Fishing Near Round Top, TX

Lake Somerville State Park

• Surface Area: 11456 acres
• Max Depth: 38 ft

Located about 40 miles north of Round Top, Lake Somerville is a perfect fishing spot for beginners and experienced anglers alike. 

The lake is especially well known for being a high quality white bass fishery, but that isn’t the only type of fish you’ll find here. There are rich opportunities to bag multiple species of catfish as well as largemouth bass. A large population of crappie and sunfish also reside in Lake Somerville, making this a perfect spot for children and those learning how to fish.

Typically speaking, the best time of year to fish for white bass is in the early spring, beginning in February.

One of the best parts about this area is that you don’t need a fishing license if you are shore fishing, but note that a license is required if you are fishing from a boat.

Boats and canoes are available for rent and come with vests and paddles included.

Fayette County Reservoir

• Surface Area: 2,400 acres
• Max Depth: 70 ft

If you are looking to hook a largemouth bass, FayetteCounty Reservoir is by far the best body of water in the area to catch one. State tournament surveys consistently rank the reservoir as among the best bass fishing locales in the state, which makes sense considering the beneficial structure for bass consisting of aquatic vegetation, tank dams, drop offs and more.

Since Fayette County Reservoir is a power plant cooling reservoir, the waters here are consistently elevated, helping the fish stay active during the winter months. The warmest part of the reservoir is the discharge canal. The temperature and current combined tends to attract large schools of baitfish.

While bass is the featured fish of the lake, channel, blue, and flathead catfish have also been stocked and there is a sizable population of redear sunfish. While you can be successful year round with fishing at this lake, the best time to catch bass is in the spring between the months of February and June.

Texas Fishing License and Other Info

Before you embark on your fishing trip, be sure to get the proper Texas fishing license. The last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined because you forgot.

All individuals who are planning to fish in public waters are required to obtain a fishing license, with some exceptions. Texas Parks and Wildlife offers a range of available different licenses and packages that depend upon:

• Residency
• If you are fishing in fresh or saltwater
• License term

Visit their website to view all of the available packages as well as the possible exemptions for having to obtain a fishing license.