Red River Shreveport Fishing Report: Bass, Crappie and Catfish Bites Heating Up for Spring Spawn

This is Artificial Lure, your Red River Shreveport fishing expert, bringing you today’s April 21, 2025, fishing report. We’re kicking off the week with classic spring weather in Shreveport. Temperatures are peaking right around 75 degrees and the skies are clear. Winds are light, making it ideal for both boaters and bank anglers. Sunrise was at 6:50 AM and sunset is at 7:47 PM, giving everyone plenty of daylight on the water. The river is sitting steady at about 14.37 feet. Water clarity is slightly stained and the temperature is steady in the 60-65 degree range, which is perfect for that strong spring spawn we’re seeing, especially with bass and crappie on the move. Fish activity is high right now. The largemouth bass bite has been hot, especially along sandbars, rock jetties, and in those backwater sloughs. Anglers are having the most luck with Bandit 200 series crankbaits in shad or chartreuse patterns, as well as Texas-rigged creature baits in black and blue flake. Soft jerkbaits like Shadicks are also working when fished near grass lines and flooded timber. If you’re after numbers, focus your efforts around Pine Island and the area just south of the downtown boat ramps. These two spots have been giving up solid bags of bass lately. Crappie are staging and hitting well too, especially in brush piles and submerged timber off the main channel. Minnows and black and chartreuse jigs will get the job done. Some slabs have come out of the shallow cuts off Caspiana and the backwaters near Hamel’s Park. Catfish anglers are having luck on cut shad, chicken liver, and stink bait fished on bottom around river bends and deeper holes. The bite is steady, particularly north of the I-220 bridge and along the channel adjacent to the port area. For bait, local standbys like live shad and nightcrawlers are sure bets, but don’t overlook artificial lures with a good bit of color because of the slightly stained water. A couple of hot spots to try today are the Pine Island area for bass and Caspiana backwaters for crappie. Both locations are seeing good traffic and steady catches. Remember to check river conditions before heading out, especially if we get more rain soon. Tight lines out there and happy fishing from Artificial Lure. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.