Bradford Lake Fishing near Hawkins, Texas

• Overview

  The Wood County end of Texas holds Bradford Lake. The surface lies 322 feet up. It measures about 25 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The town to know is Hawkins, 2.7 miles out. It is 16 miles to Tyler, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply. Quiet on weekdays, busier when the weather turns fine.

• Where to Fish on Bradford Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include bluegill, Rio Grande longear sunfish, harlequin darter and slough darter. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. On Bradford Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 83°F in July and bottoms out near 44°F in January. The surface stays open the year round. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bradford Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Brumley Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Bradford Lake before loading the car.