Fishing at Johnson Lake, Henderson County, Texas

• Overview

  Johnson Lake lies in Henderson County, Texas. Country round the bank runs to oak and grass. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Henderson County list. Nearest place of any size is Athens, 2 miles away. Tyler sits 33 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover spotted gar, bluegill, rainbow trout and redbreast sunfish. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. Johnson Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 83°F in July and bottom out at 45°F in January. The surface stays open the year round. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Anyone fishing Johnson Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Second Caney Creek, 1.9 miles away. For Johnson Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.