DALLAS (KDAF) – While Texas has hundreds of freshwater fishing spots, some are closer to anglers than others.
And in the Rio Grande Valley, where saltwater fishing dominates, there are still some who can’t resist the lure of venturing inland to a new fishing destination. So where should you go in Texas if you’re looking to catch bass, walleye, and catfish.
A report published by Trips To Discover answers that question and the closest points to the Rio Grande Valley include Falcon Lake and Amistad Lake.
The report says: “From bass to walleye, white bass and catfish, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a curious collector, you’ll find countless places to enjoy a day on the water. Combining panoramic views of lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks with outdoor adventures, here are some of the best places to fish in Texas.
Caddo Lake
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department calls this site an “East Texas Treasure.” This more than 25,000-acre lake and wetland is located on the Texas-Louisiana border in northern Harrison County, southern Marion County, and western Louisiana. Does it sound big? Although it has natural origins, a dam built in the 1900s only made it bigger.
Choke Canyon Reservoir
Four miles west of Three Rivers, this lake is located in Live Oark and McMullen counties and covers over 25,000 acres. Predominant catches include largemouth bass, catfish, and alligator, according to the TPWD. But you can also reel in white bass and sunfish.
Lake Texoma
This lake is filled with impounded water from the Red River along the Texas-Oklahoma border, northwest of Sherman-Denison, west of US 75. Its surface area covers nearly 75,000 acres. The predominant fish here include catfish and bass, but you can also catch walleye and bluefish, according to TPWD.
Amistad Lake
This south Texas reservoir lake is located on the Rio Grande, 12 miles northwest of the border town of Del Rio in Val Verde County. The reservoir lake covers approximately 65,000 acres, and anglers catch largemouth bass, walleye, and catfish, according to TPWD. Other catches include white and striped bass.
Lake Fork
This northeast Texas lake is located on the Sabine River in Hopkins, Rains, and Wood counties, five miles northwest of Quitman, Texas. The lake covers about 27,000 hectares and the predominant fish species include bass, whitefish and blackish, and channel catfish. according to TPWD. Other fish include white bass and sunfish.
Lake O’ The Pines
This East Texas fishing destination is located on Big Cypress Creek in the Cypress River Basin, 25 miles northeast of Longview, Texas. The lake is only 20,000 acres and the best catches include largemouth bass, spotted bass, and catfish, according to TPWD. Other catches include white bass, flounder, sunfish, and garrot.
Cedar Creek Lake
This North Texas lake, 15 miles west of Athens, Texas, covers about 32,000 acres. TPWD officials say anglers can expect largemouth bass and three types of catfish: blue, channel and flathead. Other fish include white and hybrid striped bass and catfish.
Falcon Lake
This international reservoir lake on the Rio Grande is located 40 miles east of Laredo on Highway 83 in Zapata and Starr counties. The reservoir lake covers more than 83,000 acres, and TPWD officials consider the fishing to be excellent for bass and catfish. However, the fishing is not so great for the other species of fish found here, which include whiting and white bass.
Guadalupe River
As the first river on the list, the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country is a hotspot for swimming and tubing. Fishing also features prominently, according to the Trips to Discover list. The acclaim is well-deserved given its opportunity for trout. If the fish aren’t biting, there’s plenty more to do at Guadalupe River State Park, northwest of Bulverde, Texas.
Colorado Bend State Park
In Central Texas, the list includes another river attraction: the Colorado River. The state park offers camping and cave tours, along with fishing.
River of the Devils
The Devils River meanders through southwest Texas near Del Rio, and the beautiful, pristine crystal clear water makes it a top destination in Texas. Nestled between canyons, this is a rugged destination that offers a true escape into nature.
Blanco State Park
This river destination in Blanco, Texas is part of the state park system and has a winter trout stocking program. If you want the details in the form of a fishing tip sheet, the park has you covered.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
On the Angelina River, 15 miles north of Jasper, Texas, this large lake of over 114,000 acres has largemouth bass, walleye, catfish, and white bass.