Fishing Sarles Lake in Cooke County, Texas

• Overview

  Set in Cooke County, Texas, this is Sarles Lake. What surrounds it is dry hill. The water measures roughly 16 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. On size it sits at the modest end of our Cooke County list. The nearest town is Gainesville, 3.2 miles away. Lindsay is 5.6 miles away, with Lake Kiowa at 7.9 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Sarles Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include largemouth bass, orangethroat darter, plains darter and green sunfish. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. At Sarles Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 84°F for July and 41°F for January. The awkward stretch is midsummer, not midwinter. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. It holds true on Sarles Lake more years than not. Late evening often out-fishes the whole afternoon.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Lake Kiowa is 8.1 miles distant. For Sarles Lake in particular, ask before you travel.