Lake Palestine

Quick Links: Fishing Regulations | Angling Opportunities | Cover & Structure | Tips & Tactics

Public Access Facilities

Lake Characteristics

Location: On the Neches River, 15 miles southwest of Tyler on Texas 155
Surface area: 25,560 acres
Maximum depth: 58 feet
Impounded: 1962

Water Conditions

Current Lake Level
Conservation Pool Elevation: 345 ft. msl
Fluctuation: 2.2 feet
Normal Clarity: Moderately clear

Reservoir Controlling Authority

Upper Neches River Authority
PO Box 1965
Palestine, Texas 75802
(903) 876-2237

Aquatic Vegetation

Hydrilla and native submergent, emergent and floating plants; moderate in upper end and creek arms, particularly in Kickapoo Creek

Predominant Fish Species

Lake Records
Current Fishing Report
Stocking History
Latest Survey Report

Lake Maps

None available

Fishing Regulations

This reservoir has special regulations on some fishes. See bag and size limits for this lake.

Angling Opportunities

Lake Palestine offers something for everyone in terms of a fishery. 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.

Species	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
Largemouth Bass
Spotted Bass
Catfish
Crappie
White & Hybrid Striped Bass

Fishing Cover/Structure

Most vegetation and inundated timber are located above the Texas Highway 155 bridge in the main lake, Highsaw and Ledbetter arms, in Kickapoo and Neches River arms and in Flat Creek. Anglers have placed brush piles in many locations between the dam and the bridge; these can be found using graph recorders. The bridge itself provides excellent structure on the main crossing between Dogwood and Coffee Cities and over Highsaw/Ledbetter creeks.

Tips & Tactics

Hybrid stripers and white bass are particularly active from the dam to Highway 155 during winter months and into spring. Largemouth bass anglers report greatest success in the upper end of the lake (above the pipeline), in Cobb and Stone Chimney creeks, and Saline Bay. Catfish anglers frequently drift fish with worms or chicken livers between Hawn point (at the mouth of Flat Creek) to the Highway 155 bridges, and will catch more legal sized fish if they target blue catfish using live fish or cut fish as bait. Crappie anglers do well near 155 during the spring with small jigs or minnows.