Fishing Federal Lake in Smith County, Texas

• Overview

  The Smith County end of Texas holds Federal Lake. Height above sea level is 466 feet. Surface area runs to about 16 acres — small enough to read in one session. For supplies, Tyler is 3.7 miles out. It is 3.7 miles to Tyler, the nearest city. If this one is busy: Bell Sand Lake 0.6 miles away, Holder Lake at about 1.5 miles, Lenox Lake 1.6 miles away, Spring Lake at about 1.9 miles and Ford Lake 2.7 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Federal Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill and flathead catfish. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. Take Federal Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 83°F; by January the average is down near 45°F. Winter is the comfortable season here rather than the difficult one. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Federal Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Bell Sand Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Where Federal Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.