Mercer Reservoir 2, Texas: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Cameron County, Texas, is where Mercer Reservoir 2 sits. Salt water lies 7.8 miles off. At about 40 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Ground here is low by Texas standards. The nearest town is Laureles, 5.2 miles away. Further out sit Los Fresnos (6.9 miles) and Green Valley Farms (8.1 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mercer Reservoir 2

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Records collected within a few miles name warmouth, bluegill, Alligator gar and threadfin shad. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Read this water for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 59°F to 84°F. Every month fishes, though midsummer narrows the useful hours. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. This water runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Part of this sits inside or beside Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, so read the notices. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Resaca de los Fresnos at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Where this water is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.