Lake Olney Fishing in Young County, Texas

• Overview

  You will find Lake Olney in Young County, Texas. The bank is 1,155 feet above sea level. The water covers some 204 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The outline measures near 4.0 miles, so local knowledge counts. The town to know is Olney, 4.7 miles out. Wichita Falls is the closest city, 37 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Olney

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Public wildlife records from this area list Florida largemouth bass, channel catfish and white bass. Check the state or provincial list before planning around one species. Work Lake Olney in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 41°F in January to roughly 84°F in July. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. It holds true on Lake Olney more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Lake Cooper, 0.8 miles away. Confirm access to Lake Olney locally before you travel.