White Rock Lake fishing: Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Blue Catfish

Target species: Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Sunshine Bass
Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct for Largemouth Bass
Second window: Nov, Mar, Apr, May for Walleye

The reservoir

White Rock Lake covers 995 acres in Texas, across Dallas County. It is a reservoir: 90.4% of it is 17 feet deep or less; the deepest point measured is 19.4 feet (5.9 m); at the dam, USGS RESSED gives 24 feet (7.3 m) at full pool. Our records hold 7 species for this water.

Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake.jpg
DronePhotographer · CC0

5 target fish, led by Largemouth Bass

  • Largemouth Bass — Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct.
  • Walleye — Best months: Nov, Mar, Apr, May.
  • Blue Catfish — Best months: Jun, Aug, Sep, Oct.
  • Channel Catfish — Best months: Jun, Aug, Sep, Oct.
  • Sunshine Bass — Best months: Oct. Nonnative.

Also recorded here: Common Carp, Threadfin Shad.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden September 2017 08 (White Rock Lake).jpg
Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

Stocking: 8,907,582 fish, 1968–2024

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department records list 8,907,582 fish released into this water from 1968 to 2024.

Dallas Texas - HCP - September 21, 2022 - 006 - White Rock Lake.jpg
Vulturesong · CC0
  • Walleye: 7,860,000 in 1978–1979
  • Channel Catfish: 356,807 in 1979–2024
  • Largemouth Bass: 300,023 in 1968–2001
  • Blue Catfish: 107,369 in 1988–2007

5 more species on the stocking list.

Depth: down to 19.4 ft at the deepest measured point

Deepest measured point: 19.4 ft (5.9 m). USGS RESSED gives 24 ft (7.3 m) at the dam at full pool: a measured figure, not a survey map. 90.4% of the water is 17 feet or shallower. We hold 56 depth contours for this water, drawn from 80,566 soundings.

  • 0–2 ft: 2.8% of the water
  • 2–4 ft: 4.3% of the water
  • 4–6 ft: 8.1% of the water
  • 6–7 ft: 9% of the water
  • 7–8 ft: 12.6% of the water
  • 8–9 ft: 11.3% of the water
  • 9–10 ft: 8.2% of the water
  • 10–12 ft: 7.2% of the water
  • 12–14 ft: 7.3% of the water
  • 14–16 ft: 11.6% of the water
  • 16–17 ft: 8% of the water
  • 17–19 ft: 9.6% of the water

Water and conditions

Water clarity runs 1.1–3.1 feet on our readings, averaging 2 feet, from 37 readings. Water temperature averages 69°F across the year. pH averages 7.7. These readings span 2016–2026.

Monthly average water temperature: Jan 52°F · Feb 51°F · Mar 57°F · Apr 63°F · May 68°F · Jun 81°F · Jul 85°F · Aug 84°F · Sep 82°F · Oct 73°F · Nov 59°F · Dec 55°F

Season by season

  • Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, 51–57°F) — Biting: Walleye. Steady but no peak: Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish.
  • Spring (Apr, May, 63–68°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Walleye.
  • Summer (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, 81–85°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish.
  • Fall (Oct, Nov, 59–73°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Sunshine Bass.

What is hard here

Winter water drops to 51°F, and the warm-water species stop feeding well before you do. Summer water sits at 85°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.

Where this data comes from

  • Texas Water Development Board — Texas Water Development Board: depth contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • USGS RESSED — USGS RESSED reservoir sedimentation database: class B, a depth figure measured and published by an agency, without a bottom map.
  • EPA NLA — EPA National Lakes Assessment: class B, a depth figure measured and published by an agency, without a bottom map.