Dallas is surrounded by freshwater lakes and rivers, so it makes sense that there is some great fishing to be done around here, too!

Here are just some of the popular kinds of fish you can catch here in the lakes, rivers and ponds in the Dallas-Fort Worth area near our Dallas apartments. 

Types of freshwater fish in waters near Dallas

Blue catfish

The blue catfish is the largest catfish in North America, with a maximum length of 65 inches and a maximum weight of 165 pounds — so it’s no wonder that it’s a popular catch here around Dallas! Like most catfish, they have a forked tail, a wide head and large mouth surrounded by those little wiggly barb things, but their distinguishing feature is their silvery-blue to blue-gray color and larger-than-average size. 

Channel catfish

Channel catfish are one of the most popular catfish species in the United States and make for a great sport fish; they’re pretty abundant, they’re strong fighters on the hook and they’re a pretty decent eating fish, too.

You’ll most likely find these little guys in slow-moving, murky water where there’s plenty of cover, so lakes and ponds are your best bet when fishing for these slippery little fellas.

Crappie

Crappie are another popular fish to catch in Texas’ many clear, shallow lakes and reservoirs. 

There are two kinds of crappie in Texas: the white crappie (also known as white perch) and the black crappie. Black crappies are most comfortable in deep, clear waters while white crappie is most often found in muddy lakes, ponds and other murkier waters. Both, however, can be found year round and are great sport fish that can weigh up to 2 pounds!

White bass

White bass are found in a variety of freshwater lakes, rivers and reservoirs in clear, shallow water with plenty of vegetation and sunken logs for cover. They are also schooling fish and are often found in large groups, so if you see one, there’s sure to be another few dozen close by!

If this is the fish you’re going for, then the good news is that they are pretty easy to catch. They are opportunistic feeders and can be caught using a variety of methods, including bait casting, spinning and fly fishing. Some of the best baits to use for white bass include minnows, shad, and jigs, since they reflect a decent portion of their natural diet!

Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass are one of the most popular sport fish in Texas, and for good reason — they're relatively easy to catch, they fight hard and, if you get to bring one home, they're delicious to eat!

The best way to catch largemouth bass here in Texas is to use live bait such as minnows, worms or crawfish. You can also use artificial lures, such as crankbaits, spinnerbaits or plastic worms — whatever you prefer! The fish are most active in the spring and fall, but they can be caught year-round in shallow coves, deep pools and weed beds around Dallas’ rivers and lakes. 

Sunfish

There are several different species of Texas sunfish, but the most common are the bluegill, dollar sunfish, longear sunfish and green sunfish. Texas sunfish are typically small fish, growing to only about 10 inches in length and featuring a rounded body, a large mouth and a spiny dorsal fin. 

They prefer shallow, weedy areas with plenty of cover, so ponds, shallow lakes and rivers are always a good bet when it comes to fishing for these pretty fish. 

Alligator gar

The alligator gar is a massive freshwater fish found in Texas’ warm rivers, lakes and estuaries — and when we say massive, we really mean massive! They can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 300 pounds, making them one of the largest freshwater fish in North America. 

Alligator gars are apex predators, meaning they sit at the top of the food chain and prey on a variety of fish, turtles, birds and even small mammals! It also means that they will put up a heck of a fight on the line, so this really is a fish for the ages. The best way to catch one of these bad boys is to use heavy tackle and live bait, such as catfish or carp, but cut bait or dead fish can also be effective.

So, now that you know what there is to catch, the next step is finding out where to go to catch it! That will come later, though. 

Have fun!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/michasekdzi