Fishing at Crawford Lake, Polk County, Texas

• Overview

  Crawford Lake lies in Polk County, Texas. Around the bank it is pine and hardwood. This is a pocket water of some 7 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Polk County standards. Onalaska is the closest town at 4 miles. Further out sit West Livingston (11 miles) and Livingston (13 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Crawford Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include bowfin, common carp, Alligator gar, channel catfish and dollar sunfish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Crawford Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 83°F, while January sits near 48°F. Fish stay active all year, but they move with the heat. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Crawford Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Mooney Lake is 5.9 miles off. The position on Crawford Lake is worth confirming on the day.