Fishing at Hidden Hill Lake, Smith County, Texas

• Overview

  Look for Hidden Hill Lake in Smith County, Texas. Height above sea level is 479 feet. Surface area runs to about 17 acres — small enough to read in one session. Head to Tyler, 5.2 miles away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Tyler, 5 miles distant. In the same area: Bellwood Lake within 1.5 miles, Greenbriar Lake 1.6 miles, Lost Pine Lake within 1.9 miles, Peveto Lake 3.2 miles and Lake Park within 3.4 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Hill Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include channel catfish, Florida largemouth bass, largemouth bass and white crappie. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. Work Hidden Hill Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 83°F and January at 45°F. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. 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. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hidden Hill Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Bellwood Lake at 1.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Hidden Hill Lake if anything is unclear.