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Guide to fishing in the Lone Star State

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Alan Henry Reservoir
  • B A Steinhagen Lake, TX
  • Benbrook Lake, TX
  • Caddo Lake, TX
  • Canyon Lake, TX
  • Cedar Creek Reservoir, TX
  • Choke Canyon Reservoir
  • Cooper Lake, TX
  • Eagle Mountain Lake, TX
  • Falcon Reservoir
  • Grapevine Lake, TX
  • Hubbard Creek Lake, TX
  • Joe Pool Lake, TX
  • Lake Arrowhead, TX
  • Lake Austin, TX
  • Lake Bob Sandlin, TX
  • Lake Bridgeport, TX
  • Lake Brownwood, TX
  • Lake Buchanan, TX
  • Lake Conroe
  • Lake Corpus Christi, TX
  • Lake Fork
  • Lake Granbury, TX
  • Lake Houston, TX
  • Lake Lewisville, TX
  • Lake Limestone, TX
  • Lake Livingston, TX
  • Lake Lyndon B Johnson, TX
  • Lake Palestine
  • Lake O the Pines, TX
  • Lake Ray Hubbard, TX
  • Lake Somerville
  • Lake Tawakoni, TX
  • Lake Texana, TX
  • Lake Texoma
  • Lake Travis, TX
  • Lake Waco, TX
  • Lake Whitney, TX
  • Lake Worth, TX
  • Lavon Lake, TX
  • Martin Creek Lake, TX
  • Medina Lake, TX
  • Meredith Reservoir
  • Navarro Mills Lake, TX
  • O.H. Ivie Lake
  • Pat Mayse Lake, TX
  • Ray Roberts Lake
  • Sam Rayburn Reservoir
  • Toledo Bend
  • Wright Patman Lake, TX

The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake. Lakes are sorted by sector of thr state.

Texas is a fishing paradise, offering anglers a remarkable variety of species to pursue across its diverse waterways. The state is renowned for its warm water fisheries, where lakes and reservoirs are teeming with popular game fish. Largemouth bass reigns supreme, with lakes like Lake Fork and Falcon Lake producing trophy-sized specimens. Other warm water species include catfish, crappie, sunfish, and striped bass, providing anglers with ample opportunities for exciting and rewarding fishing experiences.

For those seeking a different angling adventure, Texas also boasts cold water fisheries. In the scenic Texas Hill Country, rivers such as the Guadalupe and the Pedernales offer opportunities to target trout, particularly during the winter months when these rivers are stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Lakes like Inks Lake and Canyon Lake also provide cold water fishing options, with white bass and other species available to anglers seeking a change of pace.

In addition to lakes and rivers, Texas is dotted with numerous ponds that offer excellent fishing opportunities. These smaller bodies of water can be found in both urban and rural areas, making them accessible and popular among anglers looking for a quick fishing fix. Ponds often harbor bass, catfish, sunfish, and occasionally stocked trout, providing a convenient option for anglers to enjoy a day on the water without venturing far from home.

The rivers of Texas also hold great appeal for fishing enthusiasts. From the iconic Rio Grande to the sprawling Brazos and Trinity rivers, these waterways support diverse fish populations. Anglers can pursue a range of species, including bass, catfish, sunfish, and various types of trout, depending on the region and the specific river.

Texas truly offers something for every angler, with its abundance of warm water fisheries, cold water fisheries, ponds, lakes, and rivers. Whether you prefer the excitement of bass fishing, the thrill of reeling in a trout, or the relaxation of casting a line in a peaceful pond, the Lone Star State provides endless fishing opportunities and unforgettable experiences in its picturesque and bountiful waters.

The state of Texas offers big fish in big lakes...and plenty of them. Fish for monster catfish, bass, crappie, striped bass, sunfish and more. Choose from many lakes throughout the state, over sixty of which are listed below. Many of these lakes offer fishing boats for rent. See West Texas, Central Texas and East Texas fishing boat rentals.

For a detailed list of primary fish species in TX, plus state fish records, see the list below.

The state of Texas offers a wide variety of fishing opportunities. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, longear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, rock bass, warmouth, white bass, yellow bass, yellow perch, stripers, alligator gar, bowfin, chain pickerel, longnose gar, northern pike, saugeye, spotted gar and tiger muskie in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams. Click here for details and state records for the primary species of fish in Texas lakes.

