A LUNKER OF A WELCOME
Go Find the Fish in Toledo Bend Lake Country
A ‘Love Your Parks Tour’ Public Art Story by Lisa D. Smith and Nancy J. Reid, assigned by contemporary figurative artist Victoria Chick.
Toledo Bend Lake Country in Sabine Parish is part of western Louisiana’s historic No Man’s Land, the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, and on the beautiful Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway that travels the length of Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Toledo Bend Lake is known for being one of the top bass fishing lakes in the country. Located on the Sabine River, connecting Louisiana with Texas, the reservoir is 65 miles long, spans 186,000 acres, and boasts 1,200 spectacular miles of shoreline. It’s the largest man-made body of water in the South and the fifth-largest in surface acres in the nation. Bass fishing is big in Toledo Bend, along with catching other species like crappie, bream, white bass, stripers, and catfish. The abundance of water, fish, and natural areas also makes this region a destination for birdwatchers and outdoor enthusiasts.
To show their lunker love, the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission developed the Fish Statue program in 2011. A wonderful means to showcase the local artistic talent, these colorful public artworks also share the culture of the region and make for a fun “find the fish” day trip of exploration. We met three of the seven Toledo Bend Welcoming Committee: “Allure” by Linda Boren at the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission & Chamber of Commerce, ”Miss Sunshine” by Jane Hutton at Cypress Bend Park, and “King Toledo” by Judy Wong on Texas Highway in Many at the Exxon Gas Station and Toledo Town & Tackle.
In Toledo Bend Lake Country, you can literally “Go Find the Fish.” See the list of fish statues with their artist name and location guide at https://toledobendlakecountry.com/fish-statues
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