Lac des Allemands

Lac des Allemands, a 12,000-acre (4,900 hectare) lake in the parishes of Lafourche, St. Charles, and St. John the Baptist, lies about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. The lake's name, which translates to "Lake of the Germans" in French, alludes to the early inhabitants who lived there. The German Coast is a geographical area that includes the parishes of St. Charles and St. John the Baptist.

The lake is comprised of numerous canals, bogs, and bayous, all of which provide wetland environments rich in dead grasses, tree stumps, and brush tops. The lake is home to a large number of catfish, and enthusiastic fisherman are always looking to hook the next sixty-pound monster. Many different species of fish, such as largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, sunfish, and warmouth, can be found in Lac des Allemands; autumn is thought to be the greatest time for crappie fishing.

Southeast of the lake, on Bayou des Allemands, is where the community of Des Allemands is situated. Des Allemands was designated as the "Catfish Capital of the Universe" by the Louisiana legislature and Governor Edwin Edwards in 1975. Des Allemands holds the Louisiana Catfish Festival every July.

Location: Lafourche / St. Charles / St. John the Baptist parishes, Louisiana, United States

Surface Area: 12,000 acres
Max Depth: 10 Feet