My wife is from East Texas which means I make frequent trips out that way - Kilgore area. I don't know much about the area but would like to find some good paddling spots. I prefer the river but would take some lake paddling as well. I really just want to get out and throw the fly rod and see new water instead of being stuck inside.

Any thoughts?

Maybe Lake Tyler? I am not from East TX, but I have been thinking about taking the yak next time I visit my cousin in Tyler. I made a few casts from the bank last time we went. It looked like a nice lake.

I see a lot of water just west of Longview. I think its the Sabine River. Not sure about the drought conditions now but it sure looked fishy. Im taking my yak next time I have to be up there.

Get the app from Austin Kayak that shows all the put in points, you just highlight an area on the map and it shows where you can launch a kayak. it is a free app

Great info TexasSteve on the app.

If I was around Kilgore, I would run up 271 to Bob Sandlin or Cypress Springs. Those are two nice lakes with some huge Florida Bass and free launch areas.

Lake Caddo might be a nice option.

My wife is from Vidor, and her parents now live in Pineland. Far east Texas.

PLaces I have been (in order of my one trip fishing/sightseeing luck):
Sabine as it dumps into Tbend
Neches: above damB
The coal seam on the sabine during the WB run is a well known hotspot
Angelina, above and below Rayburn
Caddo, but that is a ways up north for my inlaws
Sabine near Tatum - river is too low now.
The mouth of the attoyac in Rayburn - I fish this most. Don't fish it during snake season.
Their are some power plant lakes that I have fished from boat that are spectacular.

I will make the 50+ mile float below Tbend one fo these days. If you hit it right, the action below the dam is dynamite. At that time, you won't want to be in a kayak where the fishing is good.

There is a completely privately owned power plant lake near kilgore, can't remember then name, but if you can befriend access, I hear it pays off.

Tyler State Park is definitely on my list.

I enjoyed tyler state park. Caught a real nice bass there this past summer.

When is snake season?

I searched austin kayak in iphone ap store. What am I doing wrong?

I understand the far north end of Palestine is great for the yak... Hawkins, brandy branch, mill creek is on the way, the Tyler lakes, the Angelina... I've always wanted to fish lake pinkston, t bend, Rayburn... Honestly that's some of the best bass fishing in the state over that way...

Late spring through early fall. This bayou has limbs overhaning the water everywhere. It is pretty dense, cypress trees everywhere. It is pretty deep though.

We float from my father-in-laws hunting club down to the lake. ~ 6 miles. There are too many log jams farther up.

+2 on tyler state park. also daingerfield for pickerel

tyler state park is really low right now and fully of weeds. i couldn't catch anything.