Stephens Lake Fishing Guide, Navarro County, Texas

• Overview

  Navarro County, Texas, is where Stephens Lake sits. It stands 282 feet above sea level. At about 26 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Supplies mean a trip to Malakoff, 8.8 miles off. Kerens is 11 miles and Athens 16 miles. Within a short drive: Long Lake 0.7 miles, Creslenn Ranch Lake about 1.2 miles, Round Lake 1.4 miles, Morrison Lake about 2.3 miles and Soil Conservation Service Site 3 Reservoir 3.5 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Stephens Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include common carp, channel catfish and Rio Grande longear sunfish. Use it to know what is possible here, not what is certain. Treat Stephens Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 46°F to 83°F. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan around that when you fish Stephens Lake. Consistent weather beats warm weather for steady sport.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Long Lake, 0.7 miles away. Confirm before you fish Stephens Lake.