Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries commissioners took no action on proposed regulations for Saline-Larto Complex crappie and largemouth bass after hearing 2025 data during their regular meeting on Feb. 5.
Commissioners said they may address the regulations at a future meeting after further study of the data.
Currently, fish in the complex follow statewide regulations of 50 crappie per day and 10 largemouth bass per day, with no length restrictions on either species. The proposed regulation would set the daily crappie limit at 25 with a 10-inch minimum length. For largemouth bass, the proposal would establish a daily limit of eight with a 14-inch minimum length at the Saline-Larto Complex.
Shelby Richard, a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) inland fisheries biologist, presented the data to commissioners and the audience. He had previously presented preliminary information at the commission’s September 2025 meeting and brought completed survey results on Thursday.
Crappie numbers
According to the data, the complex saw an increase in crappie catch per unit effort (CPUE) from 2009 to 2012, with 2020 to 2022 maintaining that increase. CPUE is a measure of the relative abundance of a target species.
LDWF officials recorded the highest crappie CPUE ever at 1.2 fish per hour in 2025.
Crappie growth rates were slower than the statewide average, but 2025 showed some improvement, according to the data.
“While these growth rates have improved, there is a significant difference between the two species of crappie,” Richard said.
Black crappie recorded the highest catch per hour ever observed at 1.067.
“This elevated catch rate was driven strongly by numbers of sub-stock black crappie,” Richard said. “These results indicate consistently strong recruitment within the complex, and our catch rates for black crappie measuring 8 inches and larger were comparable to the average observed over the past five years.”
White crappie CPUE remained relatively stable compared to previous years, Richard said.
“However, we observed the highest catch per unit effort on record of preferred-size white crappie,” he said. “Those are your 10- to 12-inch fish.”
White crappie growth in the Saline-Larto Complex is “right on pace” with the statewide average growth rate.
Bass growth
For largemouth bass, LDWF officials observed the fourth-highest CPUE for the complex in 2025.
“It was strongly influenced by the stock-size bass, which were your 8- to 12-inch fish,” Richard said.
In 2025, the Larto side of the complex had better water quality and habitat than the Saline side, which correlated with fisheries data.
“We had high catch-per-unit data on the eastern end of the complex,” Richard said. “When we shifted over to the Saline side, our CPUEs dropped.”
Both age and growth rates were faster than the statewide average.
“Saline-Larto bass are reaching 8 inches in .81 years, which is three months faster than the statewide growth rate,” Richard said.
Prolonged flood events in 2019 caused an overabundance of small fish in 2022, which prompted the data collection.
The Saline-Larto Complex is an approximately 90,880-acre natural backwater system in east-central Louisiana (Catahoula, LaSalle, Avoyelles and Rapides parishes) known for premier crappie, bass and catfish fishing. It includes Larto Lake, Saline Lake and interconnected bayous, providing significant recreational, hunting and fishing opportunities. It is an open system that receives regular backwater flooding from the Red, Black and Little rivers. Dewey Wills WMA borders the complex.
Looking at the data
State Rep. Mike Johnson led the effort requesting new crappie and largemouth bass regulations and spoke at the meeting after Richard’s presentation.
“Hunting and fishing are such a big part of the fabric of our part of the state,” Johnson said. “Saline-Larto is a treasure that God has allowed us to enjoy for many generations. The reason this originated for me is that we have had so many people say in the last 10 years, ‘Our lake is just not like it used to be. We don’t catch the kind of fish we used to. We don’t see the kind of fish we used to.’”
Johnson said he was “encouraged” by the report.
“It doesn’t reflect the people I am hearing from, but it is the scientific data and not necessarily the words of a fisherman,” he said.
To improve the complex, Johnson said 100 years’ worth of drill stem pipe has been removed from the water, temporarily addressing the giant salvinia problem.
“But we continue to see smaller and smaller limits from our people who go to fish there,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he received the proposed limits from Police Jury members and neighboring parishes, but he did not believe the LDWF data supported the proposed limits.
“I think this data says we might harm ourselves if we affect those small fish,” Johnson said. “I want to learn more about this.”
Johnson said he would return at a future meeting after studying the LDWF data released at the February meeting.
CWD Control Area
Meanwhile, LDWF Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon explained the new CWD Control Area and its two components.
“The format we utilized mirrors what was approved through the most recent notice of intent,” Bordelon said.
It subdivides the control area into two portions: the Enhanced Mitigation Zone and the CWD Buffer Zone.
“The difference is in the allowances as they pertain to baiting,” Bordelon said. “Within the control area, regardless of where you are, all other rules are the same.”
Implementation of the supplemental feeding and baiting prohibition associated with the new addition to the Enhanced Mitigation Zone was delayed until Feb. 1 so landowners and hunters could use the remainder of any feed or bait they currently had in feeders.
Supplemental feeding, baiting, placement of bait or hunting over bait is prohibited within the portion of the CWD Control Area designated as the Enhanced Mitigation Zone.
According to LDWF, it is the responsibility of hunters to check their hunting area for bait prior to each hunt. A hunting area is defined as any area where salt, grain or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered if it could serve as a lure or attractant for wild quadrupeds.
Supplemental feeding and baiting are allowed in the portion of the CWD Control Area designated as the CWD Buffer Zone, but only by non-stationary mechanical or electronic broadcast methods.
The export of any cervid carcass or part of a cervid carcass originating within a designated CWD Control Area is prohibited, except for meat that is cut and wrapped; meat that has been boned out; quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached; antlers; clean skull plates with antlers; cleaned skulls with no tissue attached; capes; tanned hides; finished taxidermy mounts; and cleaned cervid teeth.
The use of bait not normally ingested by deer is allowed for feral hog trapping or by holders of bear harvest permits during the designated bear baiting period.
Under the CWD expansion, there is an exemption allowing deer heads from within the CWD Control Area to be transported to Louisiana taxidermy businesses outside the area for taxidermy purposes. This is allowed by electronic waiver and adherence to waiver guidelines.
