Lake Texana

Quick Links: Fishing Regulations | Angling Opportunities | Cover & Structure | Tips & Tactics

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Lake Characteristics

Location: Jackson County, eight miles east of Edna, Texas on US 59
Surface area: 9,727 acres
Maximum depth: 58 feet
Impounded: 1980

Water Conditions

Current Lake Level
Conservation Pool Elevation: 43.99 ft. msl
Fluctuation: Fluctuation:  High and frequent, 5-10 feet
Normal Clarity: Stained to muddy

Reservoir Controlling Authority

Lavaca-Navidad River Authority
PO Box 429
Edna, Texas 77957
(361)782-5229

Aquatic Vegetation

Lake Texana contains many native and exotic species of aquatic vegetation. Large stands of water hyacinth are present throughout the reservoir. Moderate densities of giant salvinia, hydrilla, coontail, spikerush, cattail, pondweed, and bulrush are also present. Please help prevent the spread of these exotic plants by cleaning all vegetation from boats and trailers before launching and after recovering boats from Lake Texana.

Predominant Fish Species

• Blue catfish
• Largemouth bass
• White crappie
• White bass
• Sunfish

Lake Records
Current Fishing Report
Stocking History
Latest Survey Report

Lake Maps

Detailed fishing maps are commercially available at most local bait and tackle dealers.

Fishing Regulations

All species are currently managed under statewide regulations.

Angling Opportunities

Blue catfish and largemouth bass are the most popular sportfish in the reservoir. Blue catfish are abundant with frequent reports of large stringers. Flathead and channel catfish also provide noteworthy fisheries. Fishing for largemouth bass has improved in recent months. White bass provide excellent angling opportunities in the Navidad and Sandy Creek channels during the cooler months and in the main reservoir near the dam during summer. Although crappie fishing can be tough in the summer, respectable catches are not uncommon during the spring.

Species	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
Largemouth Bass
Channel Catfish
Blue & Flathead Catfish
Crappie
White Bass
Sunfish

Fishing Cover/Structure

Lake Texana contains vast floating beds of water hyacinth which provide marginal habitat for most sportfish species. Isolated beds of hydrilla, coontail, and other submerged aquatic vegetation provide the best habitat for largemouth bass. Most of the reservoir contains submerged timber and numerous stumps, ideal structure for catfish species. In periods of high water, flooded terrestrial vegetation provides excellent habitat for all game fish species. The Navidad River channel and the adjacent shallow area called the "jungle" is a favorite bass fishing area, water level permitting.

Use the Habitat Structure Viewer for an interactive map of fish habitat structures and downloadable GPS coordinates.

Tips & Tactics

Catfish anglers utilize juglines and trotlines in their pursuit of flathead, blue, and channel catfish. Rod and reel anglers often fish creek channels and submerged terrestrial vegetation, water level permitting. Popular baits for catfish include stinkbait, cheesebait, live sunfish or shad, and cut bait.

Largemouth bass anglers prefer spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigs, Texas-rigged soft plastics, and tube baits in either dark or white and chartreuse colors. Working any visible laydowns, submerged brush, and vegetation in or near deeper water (5 feet or more) is a popular tactic for largemouth bass. Shallow gravel bars near creek channels are often productive when found near a dropoff or steep bank.

Crappie anglers concentrate on the edges of water hyacinth in the creek channels during the spring, dabbling small white, pink, or black and chartreuse crappie jigs near shore. Submerged brush in 4-5 feet of water within a creek channel is often an overlooked holding area for large crappie in the spring.

White bass concentrate in the Navidad River and Sandy Creek channels in December and January in preparation for their annual spawning "run" and can be caught using small rattletraps, inline spinners, minnow imitating jigs, and live minnows under a bobber. The most effective artificial baits during this period are white or chrome in color. Locating schooling fish on a depth finder and fishing live bait at the correct depth may prove more productive.