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Wright Patman Lake Fishing Report & Water Level
Wright Patman Lake is at 224.95 ft above mean sea level and 100.0% full as of Oct 20, 2026 (TWDB daily average). That is 4.35 ft above the 220.6 ft conservation pool.
Wright Patman Lake water level today & trend
The lake is 4.3 ft above its conservation pool (flood storage). Some parks or ramps may be closed and floating debris is common after high water. Check with the controlling authority.
| Level (daily avg.) | 224.95 ft msl (Oct 20, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Conservation pool | 220.6 ft msl |
| Percent full | 100.0% (+0.0 pts in 7 days, +0.0 pts in 1 year) |
| Conservation storage | 122,593 of 122,593 acre-feet |
| Latest USGS gauge reading | 224.96 ft (lake elevation, NGVD29) at Oct 20, 7:15 AM CDT, USGS 07344200. Instantaneous provisional value; datum can differ slightly from TWDB. |
Percent full from 2025-10-20 (100.0%) to 2026-10-20 (100.0%). Range shown 99.0%–101.0%.
Sources: TWDB Water Data for Texas: Wright Patman Lake (CSV), USGS. Provisional data, updated daily.
Wright Patman Lake fishing report: recent conditions & what's biting
No recent angler reports yet: submit yours. Reports are reviewed before they're published. We never make up reports.
Seasonal pattern for October (general guide)
Fall transition. Shad migrate into creeks and coves and bass follow them, so moving baits that cover water are often effective. Fall turnover can make fishing inconsistent for a short time on deeper lakes. Schooling fish appear in open water.
This describes typical October patterns on Texas reservoirs. It is not an observed report for Wright Patman Lake. Water temperature, lake level (currently -0.16 ft this week) and weather move fish more than the calendar does.
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Best baits & techniques for Wright Patman Lake bass fishing
General, proven approaches for the species TPWD lists in Wright Patman Lake. These are not lake-specific hot baits.
- Largemouth bass
- Texas-rigged soft plastics (worms, creature baits), jigs, spinnerbaits and bladed jigs, crankbaits (squarebills shallow, deep divers on ledges), lipless crankbaits, and topwaters in low light. Florida-strain trophies are often caught on big worms, jigs and swimbaits.
- White bass
- Small slabs, jigs, inline spinners and small crankbaits. Look for schools chasing shad, and spring spawning runs in the tributaries.
- Crappie
- Live minnows and small jigs around brush piles, standing timber, docks and bridge pilings. Spider-rigging and vertical jigging are common.
- Catfish
- Cut bait and live bait for blue and flathead catfish, prepared/stink baits and worms for channel catfish. Drift-fishing and baited holes are both popular.
- Sunfish (bluegill, redear)
- Crickets, worms and small jigs or spinners near docks, shallow cover and beds in late spring and summer.
Comparing gear? See our baitcasting reel and bass rod spec comparisons.
Fish species in Wright Patman Lake
- Largemouth bass
- Blue catfish
- Channel catfish
- Flathead catfish
- Crappie
- Sunfish
- White bass
| Location | On the Sulphur River in Bowie and Cass counties, 10 miles southwest of Texarkana |
|---|---|
| Surface area (at full pool) | 18,994 acres |
| Maximum depth | 40 feet |
| Impounded | 1956 |
| Typical fluctuation | 4-5 feet |
| Normal water clarity | Moderate |
| Controlling authority | US Army Corps of Engineers |
Species and lake facts from TPWD: Fishing Wright Patman Lake (retrieved Oct 20, 2026). Bag and size limits can be lake-specific; check the TPWD Outdoor Annual.
Wright Patman Lake boat ramps & public access
Status: check before you go. We don't track ramp closures. Ramps can close for low or high water, construction or flood damage, and the lake is +4.3 ft vs. conservation pool today. Confirm with the operator (US Army Corps of Engineers).
