Bert Swope
If you are looking for the best crappie fishing lakes in Texas, you will find a list of options here. These lakes include: Lake O the Pines, Lake Fork, Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, and South Texas Plains. If you would like to try catching crappie in these lakes, you can also check out our reviews of these lakes. We hope you find this information helpful! Let us know which of these Texas lakes you prefer!
Lake O The Pines
If you love fishing for crappies, Lake O’ The Pines is the perfect place to do it. This lake has nice populations of crappie, channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. It’s a great place for families, and even if you’re not a skilled fisherman, you can enjoy the lake’s calm, scenic beauty while catching some big ones.
Located near Bryan, Lake O’ The Pines has more than 16 acres of surface water that is surrounded by gorgeous pine trees. It’s also home to several species of catfish, white bass, and largemouth bass. In the winter, Crappie migrate into deep water around the dam and creek channels, making the fishing season a little more difficult. However, once December hits, the crappie begin to move back out into shallow water, where they hold until spring.
Because of its size, Lake O’ the Pines offers a fantastic opportunity for anglers to target crappie at all times of the year. Crappie tend to stage around the trees that lead into their spawning coves. A great launch point is the Johnson Creek Park, which has a public boat ramp and a fishing pier. Another great place to launch a boat is the Highway 154 East Ramp, which offers limited bank access.
Another great place to fish for crappie in Texas is Daniel Reservoir, which is located in Abilene, Texas. This reservoir has an excellent population of crappie, which are plentiful in the fall. Multiple surveys have shown that the reservoir does not get much angling pressure, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find plenty of them.
Lake Fork
If you’re looking for a lake with a large variety of crappie, then look no further than Lake Fork. This 27,264-acre lake in northeast Texas is home to several different species, including giant crappie. If you’re looking to catch a limit of these delicious fish, Lake Fork is the perfect place for you. And, it’s located just 75 miles east of Dallas, so you should be able to find some great fishing spots.
If you want to find big crappie in the fall, try targeting them around brush piles and docks. Crappies are also known as slab, papermouth, and perch. All of these names have their own distinct characteristics, so if you’re looking to catch these tasty little guys, try targeting these areas around these structures. If you’re looking to launch your boat at the public launch ramp at Highway 154, there are a number of locations to choose from.
Most Texas lakes offer excellent crappie fishing. Many produce slabs that grow to 15 inches in length and weigh two pounds. And while most Texas lakes feature good crappie fishing throughout the year, early spring is one of the best times to find these tasty creatures. Crappie often spend their summer and winter seasons in submerged trees and brush. Live minnows, small spinners, crankbaits, and jerkbaits are also great choices for this type of fishing.
Crappie are among the most popular fish species in Lake Fork, so this lake is a good place to target these tasty little monsters. The lake is stocked with 730,000 Florida Black Bass between 1979 and 1987, which creates an excellent fish habitat for the fish. The lake also features abundant vegetation like milfoil, duckweed, and hydrilla. With so many forage options, the bass are prolific. Try flipping jig n pigs in the timber or dipping large plastic worms into weedbeds.
Toledo Bend
Crappie spawn at the upper end of Toledo Bend Reservoir as the spring progresses. Crappie spawn at deep, protected areas, which are often found in channels. These areas are protected from wave action and cold north winds. As such, a crappie fishing trip at Toledo Bend is ideal for those who enjoy vertical fishing in brush piles. You can also try jigs for vertical fishing in brush piles.
In addition to crappie, Toledo Bend Reservoir is also home to largemouth bass. These fish will surely keep you coming back to this reservoir for more! Largemouth bass are especially abundant at this lake, so you can be sure to catch a trophy here. Other fish you may want to target while fishing at Toledo Bend include sunfish, largemouth bass, stripers, catfish, and white bass. The reservoir is surrounded by numerous resorts that offer boat rentals and gas.
The Toledo Bend Reservoir is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in Texas and is home to two state-record-setting fish. In 2006, a grass carp weighed 53 pounds and a redfin pickerel weighed 0.66 pounds. The lake is a large, 20-thousand-acre impoundment and offers excellent crappie fishing. Its depth ranges from just a few feet to seventy-nine feet, making it a popular fishing spot.
Toledo Bend features a variety of depths, inlets, creek arms, and humps. The riprap side of the dam is typically productive during spawning season, and flooded vegetation along the shore can be productive as well. Some anglers choose to fish around the pilings of bridges. In early spring, the crappies start to invade the shallow water. Crappies in Texas can grow to over two pounds!
Sam Rayburn
The most popular lure for fishing crappie on Sam Rayburn is live minnows tied below the bobber. Crappie often hang out near cover, so adjusting your locations depending on the time of year will be crucial. For spring and summer, crappie will be found near deeper water while winter crappies prefer shallow waters. However, during fall and winter, crappie will move to shallower water, making it important to be aware of their movement patterns and location.
Fishing for largemouth bass at Sam Rayburn Reservoir is possible year-round. Largemouth bass can be found in deep ledges in the winter and spend more time in shallow water during the fall. During the spring and summer, the bass are active throughout the day. In these times, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are the preferred baits. Carolina rigs are also a favorite among fishers in shallow water.
Crappie are abundant in Sam Rayburn Reservoir, an 114,000-acre impoundment located in Jasper County. Two-pound crappie are common and you can find them by casting around brush piles. Shore fishing is also available at dozens of public parks. Bayou Recreation Area and Powell Park provide boat launch facilities for anglers. You can also enjoy free fishing in several other areas of the reservoir.
Many of the best Texas lakes are popular with anglers and tourists alike. Crappie are plentiful throughout Texas, and there are many opportunities to find them. You can also catch record-sized crappie in these waters. Be sure to check the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s website for updated information on available fishing lakes. It’s important to remember that crappie are everywhere and spawning in all types of water.
Lake Conroe
For many people, Lake Conroe is synonymous with largemouth bass fishing. However, there is another side to this lake that’s equally as good: fishing for crappie. Crappies typically gather in brush piles, which are generally about 20 feet deep. A good way to find these piles is to use sonar to pinpoint the exact locations. There are several marinas on the lake and there is a free launch in the Sam Houston National Forest to the north of the lake.
The best time to go crappie fishing in Texas is early spring. In the lake, the fish start to spawn in the shallows, so anglers can target them using topwaters, spinnerbaits, and live baitfish. Lake Conroe also has a large population of bluegill, so it’s easy to find them on the lake.
In the spring and summer, anglers can target sunfish and catfish with worms. Sunfish can be caught with a bobber and worms in the shaded areas around boat docks. Bream can be found near the dam and shallow brush piles. Sunfish are also a great way to introduce children to fishing. To find the best spots for fishing, fishidy provides fishing reports for many lakes in Texas.
Although this state is huge, most of the best crappie fishing lakes in Texas are located in the eastern portion of the state. This area offers easy access to nearby states and a relatively reasonable commute. West Texas fishermen, however, have a long drive ahead of them. But once they arrive, the fish will be waiting for them. It’s definitely worth the drive. When you find your perfect location, you’ll be amazed by the variety of fish you can catch!
