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Lake Houston Fishing – Full Guide

Mark Armstrong
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Being just 15 miles away from downtown Houston, Texas, Lake Houston can be a fantastic place to spend a day fishing. And with plenty of launch sites for watercraft, it can be an ideal spot for kayak fishing.

So we’ve compiled this guide to help you out with some useful information that can hopefully make your Lake Houston fishing trip a successful one.

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Why Casting At Lake Houston Is So Popular

What To Catch

Lake Houston is home to several species of fish, with the most predominant being the blue catfish. White bass and largemouth bass can also be found, as well as crappie, bluegill and sunfish.

Some of the best areas for catching fish are towards the northern end of Lake Houston, around where the east and west forks of the San Jacinto River run into the lake. Springtime can be a good time for catching white bass and crappie in these areas.

Best Spots

There are a few places that you can get access to Lake Houston to fish, including BJ’s Marina, near where the east fork of the San Jacinto River meets the lake. This marina has a bait shop, boat launch, tent camping and canoe rental.

There’s also the Lake Houston Marina on the northeastern shores of Lake Houston, which has picnic facilities, a bait shop, boat launch, campground and a pier.

At the southern end of the lake you’ll find Deussen Park, which can be a good spot for family fishing trips, as there are plenty of other activities to keep kids entertained afterwards, including trails, a playground and a duck pond. There’s also a boat ramp and piers if you’re looking to launch your kayak or canoe.

> Other places (to catch bass) around Houston

Climate

Being located in southeastern Texas, just a few miles northeast of downtown Houston, the climate at Lake Houston is subtropical, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. This means that it can be a good spot for year round fishing.

Regulations

The Texas state regulations apply for fishing on Lake Houston, so you should be aware of the minimum sizes of the various species and the bag limits for the type of fish you plan to catch.

While you may not need a permit to fish within Texas State Parks, in order to fish at Lake Houston, you will need a valid fishing license, either for residents or non-residents.

Children under the age of 17 and Texas residents born before 1931 don’t require a license. Oklahoma residents over the age of 65 can fish without a license, as can Louisiana residents over 65 who already have a Louisiana fishing license.

It may be worth noting that bow fishing is not allowed at Lake Houston.

Here On Vacation? Nearby Areas To Stay

Because of the close proximity of the lake to downtown Houston, finding a place to stay shouldn’t be too difficult. There are plenty of places to spend a night or two near to the lake, whether you’re looking to camp or get a hotel.

Lake Houston Wilderness Park

This park sits at the northern end of Lake Houston and offers lakeside cabins for rent as well as tented campsites. There are also 20 miles of hiking and biking trails and you can paddle along the creeks in your kayak, even into Lake Houston (although, parts may require portage depending on the water level).

Atascocita

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Courtesy: joenevill on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

There are a number of chain hotels in the Atascocita area on the western shores of Lake Houston, which could make it an easy drive to the lake and is within close proximity to the northern end of the lake for good fishing.

Houston

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There are a large number of hotels in the wider Houston area, if you’re looking to combine a city vacation with an outdoors one. Being around a 30 minute drive from the lake, Houston could be a good choice if you’re looking for a larger range of hotels, including both modern and historic options.

Staying around southeastern Houston could also give you good access to fishing on the Gulf Coast.

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