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Fish Species at Balmorhea Lake
Largemouth Bass
Fair
White Crappie
Poor
Sunfish
Poor
Channel Catfish
Redear Sunfish
Species data sourced from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Balmorhea Lake Fishing Guide
Angling Opportunities
The fishery is beginning to recover from past golden alga blooms. Balmorhea Lake has not experienced a major alga-related fish kill since 2013.
Cover & Structure
Balmorhea Lake is a shallow reservoir with large rocks near the dam, cobble on the southwest side, and sago pondweed and bulrushes on the north and west sides. Some terrestrial vegetation grows on the shore as the water recedes in the summer. This vegetation is flooded during the winter months as the lake refills.
Tips & Tactics
Largemouth bass are caught by fishing minnows, crankbaits, spinner baits, plastic worms, and topwater baits around the areas with rocks, pondweed, flooded terrestrial vegetation, or cobble. Channel catfish are caught on live bait and cut bait throughout the reservoir. White crappie are caught on minnows and small jigs near flooded terrestrial vegetation. Large redear sunfish can be caught with live worms under a bobber near the shoreline.
Fishing Regulations
All species at Balmorhea Lake are managed under standard Texas statewide regulations.
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