Fishing in Lake Palestine

Fishing on Lake Palestine ... it doesn't get any better than this!

Stretching 18 miles in length, Lake Palestine offers a variety of fishing locations, from wide open deep water, to secluded spots in coves and bays.

Common Fish Species in Lake Palestine

The lake is very popular for largemouth bass tournaments due to its consistent success.

Both white bass and hybrid striped bass are present; white bass are particularly popular during their spring run up the Neches River and Kickapoo Creeks.

Channel and blue catfishes are abundant and flathead catfish provide great opportunity for trophy-sized fish. Crappie are plentiful, and Black-Nose Crappie are also caught.

The main crossing of Texas Highway 155 across Lake Palestine is the bridge (see photograph below) between Dogwood City and Coffee City.

Most vegetation and underwater trees are above the Highway 155 bridge in the main lake, Highsaw and Ledbetter arms, in Kickapoo and Neches River arms and in Flat Creek.

State Highway 155 Bridge Over Lake Palestine
State Highway 155 Bridge over Lake Palestine, looking south, between Coffee City and Dogwood City, Texas


Lake Palestine Fishing Guides

Fishing boat on Lake Palestine in Texas - Freshwater Fishing Adventures

Reputable, experienced fishing guides are available for assistance on Lake Palestine and other area lakes. Listed below are some ... this website has no affiliation with these; always do your own research in selecting a guide.

  • Tom Mayne - Pro Fishing Guide Tom Mayne offers professional guided trips on Lake Palestine, Lake Athens, Lake Fork, and Lake Tyler.
  • and others

A successful day of Crappie fishing on Lake Palestine in Texas
Photo courtesy of Freshwater Fishing Adventures


Stocking of Fish in Lake Palestine

Stocking fish at Lake Palestine in Texas
Stocking fish at Lake Palestine

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks Lake Palestine on a regularly basis.

Lake Palestine is being stocked with Palmetto bass, a cross between a striped bass female and a while bass male.

The state has also been working with a Sunshine bass, the reverse cross from the Palmetto, which shows promise for warmer water reservoirs. Palmettos have been known to live about 20 years.

In 2023, Texas Parks & Wildlife stocked 209,000 Sunshine Bass fingerlings, along with 346,000 Lone Star Bass. In 2021, 352,000 Florida Largemouth Bass were stocked.


Lake Palestine Fishing Renewal

Lake Palestine has shown signs of a renewed vigor for the last three or four years, after being known as perhaps the finest bass lake in Texas in the years after it opened. The recent upswing in good fishing comes from the lake's drawdown during the 2005-06 drought.

The drawdown was nearly 5' and allowed vegetation to grow where it normally had not, creating new spawning habitats. Then, 2 million Florida bass were stocked in the lake between 1997-2005, followed by another million-plus stocking of the same species in 2008-09.

Giant trophy catfish caught at Lake Palestine in East Texas! Another fun day of fishing at Lake Palestine in East Texas near Tyler


Current Fishing Reports and Tips

Current Lake Palestine Fishing Report from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)

Lake Palestine Fishing Tips
(TPWD)

 

Texas Fishing Rules, Regulations and Licenses

A valid Texas fishing license is required for any person age 17k and older to fish in Lake Palestine. Licenses can be purchased online, at local sporting goods stores, or from fishing tackle shops. Bag limits, size restrictions, and seasonal regulations are set for varying fish species.

Texas Recreational Fishing & Boating Regulations (TPWD)

 

Marinas, Boat Docks, Launches and Storage

More than a dozen private marinas, motels and campgrounds offer additional ramps and other services, including the following:

  • Lake Palestine Marina at 16541 FM 344 near Emerald Bay. The marina offers secure boat storage and sailboat slips with access control as well as amenities such as a fuel filling station, bathrooms, storage lockers and on-site parking. Phone 903.426.7740
  • The Villages Marina - boat stalls, paddle boat & pontoon boat rentals, kayaks, bait & tackle shop, fueling station, and fishing licenses. Also, enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Marina Harbour Grille. Phone: 903.561.1413.
  • Lakeside Getaway on Lake Palestine - For guests, amenities include boat launch, fishing pier, fish cleaning stations, electrical charging facilities for boat batteries, picnic tables, BBQ pits and more. Located at 16654 CR 1170. Phone 903.825.3295

In addition, five public boat launches provide access to Lake Palestine.


Detailed list of Lake Palestine public access facilities, boat docks, and marinas.

Flat Creek Marina and RV Camping area at Lake Palestine in East Texas near Tyler
Photo courtesy of Flat Creek Marina & RV Camping

 


Fishing Tournaments in Lake Palestine

Each year a number of fishing tournaments are held on Lake Palestine.

Click to view our list of Fishing Tournaments at Lake Palestine.

Learn about how to stop Zebra Mussels in Texas lakes


Always great fishing on Lake Palestine!

Great fishing on Lake Palestine in Texas!

Always great fishing on Lake Palestine in East Texas Another fun day of fishing at Lake Palestine in East Texas near Tyler
Photos courtesy of Freshwater Fishing Adventures