Caddo Fishing Guide Paul Keith

In addition to reporting for Lake Pro Guides, Paul Keith is a licensed guide who owns and operates Caddo Lake Guide Service. Paul was practically raised on Caddo’s shores and now helps anglers of all abilities, and some of whom are pretty famous, seek out their personal best catch. Being the only full-time guide on Caddo means that Paul gets out over 300 days a year. He’s caught many bass over 8 pounds and several in the double-digit range. Paul’s personal best catch on Caddo is 13.76 … but he knows there’s a bigger fish with his name on it. 

Paul says the reason he loves fishing Caddo is that it is the only natural lake in Texas, with a nice shallow profile. Plus, he says the Cypress Forest of Caddo makes it one of the most beautiful places he’s ever seen. In fact, Caddo lays claim to having the largest Cypress Forest in the world, which provides a lot of unique fishing opportunities you just can’t find anywhere else. 

Fishing Lake Caddo

According to Caddo legend, which Paul can tell you all about if you book a trip with him, the lake was either formed by an earthquake in the early 1800s or by the "Great Raft", a 100-mile log jam on the Red River that backed up water into the lowlands of north Caddo Parish in Louisiana. Either way, he and many others will tell you it is one of the most challenging and scenic fisheries in Texas. 

The Cypress Forest provides lots of cover for bass to lay in wait for their prey, and lots of structure to where they can hide from predation (meaning you) and in which lures are sure to get caught. While Caddo is good for a variety of species, like Crappie, Catfish, Chain pickerel, White & yellow bass and Sunfish, it is notorious for bass of 8 pounds or more.

Lake Caddo Fishing Regulations

Since Caddo lies on the border between Texas and Louisiana, limits for catfish, crappie, white bass and black bass apply on both the Texas and Louisiana portions of the lake. Regulations for some other species may differ between the two states.

See Texas bag and size limits for Caddo Lake.

For details on Louisiana regulations, visit the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.