Hand Lake in Van Zandt County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Van Zandt County entry here is Hand Lake, in Texas. Height above sea level is 476 feet. This is a pocket water of some 24 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Brownsboro is the closest town at 5.4 miles. It is 20 miles to Tyler, the nearest city. Nearest other option: Pounders Lake 2 miles off, Callender Lake roughly 3.5 miles, Smart Lake 5.5 miles off, Cantrell Lake roughly 5.7 miles and Young Lake 6.3 miles off. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Hand Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Fish Hand Lake to its features, not to its size. A change of depth of a foot can change the day.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 83°F in July and bottoms out near 45°F in January. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. On Hand Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping flags this water as intermittent: it can be dry for part of the year, so check before travelling. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Pounders Lake at 2 miles is the nearest alternative. For Hand Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.