What is the second biggest lake in Louisiana?

Lake Maurepas, at 59,300 acres.

Biggest lakes in Louisiana: the top 10 by size

Q: What is the biggest lake in Louisiana?

Lake Pontchartrain, at 403,000 acres.

The ten largest lakes in Louisiana, biggest first.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Lake Pontchartrain	403,000 acres
2	Lake Maurepas	59,300 acres	about 54 mi
3	White Lake	about 55,700 acres	about 45 mi
4	Deep Saline	about 50,000 acres	about 394 mi
5	Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake)	49,200 acres	about 144 mi
6	Lake Salvador	44,800 acres	about 313 mi
7	Grand Lake	42,100 acres	about 76 mi
8	Catahoula Lake	29,400 acres	about 41 mi
9	Dauterive Lake	about 15,600 acres	about 68 mi
10	The Garigue	about 15,300 acres	about 215 mi

1. Lake Pontchartrain

At 403,000 acres of water, Lake Pontchartrain is a huge piece of water. It holds catfish, white bass and largemouth bass. At about 65 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows a wind-blown bank and an upper arm worth a first look.

Lake Pontchartrain today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Maurepas

At some 59,300 acres, Lake Maurepas is a huge piece of water. The lake is about 4 miles northwest of Killian. Like most lakes its size in Louisiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs: good places to start. Lake Maurepas is a shallow, brackish tidal estuary connected to Lake Pontchartrain via Pass Manchac.

Lake Maurepas today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. White Lake

White Lake covers about 55,700 acres. It lies near Gueydan. The usual Louisiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and an upper arm to work. White Lake lies within a freshwater marsh conservation area in Vermilion Parish that hosts Louisiana's whooping crane reintroduction program.

White Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Deep Saline

Deep Saline covers about 50,000 acres. The lake is next to Dulac. Like most lakes its size in Louisiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look.

Deep Saline today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake)

Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) spreads over some 49,200 acres. The lake is next to Prien. Like most lakes its size in Louisiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. On the 3-D map the bed has two steep ledges and a point drop-off: good places to start. Calcasieu Lake, locally called Big Lake, is a shallow brackish estuary that forms the natural outlet of the Calcasieu River to the Gulf of Mexico.

Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Salvador

At 44,800 acres, Lake Salvador is a big lake. It lies within an easy drive of Metairie Terrace (about 8 miles). Expect catfish. On the 3-D map the bed has a sheltered cove and an upper arm: good places to start.

Lake Salvador today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Grand Lake

At 42,100 acres of water, Grand Lake is a big lake. You will find it near Lake Arthur. The usual Louisiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill.

Grand Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Catahoula Lake

At 29,400 acres of water, Catahoula Lake is a big lake. It lies about 6.1 miles south of Deville. The usual Louisiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Catahoula Lake is Louisiana's largest natural freshwater lake, a Ramsar-listed wetland that dries down seasonally for migratory waterfowl.

Catahoula Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Dauterive Lake

At about 15,600 acres, Dauterive Lake is a big lake. It lies within an easy drive of Lafayette (about 23 miles). The usual Louisiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. The lake bed gives you four steep ledges to work.

Dauterive Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. The Garigue

At about 15,300 acres, The Garigue is a big lake. The lake is about 9.4 miles northwest of Poydras. The usual Louisiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

The Garigue today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.