Greenes Lake in Rains County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Texas holds Greenes Lake, in Rains County. Elevation runs to 413 feet. Surface area is around 41 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Size puts it in the front rank of our Rains County list. Start from Emory, 4.5 miles down the road. Tyler is the closest city, 41 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Greenes Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Public wildlife records from this area list black bullhead, bluegill, bluntnose darter, redfin pickerel and slough darter. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. On Greenes Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 83°F in July and bottoms out near 44°F in January. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Time your trip to Greenes Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Ditch Lake, 3.1 miles out. Check the position on Greenes Lake before loading the car.