Black Lake (Louisiana)

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Black Lake

| other_name = Lac Noir (former French name)

| image = Revised cypress trees in Black Lake IMG_2072.JPG

| caption = Cypress trees dominate the waters of the lake.

| image_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry=

| location = Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana,
United States

| coords = {{coord|31.9574|N|93.0466|W|format=dms|type:waterbody_region:US-LA_source:gnis|display=inline,title}}

| lake_type = reservoir

| inflow = Black Lake Bayou

| outflow = Red River

| catchment =

| basin_countries = United States

| length = {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|1.8|mi|km|abbr=on}}

| area = about {{convert|7000|acre|km2|abbr=on}}

| depth =

| max-depth =

| volume =

| residence_time =

| shore =

| elevation = {{convert|102|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| islands =

| cities = Ashland, Campti, Clarence, Creston, and Goldonna

| frozen =

| pushpin_map = Louisiana#USA

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Black Lake in Louisiana, USA.

| pushpin_map_caption =

| website =

| reference =

}}

Image:Pier on Black Lake at Bell's Camp near Campti, LA IMG 2070.JPG.]]

Image:Sea & Sirloin Restaurant, Campti, LA MVI 2731.jpg

Image:Joy Bell Wimberly of Bell's Camp IMG 2068.JPG

Image:Moss on tree, Creston, LA IMG 7294.JPG-laden tree at Bell's Camp]]

Image:Abandoned stone structure at Black Lake (LA) IMG 7295.JPG

Black Lake is a reservoir located between Creston and Campti in North Louisiana.[https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=%22Black%20Lake%22%20Louisiana&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl Google Maps][http://www.fishinglouisiana.com/area1/ Area 1 - Fishing Louisiana] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101084150/http://www.fishinglouisiana.com/area1/ |date=November 1, 2008 }} Water feeds into Black Lake from Black Lake Bayou, a watershed that extends from north of Gibsland in Bienville Parish and south to Clarence in Natchitoches Parish[http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/huc.cfm?huc_code=11140209 Black Lake Bayou Watershed - 11140209 | Surf Your Watershed | US EPA] through the parishes of Claiborne, Webster, Bienville, Red River and Natchitoches. The elevation of the lake is {{convert|102|ft|m}}. Louisiana Highway 9 runs across Black Lake. On the west side of Highway 9 the body of water is called Black Lake — the east is called Clear Lake or Clear Lake Bayou. The Clear Lake side is near another body of water: Saline Lake. Between Clear Lake and Saline Lake is the Alan Chiverly Dam, constructed in 1934. Road 1226 also extends between the lakes.[http://findlakes.com/black_lake_9_louisiana_vacation.htl Black Lake]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The full area of the Black Lake is {{convert|13,500|acres}}. Black Lake itself is shallow so in cold temperatures the fish head to Clear Lake and continue on towards Black Bayou as the weather gets colder so that in colder months the fish can be found only in deeper waters. Most of the crappie found at Black Lake are black crappie.{{cite web|url=https://www.louisianasportsman.com/fishing/freshwater-fishing/head-to-beautiful-black-lake-for-black-crappie/|title=Head to beautiful Black Lake for black crappie}}

Residents about Black Lake use the Campti and Clarence ZIP Codes, 71411 and 71414, respectively. They are zoned to Lakeview Junior/Senior High School. There are boat launches and campgrounds for fishing and boating. Bell's Camp, founded in 1936 by the late Albert and Eva Bell, is still operated by their daughter, Joy Bell Wimberly (born 1924). Nearby was a catfish and steak restaurant known as Sea and Sirloin, which opened in 1983.