Fishing at Lake Charca, Johnson County, Texas

• Overview

  Lake Charca is one of the Johnson County listings for Texas. The surface lies 912 feet up. Roughly 30 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Supplies mean a trip to Godley, 3 miles off. For a city, Fort Worth is 25 miles off. Round about: Ellaine Grande Ranch Lake at 3.4 miles, Clark Lake about 6.7 miles, McCann Lake at 9.8 miles, Cleburne State Park Lake about 12 miles and Bowser Lake at 12 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Charca

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover channel catfish, bluegill, freshwater drum, Rio Grande longear sunfish and gizzard shad. Reporting is uneven, so absence from the list means little. On Lake Charca the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 84°F, with January the cold end at about 44°F. No part of the year shuts this water. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Lake Charca fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is a pier recorded roughly 150 yards away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Ellaine Grande Ranch Lake, 3.4 miles out. For Lake Charca in particular, ask before you travel.