Overview
Bussey Brake Reservoir is a 2,200-acre levee-impounded lake in Morehouse Parish northwest of Bastrop, now the centerpiece of a 2,600-acre wildlife management area. International Paper built the above-ground reservoir in the late 1950s as an emergency mill water supply and later donated the property; the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries renovated and reopened it as a quality public fishery within Bussey Brake WMA.
The lake is roughly circular with about 8 miles of levee shoreline, an average depth near 11 feet, and a maximum depth of about 30 feet. Because it was built above grade and historically filled by pumping from adjacent Bayou Bartholomew, it lacks a large natural watershed. Standing timber bands, dug boat lanes, and brush create concentrated cover across an otherwise open basin.
Bussey Brake is managed primarily for quality fishing—especially largemouth bass, plus bream and crappie—with a three-lane concrete ramp, fishing piers (including an ADA-accessible pier), and levee trails for hiking and horseback use. Anglers can also access neighboring Bayou Bartholomew along the WMA's eastern boundary.
Normal pool stage is about 100 feet above mean sea level. Levels can sit below full pool while the reservoir is being refilled or managed, and the marked boat lanes matter when water is down, so checking current lake levels and WMA notices before a trip is important for launching and navigating safely.
Current Conditions
- Drought conditionsModerate Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Bussey Brake Reservoir is a 2,200-acre reservoir on the Pumped fill / local drainage (historically International Paper mill supply managed by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.