Fishing at Costello Lake, Palo Pinto County, Texas

• Overview

  Set in Palo Pinto County, Costello Lake is a Texas water. It sits at 1,115 feet above sea level. Roughly 31 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Mineral Wells at 10 miles is the nearest place to stop. Fort Worth is the closest city, 56 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end. Rainfall totals about 32 inches a year, heaviest in May and lightest in December.

• Where to Fish on Costello Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover largemouth bass, striped bass, bluegill and blue catfish. Use it to know what is possible here, not what is certain. Costello Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 84°F and January near 43°F. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. At Costello Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Palo Pinto Creek Reservoir at 9.5 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Costello Lake is worth confirming on the day.