Sabine River Fishing
Where to reach the Sabine River, how it is running and where to buy bait.
- 38access points
- 8counties
- 16flow gauges
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY 3.0
The Sabine River for Texas anglers
Anglers can reach the Sabine River at 38 public access points in 8 counties, per TPWD.
Most access points fall in Panola (19), Newton (4), Van Zandt (4), Gregg (3) and Smith (3).
Dams on the river back up Lake Fork and Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Through leasing, TPWD opens 1 private access site on this river to walk in or paddle access: Grand Bluff Boat Ramp.
Sabine River data: TPWD public water access layer and USGS gauges.
Streamflow on the Sabine River
USGS flow on the Sabine River in cubic feet per second.
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| S Fk Sabine Rv Nr Quinlan, Tx | 9 cfs, 4.97 ft gage height | Oct 10 7:45 am |
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point, Tx | 6 cfs, 3.06 ft gage height | Oct 10 7:00 am |
| Sabine Rv At Fm 17 Nr Golden, Tx | 9 cfs, 5.13 ft gage height | Oct 10 7:15 am |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola, Tx | 18 cfs, 1.07 ft gage height | Oct 10 7:15 am |
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins, Tx | 126 cfs, 5.13 ft gage height | Oct 10 7:45 am |
| Sabine Rv Nr Gladewater, Tx | 152 cfs, 5.35 ft gage height | Oct 10 7:15 am |
| Sabine Rv Abv Longview, Tx | 120 cfs, 4.61 ft gage height | Oct 10 7:15 am |
| Sabine Rv Bl Longview, Tx | 135 cfs, 2.85 ft gage height | Oct 10 8:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 10, 2026 8:15 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Getting a line in the Sabine River
- Panola County19 access points on the Sabine River
- Newton County4 access points on the Sabine River
- Van Zandt County4 access points on the Sabine River
- Gregg County3 access points on the Sabine River
- Smith County3 access points on the Sabine River
- Orange County2 access points on the Sabine River
- Shelby County2 access points on the Sabine River
- Wood County1 access point on the Sabine River
Where TPWD leases access on the Sabine River
| Site | Segment | County | Lease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Bluff Boat Ramp | – Sabine River downstream of Black Shoals | Panola | through August 31, 2026 |
Sabine River lease sites: TPWD River Access and Leasing Program. Your fishing license is the entry pass.
Lakes within 15 miles of the Sabine River
Toledo Bend Reservoir
under a mile from the nearest Sabine River access point, 181,600 acres.
See detailsLake Holbrook
1 mile from the nearest Sabine River access point, 653 acres.
See detailsLake Tawakoni
2 miles from the nearest Sabine River access point, 37,879 acres.
See detailsGladewater City Lake
2 miles from the nearest Sabine River access point, 481 acres.
See detailsLake Hawkins
4 miles from the nearest Sabine River access point, 633 acres.
See detailsBrandy Branch Reservoir
5 miles from the nearest Sabine River access point, 1,242 acres.
See detailsLake Fork
8 miles from the nearest Sabine River access point, 27,264 acres.
See detailsMartin Creek Lake
9 miles from the nearest Sabine River access point, 4,981 acres.
See detailsLakes within 15 miles of a Sabine River access point that TPWD rates good or excellent, by species.
Bases for fishing the Sabine River
- LongviewGregg County, 6 miles from the nearest Sabine River access
- OrangeOrange County, 2 miles from the nearest Sabine River access
- MarshallHarrison County, 12 miles from the nearest Sabine River access
- MineolaWood County, 5 miles from the nearest Sabine River access
- Wills PointVan Zandt County, 8 miles from the nearest Sabine River access
- EmoryRains County, 7 miles from the nearest Sabine River access
- AlbaWood County, 5 miles from the nearest Sabine River access
Buying bait along the Sabine River
- Wellborne Fishing and RentalKilgore, (903) 218-5631
- A1 Baits Wholesale & RKilgore, (903) 984-9677
- Academy Sports + Outdoors LongviewLongview, (903) 757-1300
- Blue Bird Fish CampOrange, (409) 238-5410
- Secreteria De MarinaOrange, (409) 883-9550
- Woodvale Fishing ClubMineola, (903) 569-5191
- Johnson Custom BaitsQuitman, (903) 763-5028
- Bear Country Bait & TackleHawkins, (903) 769-9600
- Holiday Marina of TawakoniWills Point, (903) 560-0630
- Cedar Cove LandingPoint, (903) 447-2169
- Lake Fork MarinaAlba, (903) 765-2764
- Nech Premium LuresAlba, (903) 765-2500
Shops within 12 miles of a Sabine River access point; OpenStreetMap contributors and store lists.
Questions about fishing the Sabine River
How many TPWD access sites are on the Sabine River?
You will find 38 public access points on the Sabine River.
Where is the Sabine River accessible by county?
Access is heaviest in Panola County, Newton County, Van Zandt County, Gregg County, Smith County and Orange County.
How do I see how high the Sabine River is?
The flow table on this page reads 8 USGS gauges on the river every hour.
Which lakes does the Sabine River feed?
Lake Fork and Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Has TPWD leased land on the Sabine River?
The TPWD program has leased 1 site here.
What communities sit near the Sabine River?
Longview, Orange, Marshall, Mineola, Wills Point and Emory.
What stores sell bait near the Sabine River?
Look at Wellborne Fishing and Rental in Kilgore, one of 12 listed shops close to an access point.
Which reservoirs are a short drive from the Sabine River?
Toledo Bend Reservoir is under a mile from a Sabine River access point, followed by Lake Holbrook and Lake Tawakoni.
What fish are rated best near the Sabine River?
Around the river, TPWD rates largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish highest most often.
How far does access run on the Sabine River?
The access stretch covers 8 counties, north in Van Zandt to south in Orange County.
When is the Sabine River at its best?
Fish the Sabine River after a rise drops back to normal flow, when fish move up to feed in clearing water.
Is it legal to wade the Sabine River?
Texas treats the bed of a navigable stream as public, but most Sabine River banks are private, so enter at a mapped access point and stay in the streambed.
Other moving water in Texas
See how the Sabine River stacks up with other rivers.