Palo Pinto Creek Reservoir in Palo Pinto County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Palo Pinto Creek Reservoir in Palo Pinto County, Texas. It lies 879 feet above sea level. Roughly 3.2 sq miles of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. On our Palo Pinto County list it sits near the top for size. Some 16 miles away sits Mineral Wells, the nearest settlement. Ranger follows at 25 miles, then Western Lake at 29 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Palo Pinto Creek Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include common carp, Florida largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish and white crappie. Take it as evidence of what swims here, not a promise for one session. Take Palo Pinto Creek Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 43°F in January and 83°F in July. Warm months push fish deep; cool months bring them back. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Palo Pinto Creek Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years. A cold snap sets things back for several days.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Lawrence Porter Lake Number 2 is 7.2 miles off. For Palo Pinto Creek Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.