Top 5 Most Underatted TX Lakes!

[SkeetyCCTX]

Okay, down here in TX every already knows and talks about Choke Canyon, Falcon, Amistad, Fork, and Toleto Bend!  However, this state is filled with awesome lakes that get no credit whatsoever.  In your opinion, what are the top 5 most "under-rated" lakes in the state!  Give a little detail as to why you chose the lake!

Here is my list:

1.  "Lake Conroe" - This lake is a great fishing lake for many species, but especially LMBs!  It gets overlooked by many anglers cause of its proximity to Houston and the party/recreational crowd that it draws.  It is full of houses, boat docks, and other man made scenary and just doesnt seem like the ideal place to catch a giant bass.  However, it is loaded with them!  The fish use the man made structure just like it was natural and thrive on this lake.  Tourny sacks of 30 lbs are very common and this lake is like 3rd all time for most Sharelunkers!  Every time I fish it I catch well over 40 bass! (Lake record around 16 lbs)

2.  Caddo - I have never fished this lake in E. TX but I am planning a trip soon.  I have had my eye on this lake for a while and if you did around you will find out that some real giants come out of this lake.  Recently, a new lake record was caught going over 16 lbs!  Thats bigger than Choke or Falcon or Amistad!  It is the only natural lake in TX and has been a well kept secrete!

3.  Lake Corpus Christi (mathis) - This is my actual "home" lake as I live 15 minute away.  In my opinion, this lake could be as good as Falcon or Choke if the water levels were left alone!  It is full of fish in the 3-6 lb range and I have caught more 8 lb plus fish from it than Choke Canyon.  My last double diggit fish came from Mathis last Nov., take in mind that I fish Choke every week and Falcon several times a month!  This lake also has good numbers as well as awesome Catfish, crappie, and white bass numbes!   Best thing is that it is over 20 k acres and has almost zero fishing pressure! (lake record around 14 1/2 lbs)

4.  Canyon Lake - This is another lake that is better know as a recreational boating lake.  However, it is one of the best Smallmouth lakes in the state of TX!  It is the southern most lake in the U.S. that has a "decent" population of catchable smallies.   YOu can go out there and target them and have success!  I began fishing it 2 yrs ago and am amazed at the amount of 3-4 lb class fish that they have there.  I have personally seen smallies over 5 lbs.  They are easy to find if you know where to look.  (lake record smallie is about 6.5 lbs)

5.  Belton - This is another lake that I am putting in largely bassed on its Smallmouth fishing!  Right now, alot of people are saying Belton is the best Smallie lake in TX.  My first trip there I caught 7 in about 4 hrs, all keepers with a large of 3.5 lbs!  However, Belton also has a good LMB fishery, with fish over 8 lbs not being too uncommon.  As a bonus, it also has spotted bass!  Strangley, it does not seem to get as crowded as one would assumer, being so close to major cities!  It is one of the prettiest lakes in TX too.  (Smallie record goes well over 6 lbs)

Id like to hear what yall have to think?

[ring fry]

Pat Mayes - Powderly  Lot of 3 to 6 pound fish.  Buddy caught a 10# a few years ago.  Always catch fish when I'm on my way back from Fork.

Quitman - Quitman  So close to Fork that non locals overlook this little gem. 

Clear Creek(?) - Cooper  Small lake north of Cooper with a bunch of good fish

Purtis Creek - Eustace  Was a great lake before they killed the grass.  My personal best came out of there. 

Jacksonville - Jacksonville  Lot of good bass, clear water, and if you like docks...well there are plenty.

[fishfordollars]

Nacogdoches

Arlington

Ray Hubbard

Ray Roberts

Joe Pool

[ring fry]

Forgot about Nac.  Have caught some nice fish there and had my heart broken a couple of times on a couple of really big ones.   

[Catt]

B.A. Steinhagen Lake: Little Rayburn 

Bob Sandlin

Monticello

O.H. Ivie Lake

Palestine

[HitmanFO]

Catt, I love Steinhagen... if they'd quit draining it every few years, it would be a great lake.  I fish it about once a month... almost got the Champion stuck on a mud flat last time, in the middle of the lake!

Skeety, I don't fish other lakes besides Toledo/Rayburn/Steinhagen very often, but rumor is, Stillhouse Hollow in Belton has some pretty nice fish.  Lake record is only about 13 pounds, but those I talk to that fish it often say that, in a tourney, if you don't have 20+ pounds, you're not even in the running.  Waypoint Guide Service up there (don't know them, have no affiliation, never used them, so I'm not pushing them) posts on his website that he and a client have put together 49# between 5 bass in one day, and 42# another day.  That's pretty amazing!

I fished there a couple of weeks ago, but the water was in the low 50's... hope to return this summer and really go after them.

So, I guess I would say that it is probably underrated, though I don't fish enough other lakes to really put together a "Top 5" list.

[fishfordollars]

Forgot about Nac. Have caught some nice fish there and had my heart broken a couple of times on a couple of really big ones.

