The Sour Lakes Fishing near Sour Lake, Texas

• Overview

  The Hardin County end of Texas holds The Sour Lakes. The surroundings are open low country. Surface area runs to about 17 acres — small enough to read in one session. Size puts it in the front rank of our Hardin County list. Supplies mean a trip to Sour Lake, 1.4 miles off. Beyond it, Pinewood Estates at 5.2 miles and Bevil Oaks at 8.3 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on The Sour Lakes

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records collected within a few miles name bantam sunfish, redfin pickerel, bluntnose darter and cypress darter. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. Take The Sour Lakes a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 82°F at the top of summer and 51°F at the bottom of winter. Every month fishes, though midsummer narrows the useful hours. 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 any trip to The Sour Lakes around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Bushy Lake, 0.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For The Sour Lakes in particular, ask before you travel.