Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Inland Fisheries biologists deployed a total of 100 Christmas trees at 13 locations throughout Cotile Lake in Rapides Parish on February 7th, 2024.

The reefs are held in place by concrete anchors and will serve as a desirable protective cover for young fish. In addition to providing protective cover for young fish, the reefs attract adult bass and crappie, providing convenient areas for anglers to target some of their fishing efforts.

The Christmas trees for this project were donated by area Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in Pineville, Opelousas, Baton Rouge, and Alexandria.

The reefs are not marked.  Anglers can use the coordinates below to locate the reefs:

Reef Name

Lat.

Long.

Reef 1

31.330350°

-92.738067°

Reef 2

31.323083°

-92.737433°

Reef 3

31.314633°

-92.73685°

Reef 4

31.31435°

-92.735933°

Reef 5: Cotile Fishing Pier

31.330108°

-92.727257°

Reef 6

31.30675°

-92.733183°

Reef 7

31.306767°

-92.733083°

Reef 8

31.325467°

-92.734083°

Reef 9

31.3299°

-92.738833°

Reef 10

31.334350°

-92.723800°

Reef 11

31.334317°

-92.723900°

Reef 12

31.313917°

-92.734417°

Reef 13

31.314817°

-92.7355°

 To view the location of other public freshwater artificial reefs throughout the state, visit the Louisiana Outdoor Explorer, click on the “Get on the Water” tab, then select “Freshwater Artificial Reefs” under the layer list.

For questions regarding Cotile Lake, please contact LDWF Inland Fisheries Biologist Manager Shelby Richard at (318) 487-5352 or srichard@wlf.la.gov.