I grew up 10 minutes from the lake. Born in Lufkin, raised in Nac. Spent the night in line the day it opened.

[SDoolittle]

The town I live in is about halfway between Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow. I can be on either one in about 15 minutes. These two lakes are so good that I usually don't feel the need to fish anywhere else. Belton is a numbers lake with some great smallmouth fishing. HitmanFO is right about Stillhouse. It regularly takes 30 plus lbs to win a tournament and it's been referred to as "the Lake Fork of central Texas".

[Catt]

HitmanFO, long before I fished Toledo or Rayburn it was Steinhagen; it's one of those places when you look at it you think bass.

[JVM]

I think Ray Hubbard should be on the list or close.  Palestine too.  Other than that, dont know a whole lot about South Texas so that leaves alot of territory uncovered for me...

[JVM]

Why not make it a poll... be more fun

[fishfordollars]

I think Ray Hubbard should be on the list or close. Palestine too. Other than that, dont know a whole lot about South Texas so that leaves alot of territory uncovered for me...

Look up, I have it listed in my response.

[L-Train]

Lake of the Pines.  It's been taking mid 30's to win tournaments there this year.

[fishfordollars]

Lake of the Pines. It's been taking mid 30's to win tournaments there this year.

Yep, and it produced a 13+ a few weeks ago. Heck maybe it was a 14+, I forget.

[L-Train]

Rumors the LOP gave up a 15 today on another board!

[tbird]

Lake of the Pines is one of those lakes that reek of big bass, definatly underrated.

   T

[Matt Fly]

  So what are we rating them for?????

Numbers, Size, Stringer size?   

  Lots of reason make  lakes special over another.

Some sleepers in Texas that are very small in size, but kick out some toads.

  Lake Austin, which is just a small part of the River that has a dam that has pumped out a few of 13+ fish.

Casa Blanca, past years, all of a sudden, has three 14 lbers to its credit.

Like Falcon, Amistad and Choke,   Richland Chambers is showing a sign from its past in the late 80's when it was kicking out 100's of DD's until striper/hybrids were stocked.   Then the major decline in bassin.

For the past decade or so, no active stripers have been restocked and guess what, the past 3 years, we are starting to stringers in the upper 20's showing up steady.

  I know if you didn't have around 25, you wasn't in the running for top 5 most days.

Ray Roberts will be in the news this year and a few years to come.   Wait till BASS hits that lake, the century mark will be in jeopardy.

One time during the year, lake Tyler will kick out as many 30 lb stringers as any little lake in Texas.   

    But I think I heard they are doing grass eradication which will kill that fishin hole as well.

Coming soon, Lake Worth will be in the news.   Efforts there are already showing great signs. 

 

[SkeetyCCTX]

So what are we rating them for?????

Numbers, Size, Stringer size?

Lots of reason make lakes special over another.

Some sleepers in Texas that are very small in size, but kick out some toads.

Lake Austin, which is just a small part of the River that has a dam that has pumped out a few of 13+ fish.

Casa Blanca, past years, all of a sudden, has three 14 lbers to its credit.

Like Falcon, Amistad and Choke, Richland Chambers is showing a sign from its past in the late 80's when it was kicking out 100's of DD's until striper/hybrids were stocked. Then the major decline in bassin.

For the past decade or so, no active stripers have been restocked and guess what, the past 3 years, we are starting to stringers in the upper 20's showing up steady.

I know if you didn't have around 25, you wasn't in the running for top 5 most days.

Ray Roberts will be in the news this year and a few years to come. Wait till BASS hits that lake, the century mark will be in jeopardy.

One time during the year, lake Tyler will kick out as many 30 lb stringers as any little lake in Texas.

But I think I heard they are doing grass eradication which will kill that fishin hole as well.

Coming soon, Lake Worth will be in the news. Efforts there are already showing great signs.

Just rate them on your own personal preference on what the overall fishing experience should be about!  Whether that be size, numbers, species, what have you.  I myself like to rate lakes based on all of these factors.  Of course, big LMB is always my number 1 criteria, but I still think that there are other factors that make lakes great.  IF you noticed, 2 of my top 5 under-rated lakes were put there because of the presence of a good smallie population!

Also, yes Casa-Blance does look to be pretty darn good these days.  I have been keeping my eye on it and have been wanting to take a trip for some time.  Why shouldnt it be good?  Warm weather is a key factor and it has plenty of that!  However, like Lake CC (Mathis) it is one of those lakes that get bleed dry every several years, and that bring them back down!  If these lakes would be left full, it is only natural for them to be awsome based on their geographic location! 

I wonder what kind of fish Sqauw Creek will be putting out after it starts getting fished again?  It will be interesting!

[Noah Keeton]

All the lakes in Texas are getting better because of the Florida strain LM introduced back 70’s and 80’s. That  mixed with Tx LM  makes for some big healthy fish. Also catch and release made a big impact on the fishing in Texas.