Fishing Wilson Lake in Henderson County, Texas

• Overview

  Wilson Lake stands in Henderson County, Texas. The bank is 335 feet above sea level. At about 136 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. On our Henderson County list it sits near the top for size. Some 10 miles away sits Athens, the nearest settlement. It is 39 miles to Tyler, the nearest city. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Wilson Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover bluegill, redspotted sunfish, white crappie, black crappie and green sunfish. Take it as evidence of what swims here, not a promise for one session. On Wilson Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 83°F; by January the average is down near 46°F. It fishes twelve months of the year. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Wilson Lake rarely departs from it. Spring warms the shallows first, so start there.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Cartwright Lake is 1 mile off. For Wilson Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.