Helm Lake Number 2 Fishing in Hopkins County, Texas

• Overview

  Helm Lake Number 2 lies within the bounds of Hopkins County, Texas. The setting is pine and hardwood on every side. Surface area runs to about 16 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Hopkins County. Some 2.3 miles away sits Sulphur Springs, the nearest settlement. For a city, Tyler is 57 miles off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Helm Lake Number 2

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include channel catfish, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, blue catfish and bluegill. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of this water rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 82°F in July and bottom out at 43°F in January. It fishes twelve months of the year. 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. It holds true on this water more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. A platform or pier sits within 100 yards. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Helm Lake Number 3, 1.3 miles out. Where this water is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.