North Texas lakes offer an abundance of fishing for outdoor enthusiasts. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sites 44 lakes and reservoirs in the north Texas panhandle plains region. Fisherman can anticipate angling opportunities ranging from poor to excellent for a variety of fish, including but not limited to walleye, sunfish, catfish, crappie and several species of bass.
Access Lake Meredith in Fritch, Texas while visiting the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. Only 45 miles northeast of Amarillo, Lake Merideth is situated on the Canadian River. Covering 16,411 acres, this lake in north Texas reaches 127 feet in depth when water levels are normal. Fluctuating four to 10 feet per year, the upper reservoir has cloudy red water and the lower reservoir offers clear water with a visibility of four to eight feet. Lake Meredith features limited aquatic vegetation consisting primarily of milfoil and cattails. Fishermen can expect to catch walleye, small and largemouth bass, white bass, white crappie, sunfish and channel and flathead catfish. In fact, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Meredith Reservoir has the best walleye fishing in the state of Texas."
You can find Diversion Lake sitting on the Archer and Baylor county line just 30 miles from Wichita Falls. Spanning 3,133 acres, this lake in north Texas reaches a maximum depth of 35 feet. The majority of aquatic vegetation here consists of 420 acres of submerged plants located west of the boat ramp. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants you to know, "Largemouth bass restocking occurred during 2005. The current lake record (10.23 lbs.) was caught in November 2000." Fishing conditions for catfish, white bass and sunfish are fair and conditions for crappie and largemouth bass are poor.
In Taylor County, only 15 miles north of Abilene sits Fort Phantom Hill Lake. Extending 4,213 acres and running 66 feet deep, the water levels of this lake in north Texas can drop severely during periods of drought. Anticipate muddy water that turns red at the north end of the lake. When the lake reaches full water levels, species of aquatic vegetation are present including stargrass, bulrush, and smartweed. Angling advisory from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reads, "Blue catfish, hybrid striped bass, and white crappie provide the most consistent fishing opportunities at Fort Phantom Hill. Largemouth bass can occasionally be good as well." The information also recommends, "West Texas surf fishing" using surf rods in windblown areas with small shad or ghost minnows (silversides) is an extremely productive technique, especially in late winter and early spring."
