Nix Lake Fishing near Tatum, Texas

• Overview

  In Texas, Nix Lake falls inside Rusk County. It lies 367 feet above sea level. The water covers some 89 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It ranks high for size among our Rusk County listings. The nearest place of any size is Tatum, 9.3 miles away. Tyler is the closest city, 39 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Nix Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include bluegill, redear sunfish and redfin pickerel. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. Nix Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 82°F at the top of summer and 46°F at the bottom of winter. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. On Nix Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Lake Roman at 3.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Nix Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.