Lake Palestine Fishing
Where to launch, what TPWD rates as the best fishing, the lake records and today's level on 25,560 acres in Cherokee County.
- 25,560acres
- 58 ftmax depth
- 17boat ramps
- 13.22 lbrecord bass
Photo, regional stand in for Lake Palestine: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
Lake Palestine, Texas at a glance
Lake Palestine is a 25,560 acre reservoir, 58 feet deep at the dam, first filled in 1962. On the Neches River, 15 miles southwest of Tyler on Texas 155.
TPWD biologists rate catfish and white & hybrid striped bass as excellent here; largemouth bass, spotted bass and crappie rate good.
Its biggest recorded largemouth bass came in at 13.22 pounds (2014).
The water normally runs moderately clear; vegetation includes hydrilla and native submergent, emergent and floating plants; moderate in upper end and creek arms, particularly in kickapoo creek; water level fluctuation is described as 2.2 feet.
Controlling authority: Upper Neches River Authority (903) 876-2237. Lake Palestine facts from the TPWD lake page, checked October 2026.
Water level at Lake Palestine today
Current Lake Palestine reading from TWDB. A minus sign means below full pool.
Texas Water Development Board, Water Data for Texas, reading dated 2026-10-08. Retrieved Oct 9, 2026 5:07 am ET. 30 day chart on TWDB.
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
What bites at Lake Palestine
Each bar is the TPWD rating for that species at Lake Palestine.
Rating scale, 4 high to 1 low.
Predominant species: Largemouth bass, Spotted bass, White & hybrid striped bass, Crappie, Catfish, Sunfish.
Lake Palestine lake records
The heaviest certified fish of each species from Lake Palestine.
| Species | Weight (lb) | Length (in) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead catfish | 98.5 | 53 | 1998-12-02 |
| Smallmouth buffalo | 58.4 | 39.5 | 2007-03-02 |
| Blue catfish | 51.57 | 36 | 2025-01-15 |
| Common carp | 25.22 | 32 | 2006-04-24 |
| Hybrid striped bass | 14.77 | 29 | 1997-03-09 |
| Largemouth bass | 13.22 | 26.25 | 2014-02-01 |
| Bowfin | 10.98 | 30.5 | 1995-09-27 |
| Freshwater drum | 8.4 | 26 | 1996-07-02 |
| Channel catfish | 6.58 | 26.5 | 2024-07-27 |
| Walleye | 4.13 | 23 | 1988-08-06 |
| White crappie | 3.94 | 16 | 1984-02-01 |
| Black crappie | 3.34 | 17.25 | 2005-04-22 |
Lake Palestine records: TPWD water body records, list updated October 8, 2026. Retrieved October 2026.
Boat ramps and access on Lake Palestine
TPWD lists 17 access points on this lake, 17 with a boat ramp and 3 with a marina.
Chandler River Park
Boat ramp; no fee; parking, picnic areas. (903) 849-6853
Westberry Landing
Boat ramp; fee charged; parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas. (903) 509-4400
Villages Marina
Boat ramp; marina; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking. (903) 561-1413
Kickapoo Public Ramp
Boat ramp; no fee; parking, courtesy docks.
Flat Creek Public Ramp
Boat ramp; no fee; parking, courtesy docks.
Flat Creek Marina
Boat ramp; marina; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking. (903) 849-6356
Lake Palestine Marina
Two lane ramp; marina; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking. (903) 426-7740
Saline Bay
Two lane ramp; no fee; parking, courtesy docks.
Lakeside Getaway
Boat ramp; no fee; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 825-3295
Camper's Cove
Boat ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 825-3427
Palestine Pines
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas. (903) 825-1100
Kiloland
Boat ramp; fee charged; restrooms, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 876-2261
Lake Palestine Motor Inn
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 876-4711
Lake Palestine Campground
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, parking, courtesy docks. (903) 876-2253
Deep End Public Ramp
Two lane ramp; no fee; parking.
Cherokee Landing
Boat ramp; no fee; parking.
13 mapped points from the TPWD access layer; ramp notes from the Lake Palestine page at TPWD, checked October 2026.
Limits that differ from statewide rules at Lake Palestine
These exceptions replace the statewide limit for the listed species on this lake only.
| Species | Rule at Lake Palestine |
|---|---|
| Catfish | For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag and possession limit = 25 blue and channel catfish in any combination. In the 25-fish bag, no more than 5 fish 20 inches or greater in length may be retained, and no more than 1 of those can be 30 inches or longer. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag = 5. |
Limits for Lake Palestine from the TPWD Outdoor Annual, 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027), checked October 2026.
