Carroll Lake, Texas: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Carroll Lake lies within the bounds of Navarro County, Texas. The surface lies 262 feet up. It covers about 23 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The closest town, Kerens, is 12 miles away. The big place round here is Tyler, 52 miles distant. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Carroll Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover blue catfish, white bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish and bluegill. Reporting is uneven, so absence from the list means little. Carroll Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 83°F and January near 46°F. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. The season on Carroll Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Pea Patch Lake sits 1.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Carroll Lake.