mating system distinguishes them from the nest-spawning sunfish.
5) Shad (Dorosoma spp.)
Two species of shad can be found in the Toledo Bend Reservoir: The larger American gizzard shad (D. cepedianum) and the smaller threadfish shad (D. petenense). The average length for the former species is 13 inches (33 cm), and the latter has an average length of 4 inches (10 cm). Overall length is one way to identify a shad if you have a large individual, but a more reliable method is checking the jaws. In threadfin shad, the lower jaw extends further than the upper jaw, whereas the jaws on the American gizzard shad do not.
Shads are important prey species for larger predatory fish. American gizzard shads are more tolerant to cold water and are distributed throughout eastern North America. In contrast, threadfin shad are native to just the southern United States and do not share this cold-water tolerance. As juveniles, shad diets consist of zooplankton and filtered organic material. Both species are almost exclusively herbivorous. They do not exhibit any special parental care.
6) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
With a distinct protruding lower jaw, the flathead catfish has one of the most curious appearances of any catfish in the Toledo Bend Reservoir. This catfish is mottled, olive-colored, and immature individuals may appear black. Young fish may be confused with bullheads, as they are both rather dark in color, but bullhead catfish do not possess a protruding lower jaw at any age. This species is also larger than other species on this list, with an average length of 30 inches (76 cm) and weights exceeding 100 pounds (45 kg).
Most catfish found in the Toledo Bend Reservoir are sedentary, nocturnal hunters that spend most of their time in deep pools. When hunting, they will travel to shallower areas in search of prey. This species primarily consumes invertebrates and fish. They spawn once in early to mid-summer.
On the dinner plate, flathead catfish are popular eating fish and have a remarkable flavor. Live bait is best — some examples of great bait fish include smaller sunfish, mudcats, or any other appropriately sized bait fish.
Care should be taken when handling any catfish as this group of fishes possess venom glands that can deliver a painful sting via hollow dorsal and pectoral spines. Gloves are recommended when removing catfish from hooks and processing them for filets. Recreational harvest of flathead catfish is regulated in Texas and Louisiana. An angler may take a maximum of 5 flathead catfish a day from the Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Texas side, and the catfish must be at least 18 inches (46 cm) long. On the Louisiana side, a fisherman may harvest up to 10 flathead catfish at least 18 inches (46 cm) long.
7) Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)
A species that can be confused with young individuals of other catfish species, the black bullhead is a small, dark-brown, or sometimes black catfish with a slightly forked tail. On average, they reach a length of around 10.5 inches (26.7 cm).
At night, younger fish hunt invertebrates in schools, while adults have a more varied diet of invertebrates, plants, and other fish. This species spawns once between May and July. Males exhibit some parental care and will watch over nests and fry after spawning has occurred. Black bullheads are associated with an increase in turbidity levels which may reduce the habitat quality of water bodies for species that prefer or require clear water.
8) Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)
Like the black bullhead, the yellow bullhead is a smaller species of catfish with an average adult length of 9 inches (23 cm) and a round tail that possesses little or no fork. As a result, this species is difficult to distinguish from the black bullhead by distinct morphological features. Typically, yellow bullheads tend to be lighter in color than black bullheads. Another trait that anglers may use to identify yellow bullheads is the chin barbels which are distinctly lighter in color on yellow bullheads and darker on black bullheads.
Yellow bullheads are more common in shallow water, with a preference for slow, turbid water and tolerance for pollution. The breeding season for this species lasts from April to June. Males will dig nests outs of the substrate, and females will deposit their eggs within those nests.
Bullheads are not as stunningly large as the other catfish on this list, but they occupy an important place in the food chain as invertivores and everyday prey items for larger fish.
9) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
This next species is the largest catfish species in North America. The blue catfish can grow to enormous sizes, with a recent record weight of 143 lbs (65 kg)! However, the typical blue catfish will reach an average weight of around 4 pounds (2kg) — not quite monstrous, but still sizeable! They possess a deeply forked caudal fin which distinguishes them from bullheads. They are similar in appearance to the channel catfish, and the edges of their anal fins can help identify this species. In blue catfish, the anal fin is generally straight, whereas in channel catfish, the anal fin is somewhat rounded.
Unlike the bullhead, blue catfish enjoy clear streams. Like other catfish, they are nocturnal hunters and consume a mix of invertebrates and fish. This species reproduces annually in the spring. An angler may harvest up to 50 channel catfish and blue catfish combined from the Toledo Bend Reservoir. No more than five of those individuals may be over 30 inches (76.2 cm). This species is a highly sought-after food fish and are often caught using rods and trotlines. One source recommends using fresh fish, shrimp, chicken liver, or processed catfish bait to get a blue catfish on the line.
10) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
The channel catfish is very popular in Texas. This species has a forked tail like the blue catfish but has a round anal fin as opposed to a straight one. The average length for this species is 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm).
Like the blue catfish, the channel catfish thrives in clear streams but can tolerate turbid water and can also survive in brackish water. Young channel catfish have the typical invertebrate diet seen in other catfish species and the adults consume various prey items. Channel catfish reproduction is temperature dependent and is initiated when the water temperature reaches at least 75 °F (23.9 °C). When temperatures are favorable, male channel catfish construct a nesting area for females to lay their eggs. Males protect and care for the eggs until they hatch.
The National Parks Service suggests using live fish and nightcrawlers to catch a tasty channel catfish. However, they will accept a variety of meat-based bait, from squid and shrimp to hotdogs and processed baits. There is a 25 fish bag limit and a 12-inch (30 cm) minimum size limit.
11) Mississippi paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)
This intriguing-looking fish has a long, flattened snout that resembles a paddle, hence the “paddle” in the common name. This species is found only in the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes and is considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List in some parts of its range. Populations in Louisiana are stable, so the regulated harvest of paddlefish is allowed, but there are some restrictions. For example, in Louisiana, individuals may harvest up to 2 fish per day. In Texas, individuals may harvest up to 5 paddlefish and only 2 of those may be less than 16 inches (41 cm) long. These restrictions may become more limiting if populations continue to decline. Threats to paddlefish populations include channelization, pollution, and fishing pressures.
They are planktivorous, long-lived, and can grow up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) long. The long nose, or rostrum, is dotted with electroreceptors that allow the paddlefish to sense prey. Paddlefish infrequently spawn, once every two to three years, and produce thousands of tiny offspring while investing little parental care. The infrequency at which they spawn is one factor that makes it difficult for populations to recover.
12) Carp (Cyprinus spp.)
Two species of invasive carp were introduced to the Toledo Bend Reservoir: the common carp (C. carpio) and the grass carp (C. idella). In Louisiana, individuals must kill any invasive carp species if caught and are prohibited from transporting them alive.
Common carp were introduced by the U.S. Fish Commission and stocked into rivers and lakes as food fish. They were less appealing than native sunfish or bass species as table fare and therefore became a nuisance species. Unfortunately, this species thrives in non-native environments without sufficient predation pressure. Both species can uproot plants and increase turbidity and the likelihood of algal blooms. Grass carp were introduced as a biological control agent for hydrilla, an invasive plant abundant in the Toledo Bend Reservoir. This management action is a controversial solution to invasive hydrilla because grass carp also consume native plants, therefore pressuring native plant populations and potentially altering aquatic communities. Larger fish predate upon both species.
On average, both species grow to an average length between 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm) and produce many offspring. Grass carp are primarily herbivorous, while common carp are omnivores. As a result, common carp are more likely than grass carp to be caught by anglers using baits for other sportfish. They are often exhilarating to catch because they put up a good fight.
13) Satinfin shiners (Cyprinella spp.)
Satinfin shiners resemble other shiner species, and it may be difficult to distinguish between species in these groups. Blacktail shiners (C. venusta) are silver and have a black dot near their caudal fin. While this trait is somewhat distinctive if you know that you have a shiner, blacktail and red shiners (C. lutrensis) can hybridize. Hybrid individuals may share characteristics of both species, making hybrid identification confusing. Red shiners are colorful with plain silvery bodies and vibrant red fins. They are also smaller than blacktail shiners, with a maximum length of 3.5 inches (9 cm). Black shiners reach a maximum length of 7 inches (18 cm).
Both Cyprinella shiners can be found in flowing water and tolerate various turbidity levels. They eat insects and algae. Spawning seasons vary based on the location, from March to October for blacktail shiners and April to September for red shiners. During courtship, Cyprinella shiners produce unique noises to communicate with potential mates. Males will select a territory with an appropriate crevice, like a submerged crack in a log, where females deposit their eggs.
14) Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
This tiny fish stays around 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. Fathead minnows are native to some areas of the Central United States but they have been introduced to nearly every state. Sometimes they are intentionally introduced to new water bodies by people for use as bait fish or as a prey species for more desirable sportfish. In introduced ranges, they can compete with and prey upon native species.
They are highly adaptable and live in various aquatic conditions, including areas with low oxygen levels that are not ideal for other fishes like sunfish, shad, and basses. Male fathead minnows provide parental care. They build nests, oxygenate, clean eggs, and defend them from predators. They frequently reproduce throughout the breeding season from May to September. As a result, populations can explode. They consume algae and other tiny organisms while becoming food themselves for any piscivorous species larger than they are. This species possesses a unique trait when a predator threatens an individual — they can release pheromones that alert other fathead minnows to the threat.
15) Spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)
The family Lepisosteidae contains several species of predatory fish with sagittiform (arrow-like) body shapes. Although this group is ancient, fossils of ancestors of modern gar date back to at least 215 million years ago, providing insights into modern fish’s evolutionary history. Gar are specialized sit-and-wait predators. Their hunting strategy typically involves hiding amongst submerged aquatic vegetation, waiting for prey to swim by, and then snatching prey with their sharp teeth.
As the name suggests, the spotted gar is covered in spots along its sides, fins, and head, and anglers can use the presence of these spots to distinguish them from other gear. The shortnose gar is very similar but does not possess as many spots. One clue that may help anglers identify their spotted gar is the presence of spots on the head. The third gar species present in Texas, the longnose gar, has a thin, needle-like snout that makes it easily distinguishable from this species.
The spotted gar is still long-lived compared to other fish, although they do not live nearly as long as the larger alligator gar. A healthy spotted gar may live to be 18 years old and can grow to an average of 3 feet long. All gar species are facultative air-breathing fish, meaning they can gulp in the air at the water’s surface to meet their bodies’ oxygen requirements. This adaptation is advantageous in poorly oxygenated bodies of water.
16) Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula)
The alligator gar is the largest of the gars and is long-lived, capable of living longer than 50 years. At the Toledo Bend Reservoir, an angler caught a record-size alligator gar in June of 2022, measuring 276 pounds and over 7 feet long! Not only are alligator gar popular sportfish, but they are also stunning to observe and often attract visitors looking for a chance to observe one. Alligator gar are generalist carnivores known to eat crabs, turtles, birds, and small mammals. They are important apex predators in most fish communities. They are easy to identify compared to other gar species. The alligator gar has a blunter and broader snout resembling an alligator.
Female alligator gar mature at five to ten years of age. Compared to other sportfish, like sunfishes or carp, which sexually mature within a year or two and reproduce often, alligator gar take considerably longer to reach this life stage and reproduce sparingly. They also live far longer than most other predatory fish. As a result, management practices to maintain healthy alligator gar fisheries are different from most other predatory gamefish.
In Texas, the bag limit for alligator gar is one fish per day. Anglers looking to catch these fish should adhere to temporary closures in alligator gar spawning areas to help preserve healthy populations and avoid fines. Additionally, anglers must report the harvest of alligator gar to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
17) Bowfin (Amia calva)
The bowfin is considered a “primitive” fish species, meaning that, like gar and paddlefish, they are descendants of an ancient group of fishes. They are also the only species in the family Amiidae. As a result, they have a few unique adaptations that make them an exciting species to research. For one, their swim bladder is covered in blood vessels that allow oxygen exchange with the air, like lungs in mammals. This adaptation enables bowfin to inhale oxygen above the water’s surface, facilitating life in bodies of water with low oxygen levels where other fish may not survive.
Bowfins reproduce annually in late spring to early summer. Male bowfins exhibit involved parental care. They construct a nest, care for the eggs, and aggressively defend the eggs and fry from potential predators for an extended period. Male bowfins make such great parents that other fish species, like golden shiners (N. crysoleucas), sometimes lay their eggs in bowfin nests. Unable to tell the difference, the male bowfin cares for all eggs within his nest as if they were his own.
At the top of the food chain, bowfins consume various insects and other fish, including members of their own species. Very few animals, besides other bowfins, predate upon larger individuals. Anglers sometimes seek out this species not for food but because it is powerful. Therefore, enormous individuals are a feat to catch.
18) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)
The freshwater drum is an unassuming silvery fish with a rounded caudal fin. A defining characteristic of this species is its complete lateral line that extends into its caudal fin. The most striking feature of the freshwater drum is its unusual teeth which look like a series of molars and are specially designed to crack open sturdy mollusk shells. These teeth are not uncommon in other species of fish, but they are particularly pronounced in freshwater drums. Using special muscles to vibrate their swim bladder, this species can produce a deep, throaty noise that they use to scare off predators and communicate.
This species can be rather large, achieving a maximum weight of around 50 pounds (23 kg). Freshwater drums are bottom dwellers and eat similar prey as catfish. This diet includes insects, fish, crayfish, and mollusks. They enjoy slow currents in deep reservoirs and lakes. Spawning occurs in schools annually from late spring to early summer. Thousands of offspring are produced in one spawning event and left to fend for themselves in the open water.
The bag limit for freshwater drums in Louisiana is 25 fish per day with a minimum length of 12 inches (30 cm). Texas does not consider freshwater drum as a sport fish and is therefore not regulated within the state.