Fish stocked in Lake Palestine
| Year | Species | Number | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lone star bass | 344,533 | Fingerling |
| 2025 | Sunshine bass | 257,314 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Sunshine bass | 461,005 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Lone star bass | 343,299 | Fingerling |
Lake Palestine stocking: TPWD stocking by water body, retrieved October 2026.
Tournaments on Lake Palestine
| Date | Event | Organizer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-22 | 2025 TBN Kayak Division Event 1 – Lake Palestine | Texas B.A.S.S. Nation | completed |
| 2026-06-06 | 2026 TXTT Championship Lake Palestine | Texas Team Trail (Outdoor Teamworks) | completed |
| 2026-10-17 | 2026 TBN Southeast Region Top 40 Championship | Texas B.A.S.S. Nation | upcoming |
| 2027-06-05 | 2027 TXTT Championship Lake Palestine | Texas Team Trail (Outdoor Teamworks) | upcoming |
Tournament dates for Lake Palestine from each organizer, retrieved October 2026.
Shops and guides near Lake Palestine
- Lake Palestine MarinaBullard, 7 miles north of the lake, (903) 825-3600
- Botique & Bait – Bushman's RV Park OfficeBullard, 9 miles northeast of the lake, (903) 894-3300
- Flat Creek MarinaChandler, 10 miles northwest of the lake, (903) 849-6356
- West Lake Bait & TackleChandler, 13 miles north of the lake, (903) 849-2880
- Bass Pro Shops TylerTyler, 15 miles northeast of the lake, (903) 202-8300
- Johnny's Outdoors and MoreChandler, 15 miles north of the lake, (903) 360-9381
- Academy Sports + Outdoors TylerTyler, 15 miles northeast of the lake, (903) 266-3100
- Perry's Bait and TackleWhitehouse, 17 miles northeast of the lake, (903) 871-2020
Shops within 30 miles of Lake Palestine: OpenStreetMap contributors and store lists, retrieved October 2026.
Lakes and towns near Lake Palestine
Lake Jacksonville
13 miles southeast, 1,320 acres
Lake Tyler
20 miles northeast, 2,224 acres
Lake Athens
20 miles northwest, 1,799 acres
Striker Reservoir
28 miles east, 1,863 acres
- TylerSmith County, 19 miles north
- PalestineAnderson County, 24 miles southwest
- AthensHenderson County, 25 miles northwest
- MineolaWood County, 41 miles north
- Cherokee CountyFishing access across the county
Questions about fishing Lake Palestine
How big is Lake Palestine?
Lake Palestine covers 25,560 surface acres and is 58 feet deep at its deepest point, according to TPWD.
When was Lake Palestine built?
The reservoir was impounded in 1962 on Neches River.
What is the Lake Palestine record largemouth bass?
The lake record largemouth bass weighed 13.22 pounds and measured 26.25 inches, caught 2014-02-01, per TPWD water body records.
What other lake records does Lake Palestine hold?
Flathead catfish 98.5 lb; Smallmouth buffalo 58.4 lb; Blue catfish 51.57 lb.
What fish are best at Lake Palestine?
TPWD rates largemouth bass good; spotted bass good; catfish excellent; crappie good; white & hybrid striped bass excellent.
How many boat ramps are on Lake Palestine?
TPWD lists 17 boat ramps on Lake Palestine, and 9 of them charge no fee.
Is there a marina on Lake Palestine?
Yes. TPWD lists 3 marinas at Lake Palestine: Villages Marina, Flat Creek Marina and Lake Palestine Marina.
How do I check the water level at Lake Palestine?
The Lake Palestine level box on this page refreshes hourly from TWDB and shows the gap to full pool.
Does Lake Palestine have special fishing regulations?
Yes. TPWD sets lake specific limits here for Catfish. See the limits table on this page for the 2026-27 rules.
Is Lake Palestine stocked?
Yes. TPWD stocked 344,533 fingerling lone star bass in 2025, and 4 stocking events are on record since 2024.
Are there fishing tournaments on Lake Palestine?
Upcoming: 2026 TBN Southeast Region Top 40 Championship on 2026-10-17, run by Texas B.A.S.S. Nation.
What town is closest to Lake Palestine?
Tyler is 19 miles north of the lake center, in Smith County.
More water near Lake Palestine
Check the level, then pick a ramp from the list above.