Fishing in Smith County, Texas
Where to fish in Smith County, with maps, lakes and shops.
- 18access points
- 1lakes
- 28.2sq mi of water
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Smith County fishing overview
The Census puts Smith County at 921 square miles of land plus 28.2 square miles of water, in the Pineywoods region.
TPWD surveys these county lakes: Lake Tyler.
TPWD maps 18 public access points in the county: 15 on lakes and 3 on rivers or creeks.
Most of the moving water access is on Sabine River and SAbine River. Local town guides: Tyler.
Land and water area for Smith County: Census Bureau. Access: TPWD, layer dated 2021-08-27.
Reservoirs inside Smith County
Lake Tyler
2,224 acres; excellent for largemouth bass and sunfish.
Ramps and records
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Where Smith County anglers can reach the water, from the TPWD access layer.
- Lake Tyler7 access points in Smith County
- Lake Palestine3 access points in Smith County
- Sabine River2 access points in Smith County
- SAbine River1 access point in Smith County
- Van Lake1 access point in Smith County
- Tyler State Park Lake1 access point in Smith County
- Bellwood Lake1 access point in Smith County
- lake Palestine1 access point in Smith County
- Lake Overton1 access point in Smith County
Smith County access list: TPWD public water access layer, checked October 2026.
Tackle shops and marinas in Smith County
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Tylersporting goods, Tyler, (903) 266-3100
- Bass Pro Shops Tylersporting goods, Tyler, (903) 202-8300
- Lake Palestine Marinamarina, Bullard, (903) 825-3600
- Perry's Bait and Tacklebait tackle, Whitehouse, (903) 871-2020
- Ray J's Northshore Marinamarina, Hideaway, (903) 473-7295
- The Marinamarina, Tyler, (903) 526-0610
Smith County shops: OpenStreetMap contributors, company store lists and TPWD lake pages, retrieved October 2026.
What surrounds Smith County for anglers
County business runs out of Tyler, home to 105,995 people at the 2020 Census.
Anglers in Tyler are 12 miles from Lake Tyler, heading southeast.
TPWD has survey data for 20 lakes inside a 50 mile radius of the county center.
The species TPWD rates highest around Smith County are largemouth bass (14 lakes), sunfish (12 lakes) and crappie (11 lakes).
For flow data, USGS has 3 stream gauges within 22 miles, measuring Sabine River.
State parks on nearby lakes: Caddo Lake State Park, Cooper State Park, Daingerfield State Park and Lake Bob Sandlin State Park.
Lakes within 50 miles of Smith County that TPWD rates good or excellent for each species.
Record catches near Smith County
| Species | Weight | Lake | From county | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gar, Alligator | 166 lb | Cedar Creek Reservoir | 49 miles | 2005 |
| Catfish, Flathead | 98.5 lb | Lake Palestine | 24 miles | 1998 |
| Catfish, Blue | 87.5 lb | Lake Tawakoni | 48 miles | 2014 |
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 82.22 lb | Lake Athens | 29 miles | 1993 |
| Carp, Grass | 71.2 lb | Lake Palestine | 24 miles | 2010 |
| Gar, Longnose | 56.2 lb | Lake Palestine | 24 miles | 2022 |
| Carp, Common | 48.85 lb | Lake Palestine | 24 miles | 2009 |
| Buffalo, Bigmouth | 43.3 lb | Lake Tawakoni | 48 miles | 2026 |
| Drum, Freshwater | 31.8 lb | Lake Cypress Springs | 48 miles | 1995 |
| Catfish, Channel | 29.8 lb | Lake Tawakoni | 48 miles | 2013 |
All-ages rod and reel lake records from TPWD for lakes within 50 miles of Smith County.
Live river readings for Smith County
Live discharge from USGS within 22 miles of Smith County.
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins, Tx | 128 cfs, 5.14 ft gage height | Nov 9 10:45 pm |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola, Tx | 11 cfs, 0.68 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:15 pm |
| Sabine Rv Nr Gladewater, Tx | 155 cfs, 5.46 ft gage height | Nov 9 10:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 9, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Where TPWD puts trout in Smith County
| Location | Trout stocked | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Faulkner Park Lake (Tyler) | 1,700 | 12/1/2025, 1/7/2026 |
| Tyler Nature Center Pond | 900 | 1/3/2026, 1/10/2026 *Fishing allowed only during TPWD sanctioned events |
| Tyler State Park | 3,600 | 12/19/2025, 1/16/2026 |
| Woldert Park Pond | 1,700 | 12/1/2025, 1/6/2026 |
Smith County: TPWD winter trout schedule (2025-2026 season) and Neighborhood Fishin site list.
Alongside Smith County
Lake Hawkins
16 miles to the north
Gladewater City Lake
22 miles to the northeast
Lake Palestine
24 miles to the southwest
Lake Holbrook
27 miles to the northwest
- Gregg County27 miles east
- Wood County29 miles north
- Upshur County31 miles northeast
- Rusk County35 miles southeast
Your questions on fishing Smith County
How many TPWD access sites are in Smith County?
The TPWD layer shows 18 public water access points in Smith County.
Are there lakes inside Smith County?
TPWD covers Lake Tyler in the county.
Which Smith County lake covers the most acres?
That is Lake Tyler, covering 2,224 surface acres.
Which streams in Smith County have public access?
Flowing water access counts by stream: Sabine River (2) and SAbine River (1).
What lake just outside Smith County is closest?
Lake Hawkins, roughly 16 miles north of mid county.
What bait shops serve Smith County?
This page lists 6 listings in the county, such as Bass Pro Shops Tyler in Tyler.
Can I catch stocked trout in Smith County?
Yes, rainbow trout went into Faulkner Park Lake (Tyler), Tyler Nature Center Pond and Tyler State Park during the 2025-2026 season.
Where is the seat of Smith County?
That is Tyler, population 105,995 at the 2020 Census.
How near is a lake to Tyler?
Head southeast about 12 miles from Tyler to reach Lake Tyler.
What should I fish for near Smith County?
The top TPWD ratings within 50 miles go to largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie and catfish.
Which lake near Smith County holds the biggest record?
Nearby, Lake Tawakoni logged a 23.5 pound bass, striped in 2022.
How high are rivers near Smith County right now?
The flow table on this page reads 3 USGS gauges, starting with Sabine Rv nr Hawkins, TX.
Where to go after Smith County
Compare Smith County with its neighbors, or jump to a lake.