What special fishing regulations apply at Red River (LA main stem)?

Red River (LA main stem) carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Louisiana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Black bass 10 / day, no statewide minimum (John K. Kelly–Grand Bayou Reservoir off the Red River holds a 14–17 in slot, 8 / day, 4 over 17 in); trophy flathead + blue catfish, 100 / day aggregate; crappie 50 / day." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Red River (LA main stem)?

Yes. Red River (LA main stem) is in Louisiana, so a valid Louisiana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Red River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Louisiana rules.

Do Red River (LA main stem)'s special rules replace Louisiana's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Louisiana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Red River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Red River?

Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Red River (LA main stem), each linking to its full Louisiana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Louisiana limits.

2026 regulation year

Red River (LA main stem) 2026 — Louisiana Fishing Regulations

Louisiana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Red River (LA main stem) carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Louisiana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Blue catfish, Channel catfish, Flathead catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Black bass 10 / day, no statewide minimum (John K. Kelly–Grand Bayou Reservoir off the Red River holds a 14–17 in slot, 8 / day, 4 over 17 in); trophy flathead + blue catfish, 100 / day aggregate; crappie 50 / day
Source: Louisiana special-water list

Per-species rules on Red River (LA main stem)

Blue catfish regulations →
12 in min, 100 / day aggregate; trophy blue catfish
Channel catfish regulations →
11 in min, 100 / day aggregate
Flathead catfish regulations →
14 in min, 100 / day aggregate; trophy flathead catfish

Official source

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries publishes the authoritative 2026 Louisiana fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Louisiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries's emergency-order feed — check it before any Louisiana trip during the active season.

Emergency orders →

Other special-regulation waters in Louisiana

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Red River (LA main stem)?: Red River (LA main stem) carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Louisiana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Black bass 10 / day, no statewide minimum (John K. Kelly–Grand Bayou Reservoir off the Red River holds a 14–17 in slot, 8 / day, 4 over 17 in); trophy flathead + blue catfish, 100 / day aggregate; crappie 50 / day." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Red River (LA main stem)?: Yes. Red River (LA main stem) is in Louisiana, so a valid Louisiana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Red River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Louisiana rules.
Do Red River (LA main stem)'s special rules replace Louisiana's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Louisiana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Red River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Red River?: Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Red River (LA main stem), each linking to its full Louisiana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Louisiana limits.

← Back to Louisiana regulations overview