Major Texas Lakes & Species

Fishing lakes in West TX

Amidst the arid desert of West Texas lies a spectrum of fishing lakes. Some of the major lakes include Amistad Reservoir, Balmorhea Lake, Champion Creek Lake, Lake Alan Henry, Lake E V Spence, Lake J B Thomas, Lake Meredith, Lake Nasworthy, New Ballinger Lake, O C Fisher Reservoir, Oak Creek Reservoir, Twin Buttes Reservoir and White River Reservoir. Many of these lakes are within state parks, and most offer campgrounds and/or RV Parks at or nearby the lakes. Match up your favorite kind of fishing with a convenient lake in western Texas, and enjoy the great outdoors.

Fishing lakes in Central TX

Spread throughout Central Texas are a variety of great fishing lakes. Some of the major lakes include Belton Lake, Benbrook Lake, Brady Creek Reservoir, Braunig Lake, Canyon Lake, Choke Canyon Reservoir, Eagle Mountain Lake, Falcon Lake, Granger Lake, Grapevine Lake, Hubbard Creek Lake, Inks Lake, Joe Pool Lake, Lady Bird Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Austin, Lake Bridgeport, Lake Brownwood, Lake Buchanan, Lake Corpus Christi, Lake Granbury, Lake Kemp, Lake Kickapoo, Lake Lewisville, Lake Lyndon B Johnson, Lake Stamford, Lake Travis, Lake Waco, Lake Walter E. Long, Lake Whitney, Lake Worth, Medina Lake, O H Ivie Lake, Possum Kingdom Lake, Proctor Lake, Ray Roberts Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake. Many of these lakes are within state parks, and most offer campgrounds and/or RV Parks at or nearby the lakes. Match up your favorite kind of fishing with a convenient lake in western Texas, and enjoy the great outdoors.

Fishing lakes in East TX

Scattered throughout East Texas are a nice variety of fishing lakes. Each lake contains a unique list of fish species which reside in the lake. Some of the major lakes include B A Steinhagen Lake, Bois d'Arc Lake, Caddo Lake, Cedar Creek Reservoir, Cooper Lake, Ellison Creek Reservoir, Fayette County Reservoir, Gibbons Creek Reservoir, Jim Chapman Lake, Lake Athens, Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Conroe, Lake Fork, Lake Gilmer, Lake Houston, Lake Jacksonville, Lake Limestone, Lake Livingston, Lake Murvaul, Lake Nacogdoches, Lake Naconiche, Lake O the Pines, Lake Palestine, Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Somerville, Lake Striker, Lake Tawakoni, Lake Texana, Lake Texoma, Lake Tyler, Lavon Lake, Martin Creek Lake, Navarro Mills Lake, Pat Mayse Lake, Richland Chambers Lake, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Toledo Bend Reservoir, Wright Patman Lake. Many of these lakes are within state parks, and most offer campgrounds and/or RV Parks at or nearby the lakes. Match up your favorite kind of fishing with a convenient lake, and enjoy the great outdoors in eastern Texas.

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Amistad Reservoir is a 64,900-acre reservoir on the southwest border of the state, at Del Rio.

B.A. Steinhagen Lake is a 10,700-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, 8 miles southwest of Jasper.

Balmorhea Lake is a 570-acre lake in the eastern part of the state, at the town of Balmorhea.

Belton Lake is a 12,400-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Temple.

Benbrook Lake is a 3,700-acre lake in the central part of the state, on the southwest outskirts of Fort Worth.

Bois d'Arc Lake is a 16,640-acre lake in northeast TX, northeast of Bonham (scheduled to open in 2022).

Brady Creek Reservoir is a 2,020-acre lake in the central part of the state, at the town of Brady.

Braunig Lake is a 1,350-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 1 mile west of Elmendorf.

Caddo Lake is a 27,000-acre lake on the eastern border of the state, at Uncertain.

Canyon Lake is an 8,300-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Canyon Lake.

Cedar Creek Lake is a 32,500-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Kemp.

Champion Creek Reservoir is a 1,580-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 5 miles south of Colorado City.

Choke Canyon Reservoir is a 26,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Three Rivers.

Cooper Lake is a 19,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Cooper.

Eagle Mountain Lake is an 8,700-acre lake in the Fort Worth area, at Azle.

Ellison Creek Reservoir is a 1,500-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Lone Star.

E.V. Spence Reservoir is an 11,600-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Robert Lee.

