Black Bayou Reservoir (not to be confused with Black Bayou Lake near Monroe) is a 600-acre body of water located eight miles north of Bossier City near the town of Benton.
It was created by constructing an earthen dam across Black Bayou and serves as a water source for the area.
Black Bayou has virtually no standing structure, and has a maximum depth of only about 18 feet. Because of the open water, it is better known for skiing and water sports than for fishing.
“It’s a recreation lake,” Weldon said, “so in the summer you’re going to have skiers and jet skis, but I wouldn’t call it busy.”
The earthen dam that created Black Bayou separates it from the larger 3,000-acre Cypress Bayou Reservoir. Both hold healthy numbers of crappie, although Weldon noted a difference in the two lakes.
“I probably catch three black crappie for every white one in Black Bayou, but then (I) go to Cypress and catch three white crappie for every black one. Go figure.”
To reach the free public landing at Black Bayou, take Interstate 220 in Shreveport-Bossier and turn north on Airline Drive (Highway 3105). Go approximately seven miles to where the two north-bound lanes are divided by pylons. Stay in the left lane and turn right onto Old Palmetto Road just past the 911 call center.
The landing is a couple of hundred yards on the left.