Has anyone fished this entire lake? I have only fished the south end for largemouth with some bites but have heard the north end is much better. My broke butt is sitting in a kayak so any water away from big wakes would be best. I'm trying to map out some places to try with my son (who is 13 and also broke).
Thanks

I've never fished that area by always wanted to. Lconn and mjmmc fished that area quite a bit last year with great success. Maybe they'll chime in. I definitely want to get over that way and fish that area as the river comes in...

I have fished Palestine quite a bit over the years. When I fished from a boat I'd stick to fishing Flat creek and south. Now that I fish from a kayak I find myself fishing the Kickapoo area more. You can put in at the public ramp on 315 and go under the bridge to kayak heaven or drive across the bridge and put in on the N. E. corner. That whole area is shallow and filled with grass. It warms very quickly and is dynamite even in winter after a few warm days. The place I used to put in on the Neches arm was closed the last few times I tried and I don't know of another spot to launch there other than the bridge over 31. Flat creek is also very good and my biggest fish have come from there. There are a bunch of other good places like Ledbetter and Old Folks. I love that lake and usually fish there a lot more than I have been lately

I like the north end best, but its all good at times.


Looking up Flat Creek, bridge ramp launch


Flat Creek, bridge ramp launch


Ledbetter, Palestine Resort ramp


Ledbetter, launch from Lake Palestine Resort ramp


Kickapoo, bridge ramp launch


Kickapoo, bridge ramp launch

I haven't fished the lake since its gotten cold, caught biggest from Ledbetter last year, caught more from Kickapoo. Haven't fished Flat Creek much but have done well the few times I been there.

Your info is much more eye pleasing than mine, Louis

What about the Neches above the lake? You guys ever venture up there? Too shallow?

It's not too shallow Tom. There's a boat ramp at the 31 bridge. There was a camp in Chandler that you could launch but it's closed. I haven't fished there since it closed but it was awesome. I'm not sure how long the paddle is from 31 to the lake as I've never gone that far. I wish I knew of a place to put in around the upper end of that arm of the lake

So on the TPWD access page it says there's a park just outside of chandler... A1. Is this ramp/park closed?

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/palestine/access.phtml

That park is open as far as I know. I just don't know how far the paddle is to the good bass fishing. That ramp and park is on the river proper.

Gonna have to try that area sometime... Looks good on Google Earth... Deep bends in the river just above a lake that has big bass... Always interesting...

Best I can tell from navionics is that it's 1/2 mile as the crow flies from the Neches ramp to the rr bridge. Probably 1 1/2 mile paddle tops. Just south of there is where I have fished and done really good years ago. But I came up from Cade lake. I'm gonna give it a try coming down river next time I head down there. I thought it was a farther paddle than that. Of course, this is all assuming my math is somewhat accurate.

If I'm taking pictures I'm not catching.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info. Looks like this lake will be keeping me busy for months. I just might have to put the yak in the water Friday and see if their hungry.

seen guys in bigger boats bass fish in kickapoo creek in february. GREAT PLACE FOR SANDBASS RUN IN FUBRUARY MARCH KICKAPOO AND NECHES RIVER. YAK IT

I fished that area with put in near park/campground outside of Chandler a long time ago. Only fished it once during the crappie/white bass run. Couldn't believe how many folks were on each side of the creek starting out. Don't remember how far I paddled but it was during the drought 18/20 months or so ago when the lake was way down. Paddled and fished past the railroad bridge when I ran into a group of kayakers coming from the other direction. They were just sightseeing but there was enough of them that I didn't feel like fishing where they had just come from so I turned around. They turned around as well. Creek wasn't very wide or deep in areas. Found some holes that you could catch em on every cast. The big pool before getting to the railroad bridge was loaded with white bass/hybrids...whatever they were. Was actually looking for bass, never caught one, switched over to jigs, never went back. I'll bet its a much easier paddle now with lake way up. Remember getting kayak hung up all over that area.