Fort Phantom Hill Lake

Blue catfish, hybrid striped bass, and white crappie provide the most consistent fishing opportunities at Fort Phantom Hill. Largemouth bass can occasionally be good as well. Florida largemouth bass were introduced in 1976.

TPWD has worked with local partners to install brush piles at the downstream end of the lake. When the reservoir is full, the west bank has acres of black willow trees and some aquatic vegetation. Other areas of the lake are predominantly rocky with boat docks and brush piles.

Fort Phantom Hill is a good all-around fishing lake for several species. Better areas for hybrid striped bass, white bass, and blue catfish are in the spillway, sailboat slough, Johnson Park, and the west bank humps. "West Texas surf fishing" using surf rods in windblown areas with small shad or ghost minnows (silversides) can be extremely productive, especially in late winter and early spring. During warmer months, trolling with deep diving crank-baits or downriggers as well as live-bait fishing with shad can produce nice catches of hybrid striped bass. For crappie, March and April are the prime months.

All species at Fort Phantom Hill Lake are managed under standard Texas statewide regulations.