Falcon Lake (Falcon International Reservoir) is a 83,800-acre lake on the southern border of the central Texas, at Falcon State Park.

Fayette County Reservoir is a 920-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, 5 miles east of La Grange.

Gibbons Creek Reservoir is a 2,770-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, 20 miles east of College Station.

Granger Lake is a 4,064-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at the town of Granger.

Grapevine Lake is a 7,000-acre lake in the Dallas area, at Grapevine.

Hubbard Creek Reservoir is a 14,900-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Breckenridge.

Inks Lake is a 830-acre lake in central TX, 10 miles west of Burnet.

Joe Pool Lake is a 7,500-acre lake in the Dallas area, at Cedar Hill.

Lady Bird Lake is a 470-acre lake in the central part of the state, in Austin

Lake Alan Henry is a 2,900-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Justiceburg TX.

Lake Arrowhead is a 15,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 5 miles southwest of Henrietta.

Lake Athens is a 1,799-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 5 miles east of Athens.

Lake Austin is a 1,600-acre lake in Central Texas, at Austin.

Lake Bob Sandlin is a 9,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Rocky Mound.

Lake Bridgeport is a 12,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Lake Bridgeport.

Lake Brownwood is a 6,500-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Brownwood.

Lake Buchanan is a 22,300-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Bluffton.

Lake Conroe is a 20,000-acre lake in the southeast part of Texas, at Conroe.

Lake Corpus Christi is an 18,000-acre lake in the Corpus Christi area, at Lake City.

Lake Fork Reservoir is a 27,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Emory.

Lake Gilmer is a 1,010-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at the town of Gilmer.

Lake Granbury is a 8,300-acre lake southwest of Fort Worth, at Granbury.

Lake Houston is an 11,800-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Houston.

Lake Jacksonville is a 1,320-acre lake in the eastern part of the state, at the city of Jacksonville.

Lake J.B. Thomas is a 7,300-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 8 miles west of Ira.

Lake Kemp is a 15,500-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 10 miles north of Seymour.

Lake Kickapoo is a 6,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 10 miles west of Archer City.

Lake L B J is a 6,500-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Marble Falls.

Lake Lewisville is a 30,000-acre lake in the North Dallas area.

Lake Limestone is a 12,500-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Jewett.

Lake Livingston is a 90,000-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Livingston.

Lake Murvaul is a 3,400-acre lake in the eastern part of the state, 15 miles southwest of Carthage.

Lake Meredith is a 16,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, north of Amarillo.

Lake Nacogdoches is a 2,212-acre lake in east TX, 10 miles west of the city of Nacogdoches.

Lake Naconiche is a 690-acre lake in the eastern part of the state, 8 miles southwest of Garrison.

Lake Nasworthy is a 1,380-acre lake in the central part of the state, at San Angelo TX.

Lake O the Pines is a 17,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Ore City.

Lake Palestine is a 25,500-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Coffee City.

Lake Ray Hubbard is a 23,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Garland.

Lake Ray Roberts is a 25,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Pilot Point.

Lake Somerville is a 11,500-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Somerville.

Lake Stamford (Stamford Reservoir) is a 5,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Stamford.

Lake Striker is a 1,860-acre lake in the eastern part of the state, 6 miles east of Summerfield.

Lake Tawakoni is a 38,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Greenville.

Lake Texana is a 9,700-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Edna.

Lake Texoma is a 93,000-acre lake on the northern border of the state, at Denison.

Lake Travis is an 18,600-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Lakeway.

Lake Tyler is two lakes covering 5,000 acres in the eastern part of the state, on the eastern outskirts of Whitehouse.

Lake Waco is a 7,200-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Waco.

Lake Walter E. Long is a 1,270-acre lake in the central part of the state, 8 miles east of Austin.

Lake Whitney is a 23,500-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Whitney.

Lake Worth is a 3,500-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Fort Worth.

Lavon Lake is a 21,400-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at McKinney.

Martin Creek Lake is a 5,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Tatum.

Medina Lake is a 5,400-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Mico.

Navarro Mills Lake is a 5,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Navarro Mills.

New Ballinger Lake is a 575-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at the town of Ballinger.

O.C. Fisher Lake is a 5,400-acre lake in the central part of the state, at San Angelo.

O.H. Ivie Lake is a 19,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Concho.

Oak Creek Reservoir (Oak Creek Lake) is a 2,370-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Blackwell.

Pat Mayse Lake is a 5,900-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Powderly.