| Map | Boat ramp / access point & location | Amenities (TPWD) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Malden Lake Located on the north shore adjacent to the Sulphur River channel. Take Texas Highway 8 south from Maud, go 2.5 miles and turn left before crossing bridge. Park is on east side of bridge. Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
| A2 | Herron Creek Located on the north shore adjacent to the Sulphur River channel. Take Texas Highway 8 south from Maud for 2 miles. Turn left (east), then take the first right and follow the road to its end. Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
| A3 | Berry Farm Park Located on the north shore at mid-lake. Take Texas Highway 8 south of Maud, turn east on FM 2624 and travel approximately 3 miles. Then turn south and go to the end of the road. Ramp will handle boats of all sizes; Fee required; Operated by US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, parking, camping | Check before you go |
| A4 | Kelly Creek Marina Located on the north shore at Kelly Creek. Take Texas Highway 8 south of Maud, turn east on FM 2624 and continue east until road forks. Turn south and travel to the end of this road. Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Privately operated (903) 585-5453 | restrooms, live bait, parking, boat gas, camping | Check before you go |
| B1 | Big Creek Marina Located on the north lake shore on the south side of Big Creek. Take FM 991 south from Redwater. Cross bridge, take first left and follow the road to its end. Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Privately operated (903) 585-2357 | restrooms, live bait, parking, boat gas, camping | Check before you go |
| B2 | Clear Springs Located on the north shore at the lower end of the lake. Go south on FM 2148, 3.5 miles west of Texarkana. Take the first right and then the second left, follow road to end. Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, parking, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
| B3 | North Shores Located on the north shore near the dam. Take US 67 southwest from Texarkana to FM 2148. From there, take the third right and then the first left to the ramp Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
| B4 | Intake Hill Located on the north shore near the dam. Take US 67 from Texarkana to FM 2148. Turn south, then take the third right turn. Follow road approximately 1.5 miles to ramp. Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | parking | Check before you go |
| C1 | County Park Located on the south shore at mid-lake. Take US 59 north from Queen City for 5 miles. Turn left on CR 3558 (first county road after FM Road 2327) and follow the signs to park. Bank fishing access; Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Operated by Cass County (903) 756-5701 | restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
| C2 | Rocky Point Located south of the dam. Turn west off US 59 and follow the signs. The ramp is located 2.5 miles north of FM 3129. Concrete ramp; Access fee required; Operated by US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, camping | Check before you go |
| C3 | Piney Point Take US 59 to south side of dam. Ramp is located 2.5 miles north of FM 3129. Turn left and follow signs. Concrete boat ramp; Access fee required; Operated by US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, parking, camping | Check before you go |
| D1 | Overcup Landing Located uplake near the Sulphur River channel. Take Texas Highway 8 north out of Douglassville, go approximately 3 miles and turn left. Ramp handles boats of all sizes; No fee required; Operated by US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, parking, boat gas | Check before you go |
| D2 | Jackson Creek Located on the south shore at Jackson Creek. Take Texas 77 northwest from Atlanta. Turn right on FM 2791 at Midway and continue north for approximately 5 miles. Ramp handles boats of all sizes; Fee required; Operated by US Army Corps of Engineers (903) 838-8781 | restrooms, parking, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
| D3 | Atlanta State Park Located on the south shore at mid-lake. Take FM Road 96 out of Queen City 6.5 miles to FM 1154. Turn right and go 1.6 miles to park entrance. Two ramps, one 1-lane and one 2-lane. Courtesy dock available at larger ramp.; Fee required; Operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (903) 796-6476 | restrooms, cleaning stations, parking, courtesy docks, camping | Check before you go |
Access list from TPWD: Wright Patman Lake public access facilities (map and locations on TPWD; retrieved Oct 20, 2026). Includes some privately owned facilities that may charge fees.
Texas law requires draining all water from your boat and onboard receptacles when leaving or approaching public fresh water (zebra mussel prevention). Clean, drain and dry.
Local guides & marinas at Wright Patman Lake
Run a guide service, marina or bait shop on Wright Patman Lake? Get listed free.
Wright Patman Lake weather forecast
- Today
78°F, Sunny
Wind E 5 mph - Tonight
51°F, Mostly Clear
Wind NE 0 to 5 mph - Wednesday
80°F, Sunny
Wind E 0 to 5 mph - Wednesday Night
52°F, Clear
Wind 0 mph - Thursday
83°F, Sunny
Wind 0 mph - Thursday Night
54°F, Mostly Clear
Wind 0 mph
National Weather Service point forecast for 33.305, -94.161 (NWS SHV), issued Oct 20, 6:30 AM CDT. Full forecast at weather.gov.
Wright Patman Lake FAQ
What is the water level at Wright Patman Lake today?
On Oct 20, 2026, Wright Patman Lake was at 224.95 ft above mean sea level and 100.0% full, according to the Texas Water Development Board. That is 4.35 ft above the 220.6 ft conservation pool.
What fish are in Wright Patman Lake?
TPWD lists these predominant species for Wright Patman Lake: Largemouth bass, Blue catfish, Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, Crappie, Sunfish, White bass.
Who manages Wright Patman Lake?
US Army Corps of Engineers is the controlling authority, according to TPWD.
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