Fishing Burns Lake in Clay County, Texas

• Overview

  Burns Lake sits within Clay County in Texas. The water sits 1,079 feet up. At about 25 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Jacksboro is the closest place, 21 miles off. For a city, Wichita Falls is 32 miles off. Also within reach: Ellenburg Lake (4.3 miles), Garner Lake roughly 5.8 miles, Ball Lake (6.6 miles), Smith Lake roughly 8.7 miles and Harry Campsey Lake (8.8 miles). Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Burns Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Read Burns Lake before you fish it and the day goes better. Where the wind piles up, so does the food.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 84°F and January reads 42°F. It fishes twelve months of the year. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Time your trip to Burns Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Ellenburg Lake, 4.3 miles out. Signs at Burns Lake carry more weight than any list.