40 public waters in the East Texas Piney Woods region — 16 lakes/reservoirs and 24 rivers. Every one is fishable on a Texas licence.
See every public fishing venue in Texas on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Martin Lake sprawls across 5,413 acres of East Texas Piney Woods between Panola and Rusk counties, offering a crappie-centric fishery with black and white crappie as primary draws. Largemouth bass, channel and flathead catfish, and an unusual blue tilapia population round out the species mix. Common carp reach impressive sizes in this nutrient-rich water—an overlooked target for Texas anglers.
Lake Cherokee sprawls across 4,104 acres in Rusk County's East Texas Piney Woods with an uncommonly diverse coolwater and warmwater mix: walleye, sauger, and saugeye share the deeper structure with largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, and bluegill. This Texas Parks & Wildlife fishery rewards anglers who match techniques to season and depth.
This 1,958-acre Cherokee and Rusk county lake in the Piney Woods region combines largemouth and spotted bass opportunity with exceptional crappie (both black and white) and catfish structure. Common carp are present and run large in Texas's fertile water — an under-fished bonus target.
In Sutton, Rusk, Williamson and 2 more counties in Texas, Soil Conservation Service Site 3 Reservoir is a 265-acre lake, managed by Private. A Hill Country lake — largemouth and the native Guadalupe Bass, white and Striped Bass on the main lake, channel and Blue Catfish, and Rio Grande Cichlid (‘Rio Grande Perch’) around the rock.
In Rusk County, Texas, Nix Lake is a 90-acre lake, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Miller Lake, a 69-acre lake in Rusk County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Rusk County, Texas — Soil Conservation Service Site 5 Reservoir is a 68-acre lake, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Lake Manr, a 42-acre lake in Rusk County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Indian Pond, a 38-acre lake in Rusk County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Jones Lake, a 38-acre lake in Rusk County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Rusk County, Texas, Long Glade Lake is a 37-acre lake, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Shaw Lake (26 acres) sits in Rusk County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Lake Roman, a 26-acre lake in Rusk County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Langford Lake, a 24-acre lake in Rusk County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Florey Lake (19 acres) sits in Rusk County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Rusk County, Texas, Grassy Lake is a 15-acre lake, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Angelina River runs 333 km through Nacogdoches, Angelina, Cherokee and 3 more counties in Texas: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Attoyac River (48 km) flows through Nacogdoches, Shelby, Rusk and 1 more county in Texas. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
East Fork Angelina River (64 km) flows through Rusk and Nacogdoches Counties, Texas. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Gregg, Rusk and Smith Counties, Texas — Rabbit Creek is a 46 km stream: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Murvaul Creek runs 62 km through Panola and Rusk Counties, Texas: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Nacogdoches, Rusk and Shelby Counties, Texas — Naconiche Creek is a 55 km stream: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Panola and Rusk Counties, Texas — Irons Bayou River is a 9 km stream: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Johnson Creek runs 11 km through Rusk County, Texas: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Golondrina Creek (8 km) flows through Rusk County, Texas. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Bighead Creek (20 km) flows through Rusk and Gregg Counties, Texas. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Shawnee Creek runs 26 km through Rusk County, Texas: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
In Rusk County, Texas, Bromley Creek is a 14 km river or creek. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Anadarko Creek runs 18 km through Rusk County, Texas: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Barnhardt Creek runs 22 km through Rusk County, Texas: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Rusk and Cherokee Counties, Texas — Striker Creek is a 26 km stream: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Nacogdoches and Rusk Counties, Texas — Dill Creek is a 14 km stream: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Bacon Creek (10 km) flows through Rusk County, Texas. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Mush Creek (12 km) flows through Rusk County, Texas. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Rusk County, Texas — Buckner Creek is a 13 km stream: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
In Rusk County, Texas, Cherokee Bayou River is a 6 km river or creek. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Bearden Branch (12 km) flows through Rusk and Panola Counties, Texas. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Gregg and Rusk Counties, Texas — Cherokee Bayou is a 30 km stream: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Tiawichi Creek runs 25 km through Rusk County, Texas: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Attoyac Bayou flows through Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Shelby and Rusk counties in East Texas toward Lake Sam Rayburn; near its lower reaches (the Attoyac Bends) largemouth bass and catfish are the main targets. Data here is thinner than for the state's better-documented rivers -- worth a closer look in a future pass.
Across its mapped waters, Rusk County holds 23 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Flathead Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Guadalupe Bass and Redbreast Sunfish.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Texas map Join PiscaMapsOne Texas fishing licence covers every public water in the state. Resident annual is about $34, non-resident about $50, with 3-day and 10-day non-resident permits available. TPWD agency lakes and the Beech River lakes need an extra lake permit. Buy at gooutdoorstexas.com.