By Azure Arther, NewsCastic
Whether you’re a novice or a pro, East Texas has a plethora of lakes just for you.
Multiple species of bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, and more await the right angler with the best (or sometimes worst) bait. The beauty of East Texas fishing is that most of its bodies of water come with other amenities such as bait shops, cabins, barbecue grills, and boat rentals. In some areas, shopping and towns, tourist attractions and parks abound.
Here’s a look at seven places in east Texas you definitely want to get your fishing on:
Access From Anywhere
The Angelina & Neches River basins were the original reason the Sam Rayburn Reservoir was created, and even though the reservoir supplies water to Beaumont and Lufkin, no one really cares about these things. When they arrive at the reservoir, most people are interested in its amenities, and at the top of Sam’s choices are fishing. As with most of the East Texas lakes, Sam is full of bass, crappie, and catfish, but what makes it distinctly stand out is its 114,000 acres of water. Lake Sam Rayburn easily provides one of the largest fishing areas in the state.
Enjoy Some Variety
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Sprawled across several counties, Lake Tawakoni is nearly 38,000 acres of prime fishing. From artificial fish attractors to submerged trees, the lake has a well-stocked area just waiting for the right angler. Tawakoni is known as one of the best places to catch catfish in Texas, but the waters also sport hybrid striped bass, striped bass, white bass, and crappie.
The Comfort of Civilization
Over 20,000 acres of water make up Lake Ray Hubbard, the larger reservoir just east of Dallas. Large populations of white crappie, hybrid striped, white and largemouth bass, channel and blue catfish all call this large reservoir home. The beauty of Lake Ray Hubbard is the people around it because with people come boat ramps, enclosed fishing barges, marinas, and heated discharges. There are so many places around the lake to post up and fish, it’s surprising that the fishing stays so populated. Fortunately, there are so many other places to fish that none of the lakes seem to run low.
Diversity is its Name
Located in the Cypress River Basin, Lake O’ The Pines is around 17,000 acres of water. As with many lakes, The Pines covers a large area, making it accessible from several counties. One of the most diverse bodies of fishing waters in the state, Lake O’ The Pines boasts various populations of crappie, sunfish, white and largemouth bass, blue and flathead catfish, and channel.
All About that Bass
While it’s much smaller than many of the other watery locales in East Texas, and even though it has many uses that have nothing to do with an angler, the Lake Naconiche’s claim to fame is its fishing. The lake has a large stock of crappie, channel catfish, and sunfish, but it is most known for the largemouth bass that are pulled from its waters.
Largemouth Gabbin’
Known as a difficult lake to fish, Lake Jacksonville is sometimes petulant with her rewards, but the treasures are definitely there for the patient. The typical largemouth bass, crappie and sunfish are to be found in Jacksonville’s water, but one difference, the spotted bass, adds a bit of variety.
Fish in Beauty
Definitely one of the larger lakes to fish in, Lake Livingston boasts just over 90,000 acres of angler ground. Largemouth, white, and striped bass, bluegill, blue, channel and flathead catfish, and crappie all cavort in Livingston’s waters, just waiting for the right bait. Although the variety is vast, the catfish and the white bass are known to be the most easily caught here.
Summer’s not over yet — so grab a pole and let’s go!
