hey guys, i am moving to longview this next month and i am looking for some places to do some bass fishing. I know about lake o the pines, caddo, bob sandlin, cypress springs, but i am trying to find some smaller lakes or ponds closer to the longview area. I have heard about martin creek, how is that? i have a 9ft pond hopper type boat so that is why i favor a smaller body of water. i would appreciate any info

Rocky Branch Reservoir is a powerplant lake just south of Hallsville. Lots of bass in the winter and early spring before the weeds take over. You might be able to navigate in a small boat. I use an 8' inflatable pontoon. Directions are: I20 east to exit 610. Take FM 3251 south to the Boat Launch road. Watched a couple of small local tournaments there and there are a lot of bass if not much of anything else there.,

Martin Creek is a nice little state park. Again it is a power plant lake with a coal fired plant that is supposedly the worst polluter in Texas. High levels of heavy metal including mercury. Good lake for bass, cats, and bream.

If you go north on 259 out of Longview you will cross over Little Cypress Bayou (fishing under the bridge), continue north and you will pass the western end of Lake of the Pines and a little bit further you will see Lonestar lake on your left.

Just a bit further north on 259 you come to the town of Daingerfield. Take a right on rte 11 and you will run into Daingerfield State Park. I have not been there but here tell it is a nice place to visit. If you get tired of bass the state park is supposed to have a good population of pickeral.

Gladewater and Gilmer both have lakes. Lake Cherokee is a private lake south of Longview but has no public access but maybe you will meet someone that lives there.

If you take 259 south to Henderson and then turn left on 79 going towards Carthage, before you get to Cartage turn right on FM 1970 and you come to Lake Murvall. Used to be touted as a big bass lake years ago, but don't know the current status.

D'field State Park is 4 miles from my house, it is full of pickerel & bass & one of the prettiest spots in east Texas

thank you guys so much for the info and i will post when i get out to longview and start fishing

Lakes Gilmer, Winnsboro, Holbrook, Hawkins, and Bellwood in Tyler.

HAWKINS! It's probably one of my favorite little lakes in Texas...PM me and i'll glady give you the info on it.

if tyler isnt too far, tyler state park is an awesome little lake. the only reason i am giving you this info is because you said you have a pond hopper. the lake is 64 acres and is an awesome bass fishery. i have caught two 9 lb + in the last couple of years and my wife caught one that had to have been 10 + (didnt have the scales). there are some huge catfish in this lake as well. i will watch this post, so if i am not too late, leave another and i will share some times and patterns with ya. me and my father-in-law spent hours catching doubles. this lake is loaded.

i would like to know a little bit of info on hawkins if you would care to share...