East Texas is an area of Texas that has many lakes that offer fishing and water recreation, surrounded by dense forests filled with wildlife. You will find visitors enjoying water sports and world-class fishing, or camping along the shoreline.
State Parks
Many of the lakes in East Texas are surrounded by Texas state parks, with camping and recreational activities. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department oversees the state parks. The campsites at the park range from primitive tent camping to fully accessible RV campsites, as well as cabins. In the state parks, visitors can enjoy hiking or bicycling on lakeside trails or enjoy birding or wildlife photography near the lake. Entrance to state parks incurs a fee and reservations for the campsites can be made through the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.
Army Corps of Engineers Lakes
The Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lake O' the Pines, and Ray Roberts Lake are lakes in East Texas that were built by and are maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. These man-made reservoirs provide fishing and recreational opportunities, including camping, water sports and fishing. If you would like to stay at an Army Corp of Engineers lake, you will need to book reservations through the Army Corps of Engineers website.
Fishing
The lakes in east Texas are known as premier fishing destinations. Lake Fork is where the state's largest largemouth bass was landed at over 18 lbs. Ray Hubbard Reservoir, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lake Conroe and Caddo Lake are home to some of the best bass fishing in the state. Many of the lakes also have excellent catfish, crappie and sunfish fishing. A flathead catfish, almost 100 lbs., was pulled from Lake Palestine.
Free Fishing Program
Many of the lakes in East Texas are included in the Free Fishing in State Parks Program. The program was designed to encourage Texans to fish by waiving the cost of a license or freshwater stamp with the purchase of a state park entrance fee. Bag and length limits are still in effect, and you can fish from a boat or from the bank. Some of the East Texas lakes that offer this program are Caddo Lake, Martin Creek Lake, Lake Palestine and Lake Livingston.
Natural Features
The vegetation surrounding many of the East Texas lakes include dense hardwood and pine forests that are abundant with wildlife. While there you may spot a white-tail deer, mallard duck, swamp rabbit or squirrel. The lakes of East Texas are popular destinations for wildlife viewing and photography.
Birding
The thick forests of East Texas which surround the lake draw birding enthusiasts. A favorite birding destination is Caddo Lake, where the woodlands are filled with yellow-throated warblers in the spring and summer. You can also spot an abundance of wood ducks, herons and egrets in the waterways and thickets of this lake.
Cabins in the Pines
A popular lodging option is to stay in quaint cabins located in the pine forests near the lakes. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed rustic cabins in the heart of the Pineywoods. Freshly restored, these cabins are in high demand. You can find these cabins at Caddo Lake and Martin Creek Lake.
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