Anglers fishing the Saline-Larto Complex will need to follow new size and daily creel limits for black bass and crappie beginning Sept. 20, 2026, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The new recreational fishing regulations will apply to designated waters within the Saline-Larto Complex, including Saline Lake, Larto Lake, Shad Lake and associated waterbodies in portions of Catahoula, LaSalle, Avoyelles and Rapides parishes.
Under the new regulations, black bass will have a 14-inch minimum length requirement and an eight-fish daily creel limit.
For crappie, anglers will be required to observe a 10-inch minimum length and a daily creel limit of 25 fish.
LDWF also emphasized an important provision for anglers traveling through or fishing within the regulated area. Beginning Sept. 20, anyone in possession of fish while within the regulated portion of the Saline-Larto Complex must comply with the new size and creel limits, regardless of where those fish were caught.
That means anglers should be aware of the new rules even if they catch fish elsewhere before entering the regulated area.
Waters outside the designated Saline-Larto area will continue to fall under statewide black bass and crappie regulations unless otherwise specified. Statewide regulations currently have no minimum length limit for those species and allow a daily creel limit of 10 black bass and 50 crappie per licensed angler.
The changes represent a significant reduction in the number of fish anglers may keep while fishing the Saline-Larto Complex, particularly for crappie, where the daily limit will drop from the statewide 50-fish limit to 25.
Anglers who regularly fish Saline Lake, Larto Lake, Shad Lake and surrounding waters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the boundaries of the regulated area and the new requirements before they take effect Sept. 20.
