North Lake in Collin County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  North Lake sits within Collin County in Texas. Beyond the shoreline you have dry hill. It covers about 22 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest place of any size is Farmersville, 1 mile away. McKinney sits 16 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on North Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Records collected within a few miles name bluegill and central stoneroller. The list reflects reported sightings and surveys rather than what is stocked. At North Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 83°F and January near 42°F on the long-run figures. Cold never closes this one. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. North Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. A toilet block sits 0.9 miles away. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. South Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For North Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.