Possom Kingdom Lake is a 17,500-acre lake northwest of Fort Worth, at Pickwick.

Proctor Lake is a 4,500-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Proctor.

Richland Chambers Reservoir is a 41,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Corsicana.

Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a 115,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Broaddus.

Stillhouse Hollow Lake (Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir) is a 6,400-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Temple.

Toledo Bend is a 185,000-acre lake on the texas-Louisiana border east of San Augustine.

Twin Buttes Reservoir is a 9,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, at San Angelo.

White River Reservoir is a 1,400-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 40 miles east of Lubbock.

Wright Patman Lake is a 19,000-acre lake in the northeast corner of the state, at Texarkana.

Fish Species & State Records in Texas

Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

World record: 22 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 18.18 lbs

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

World record: 11 lbs 15 oz

State Record: 7.93 lbs

Spotted Bass

Spotted bass

World record: 9 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 5.56 lbs

Catfish

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

World record: 58 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 36.5 lbs

Flathead Catfish

Flathead catfish

World record: 123 lbs 9 oz

State Record: 98.5 lbs

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish

World record: 143 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 121.5 lbs

Crappie

Black Crappie

Black crappie

World record: 6 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 3.92 lbs

White Crappie

White crappie

World record: 5 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 4.56 lbs

Walleye

Walleye

Walleye

World record: 25 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 11.88 lbs

Saugeye

Saugeye

World record: 15 lbs 6 oz

State Record: 7.78 lbs

Trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

World record: 42 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 8.92 lbs

Brook Trout

Brook trout

World record: 14 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 0.67 lbs

Brown Trout

Brown trout

World record: 40 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 7.12 lbs

Panfish

Bluegill

Bluegill

World record: 4 lbs 12 oz

State Record: 2.02 lbs

Green Sunfish

Green sunfish

World record: 2.2 lbs

State Record: 1.30 lbs

Hybrid Sunfish

Hybrid sunfish

World record: N/A

State Record: 1.73 lbs

Longear Sunfish

Longear sunfish

World record: 1.75 lbs

State Record: 0.84 lbs

Redbreast Sunfish

Redbreast sunfish

World record: 2 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 1.63 lbs

Redear Sunfish

Redear sunfish

World record: 5.4 lbs

State Record: 2.99 lbs

Rock Bass

Rock bass

World record: 3.0 lbs

State Record: 1.13 lbs

Tilapia

Tilapia

World record: 9.6 lbs

State Record: 7.75 lbs

Warmouth

Warmouth

World record: 2.4 lbs

State Record: 1.30 lbs

White Bass

White Bass

World record: 6.8 lbs

State Record: 5.56 lbs

Yellow Bass

Yellow bass

World record: 2 lbs 15 oz

State Record: 3.46 lbs

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

World record: 4 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 1.04 lbs

Striped bass

Striped Bass

Striper

World record: 81 lbs 14 oz

State Record: 53.0 lbs

Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid Striped Bass

US record: 27 lbs 5 oz

State Record: 19.66 lbs

Other species

Alligator Gar

Alligator gar

World record: 279.0 lbs*

State Record: 279.0 lbs

Bowfin

Bowfin

World record: 21 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 17.65 lbs

Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel

World record: 9 lbs 6 oz

State Record: 4.75 lbs

Longnose Gar

Longnose gar

World record: 50 lbs 5 oz

State Record: 50.31 lbs

Northern Pike

Northern pike

World record: 55 lbs 1 oz

State Record: 18.28 lbs

Spotted Gar

Spotted gar

World record: 9 lbs 12 oz

State Record: 7.66 lbs

Tiger Muskie

Tiger muskie

World record: 51 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 9.06 lbs

By clicking on the images and links above, you will be taken to a page offering more information about the selected fish species.

A Nice Largemouth from Lake Fork, Texas

Like most things in Texas, the bass in Lake Fork, and other TX lakes, are big!

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department website is a great resource for information about fishing in Texas. Click here for a Texas fishing license.

Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Texas and other boating information.

Some excellent fishing is available south of the Texas border in Mexico. El Cuchillo and Guerrero lakes are only a few hours drive from the border.

Go fishing in style

Hook the boat to the back of a motorhome and you can now fish anywhere you like across the Texas countryside.

Bass fishing book

Fish for big bass

Excellent largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers.

Fishing Guides...Here you can find a listing of Texas fishing guides who offer services within Texas, here.

 

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