Red Salt Lake near Stanton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Red Salt Lake in Howard County, Texas. What surrounds it is dry hill. At some 354 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 4.6 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Howard County list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Stanton, 6.8 miles out. Then Big Spring, 13 miles, and Midland, 26 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Red Salt Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish Red Salt Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep. Cast along the bank, not just out from it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 82°F in July and bottom out at 42°F in January. Winter is the comfortable season here rather than the difficult one. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That is the shape of the year on Red Salt Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Salt Lake is 0.9 miles off. Signs at Red Salt Lake carry more weight than any list.