Fishing in Lake Palestine
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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 |
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Lake Palestine Fishing Guides
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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.
- Sam Parker - Freshwater Fishing Adventures website Also visit Freshwater Fishing Adventures on Facebook and Freshwater Fishing Adventures on Instagram
Freshwater Fishing Adventures also offers catfish trips, crappie fishing charters, largemouth bass charters and night fishing adventure tours. Also available are guided fishing trips on Lake Athens. Phone 903.286.8432
- Tom Mayne - Pro Fishing Guide Tom Mayne offers professional guided trips on Lake Palestine, Lake Athens, Lake Fork, and Lake Tyler.
- Baxter's Guide Service website and Baxter's Guide Service on Facebook - Veteran owned. Phone 903.352.9764
- Jim Beggerly - Phone 903.279.9002
- Benson Guide Service website and Benson Guide Service on Facebook - Phone 903.714.8395
- Paul's Guide Service website and Paul's Guide Service on Facebook - Phone 903.571.9150
- Walls Fishing Guide Service & Pontoon Tours on Facebook - Phone 903.504.3125
- Clay Gann Crappie Guide Service website - Phone 903.571.5243
- and others
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Stocking of Fish in Lake Palestine
 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.
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Current Fishing Reports and Tips
Current Lake Palestine Fishing Report from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Lake Palestine Fishing Tips |
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. |
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 Resort - Lake Grill, camp & convenience store, docks, boat slips, boat launch ramps, fuel station, cabins & other lodging, protected swimming area, boat & kayak rentals, banquet hall, and RV park on Highway 155. The official address is 8900 Ruby Lane, Frankston, TX 75763. Phone 903.320.1112
More at Lake Palestine Resort website and Lake Palestine Resort on Facebook.
- 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.
- Flat Creek Marina & RV Camping - 42 boat slip marina, 50 RV campsites, campfire rings, picnic tables, kayak rentals, and a bait & tackle store. 20758 Twin Oaks Drive, Chandler, TX 75758.
Phone: 903.849.6356. Also, visit Flat Creek Marina on Facebook
- 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
- Big Steve's RV Park and Marina - On the south end of the lake, at 23491 County Road 4117 - RV hookups, laundry, boat ramp. Phone 903.617.0297
In addition, five public boat launches provide access to Lake Palestine.
Detailed list of Lake Palestine public access facilities, boat docks, and marinas.
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| Photo courtesy of Flat Creek Marina & RV Camping |
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