Lake Lewisville fishing, steps from your stay
Guests fish about 600 feet of private bank without launching a boat. You can be on the water before the coffee is done.
Lake Lewisville fishing from the ranch
Lake Lewisville is a productive urban fishery, with nearly thirty thousand acres of water inside a metro of eight million people. It has been a tournament lake for decades, and Texas Parks and Wildlife rates the catfish and crappie here excellent, with largemouth, spotted bass and hybrid stripers rated good.
The useful part if you are staying here is that you do not need a boat. Walk down with a rod, fish the bank, and go back up for breakfast. If you did bring a boat, the ramps the tournaments launch from are ten to fifteen minutes from the gate.
What is in the lake
| Species | TPWD rating | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Blue and channel catfish | Excellent | Strong all summer; the old Lake Dallas area is the classic water |
| White crappie | Excellent | Spring shallow spawn, then bridge pilings and brush the rest of the year |
| White bass | Good | The late-winter run up the creeks, then summer schooling on the main lake |
| Hybrid striped bass | Good | Humps and ridges near Hickory Creek |
| Largemouth bass | Good | Timber in the coves and along the shorelines |
| Spotted bass | Good | Mixed in with the largemouth on the same structure |
Ratings are Texas Parks and Wildlife’s own for Lewisville Lake. TPWD notes that white crappie and white bass account for most of the angling activity on the lake.
Where the fish hold
Largemouth and spotted bass sit on the standing timber in the coves and along the shoreline breaks. Lewisville has a lot of flooded wood, and that is where the fish are.
White bass school on the main lake through the summer. Watch the birds: when the gulls drop, the sand bass are pushing shad to the surface, and you have about four minutes.
Crappie stack under the bridges that cross the lake arms. Bridge pilings and brush piles hold them through summer and winter both; in spring they move shallow to spawn and you can reach them from a bank.
Hybrid stripers work the humps and ridges near Hickory Creek. Catfish are strongest in the old Lake Dallas area, though blues and channels turn up all over the lake all summer.
From our shoreline
Our stretch of shoreline faces open water on the north end. Guests fish it most consistently for catfish and crappie, straight from the bank, with no launch fee and no parking to find.
Early and late beat the middle of the day, the same as anywhere in Texas in summer. The fire pit is thirty feet away, which works out well at either end of the day.
Month by month
| When | What’s happening | Go for |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter | White bass run up the creeks and the Elm Fork to spawn | White bass |
| Spring | Crappie move shallow to spawn; bass move up on the timber | Crappie, largemouth |
| Early summer | Fish pull back to structure; catfish turn on | Catfish, crappie |
| Summer | Sand bass school and “jump” on the surface, mornings and evenings | White bass, catfish |
| Autumn | Shad move shallow, schooling activity picks back up | White bass, largemouth |
| Winter | Crappie stack tight on bridge pilings and brush | Crappie |
Fishing a tournament
Lewisville has hosted regional and national bass circuits, high school and college series, and weekly local team tournaments for years.
If you are fishing one, the practical questions are always the same, so: our Premium Gold and Premium Platinum sites take rigs to fifty feet, there is room to put a boat trailer beside most sites, the gate code works at four in the morning, and the nearest ramps are ten to fifteen minutes away.
Call the office before you book if you are towing something long, and we will match you to a site with room for the whole outfit.
Before you cast
About fishing here
Can you fish from the shore at Waterfront Hideaway Ranch?
Yes. Guests fish directly off about 600 feet of private Lake Lewisville shoreline, without a boat and without a launch fee.
What fish are in Lake Lewisville?
Lewisville Lake holds largemouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, white crappie, and blue and channel catfish. Texas Parks and Wildlife rates the catfish and crappie excellent and the largemouth, spotted bass and hybrid stripers good.
Do I need a fishing license at Lake Lewisville?
Yes. Anyone aged 17 or older fishing public water in Texas needs a valid Texas fishing license, and Lake Lewisville is public water. A freshwater package or a one-day all-water license both cover you, and you can buy either from Texas Parks and Wildlife online or at most sporting goods counters.
When is the best time of year to fish Lake Lewisville?
Spring is the most forgiving: crappie spawn shallow and bass move up onto the timber. White bass run the creeks in late winter and school on the surface through summer mornings and evenings, and catfish are strong from early summer on. Crappie stack tight on bridge pilings through winter.
Is there a boat ramp at the ranch?
No. Our shoreline is for bank fishing, swimming and paddling rather than launching trailered boats. Little Elm Park, Cottonwood and Crescent Oaks ramps are all roughly ten to fifteen minutes away, and Doe Branch, a Corps ramp with no launch fee, is ten to twenty.
Can I park a boat and trailer at my site?
There is room beside most sites for a boat trailer, and the Premium Gold and Premium Platinum classes are the roomiest. Call the office before booking if you are towing a long rig plus a trailer so we can put you somewhere it genuinely fits.
Can I fish at night?
Guests have gate access around the clock and the shoreline is part of the park. Quiet hours still apply after 10:00 pm, and it is worth taking a light.
Do you rent boats or fishing gear?
We keep kayaks that guests are welcome to use, but we do not rent powerboats or fishing tackle. Cottonwood Creek Marina in Little Elm is the closest marina, about ten to fifteen minutes away.
Are there fishing tournaments on Lake Lewisville?
Regularly. Lewisville has a long history as a tournament lake and hosts regional and national bass circuits, high school and college series, and weekly local team events. Check the current circuit schedules for dates.
Stay on the lake
Find an RV site or a cabin for your dates and fish the shoreline in the morning.