Fishing at Moon Lake, Hidalgo County, Texas

• Overview

  Moon Lake lies in Hidalgo County, in Texas. The land about it is warm bottomland. Roughly 27 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Progreso sits 1.9 miles from the bank. Llano Grande lies 4.4 miles off, Mercedes another 6.6 miles. Others worth noting: Progreso District Settling Basin at 0.5 miles, Lion Lake after 0.6 miles, Llano Grande Lake at 3.5 miles, Campacuas Lake after 8.8 miles and Donna Reservoir 1 at 9.1 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Moon Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover threadfin shad, blue tilapia and channel catfish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Moon Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 85°F and January near 58°F on the long-run figures. Fish feed through every month here. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. The season on Moon Lake follows the weather closely. Spring fish sit shallower than most people expect.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping classes it as an oxbow: an old river bend cut off from the main channel. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Progreso District Settling Basin is 0.5 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Moon Lake for certain.