Red River Gets 58,500 Bass in Stocking
The Red River Waterway Commission stocked largemouth bass into four pools of the river, with a fifth pool scheduled next week.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Fishing
The Red River Waterway Commission stocked 58,500 largemouth bass measuring 4 to 6 inches into pools 1 through 4 of the Red River. Pool 5 is scheduled to receive largemouth bass next week.
Why it matters
The stocking aims to rebuild sportfish opportunities on the Red River after historical flooding in June 2015 destroyed much of the natural fish habitat. Larger fingerlings have a significantly higher survival rate than smaller ones and could improve the fishery more quickly.
The Red River Waterway Commission bought the fish from American Sportfish Hatchery of Montgomery, Alabama, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists assisted with the stocking. The source does not report the fish's expected survival rate or how long recovery will take.
The players
Red River Waterway Commission
The Red River Waterway Commission is the entity responsible for managing and stocking the Red River's waterway, including its fishery.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is the state agency that manages wildlife and fisheries resources and assisted with the stocking through its inland fisheries biologists.
The details
Inland Fisheries biologists from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries assisted the Red River Waterway Commission in stocking the fish in cooperation with the state agency. The commission has restocked the upper reaches of the Red River with thousands of black bass over the past several years.
Timeline
June 2015: Historical flooding destroyed much of the Red River's natural fish habitat.
Past several years: The commission restocked the upper Red River with black bass.
Next week: Pool 5 of the Red River is scheduled to be stocked with largemouth bass.
Season Trajectory
The stocking follows the June 2015 Red River flood, which destroyed much of the natural fish habitat and removed the river from its prior role as a regular Bassmaster Classic tournament host. Restocking the upper reaches over several years is part of a longer effort to restore the river's sportfish population.
Anglers planning trips to pools 1 through 5 of the Red River can expect newly stocked largemouth bass, though the stocked fish will take time to grow and the fishery will not recover overnight. Checking local conditions before a trip can help set realistic expectations for catch rates.
The takeaway
Restocking efforts like this one depend on larger fingerlings, which survive at higher rates than smaller ones, so the stocking size can shape how quickly a damaged fishery recovers. Anglers who fish the Red River this season may see the benefits of the work underway in the coming years.
What happens next
Pool 5 of the Red River is scheduled to be stocked with largemouth bass next week.
Further reading
For more on the river's recovery, explore Fishing coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 96.5 KVKI.
