OK, new to freshwater fishing, and do not have a boat.

I live in Joshua, so the nearest lakes to me are Cleburne and Benbrook.

I really don't care what species, just want to cath fish, especially since I'm trying to get my two kids into it as well.

Got skunked at Cleburne State Park today, tried earthworms and Gulp! maggots under a bobber, whole lotta nada.

Any and all suggestions are very welcome!!!

Cleburne and Benbrook both hard to catch consistently from the bank........since I'm in Burleson I end up fishing them semi-regular only because they are close.....get skunked alot.....

try live minnows under bobber, try chumming for channel cats and stinkbaits under bobber..chicken livers....soured milo best but if don't wanna sour milo get 20 % range cubes from feed store and chum with them.....

how old are your kids? ...if little kids Burleson has a big pond at Gardens and Hidden Creek Pkwy with variety of sunfish/perch, small bass and channel and mudcats- it's catch and release only.....corn works for the perch and worms and minnows work for others...

The big pond that(DontCatchMuch*) is talking about is bailey lake and has very very many fish in it.

catfish go for chicken liver,shrimp and shad...I have been catching crappie and striped bass with a gold spinner and yellow jig head with a plastic tube. switch out color of tubes for the time of day salt and pepper works for middle of the day and chartreuse...later in the day something darker.

there are lots of sunnies around the grass on banks or close to trees. bobber,panfish hook and hot dogs cut up tiny work for me.
There are also two small ponds behind bailey that have lots of carp....either dough balls or sweet corn catch them.

Shoot me a pm if ya want more info
good luck!

South of you is Nolan River Park, its a bit of a walk from where you park, but can be worth it. Plenty of Crappie, Black Bass, and Sunnies to catch, as well as all rough fish species.

Hamms Creek is south of you as well, done well on the black bass there near the boat ramp.

Might try Meridian State Park as well, the fishing there is better than at Cleburne State Park.

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

When you say Nolan River Park, that's not the one at the north end of Pat Cleburne lake, right?

Question Part II -- just me and the boy this weekend, wife and daughter at Brownie camp.

Thought about going to Joe Pool, since they've got the slot limit on lmb, is it easy to catch little ones there?

Cheers!

No it's actually where the Nolan meets the Brazos

As far as JP goes, not from the bank it is not.

How about Whitney, any good bank fishing there?

And.... where is Hamms Creek?

Thanks much for all the advice!

Take 174 South, take 916 west out of Rio Vista, park will be on your left after 5 or 6 miles.