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3,397-acre reservoir near Carthage. The lake tops out around 31 ft. The depth chart comes from Texas Water Development Board bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Drawn out, this is 3,478 acres of water rimmed by 34.2 miles of bank — 12 islands included. A development index of 4.1 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. About 66% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 5.9 mi long by 2.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Panola County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Martin Creek Lake, 16 mi northwest of here.
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 31 ft. Back-bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring largemouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Deep basin (29 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts crappie in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 25 ft, wintering in 9 to 31 ft. Winter crappie concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 29 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Deep basin (29 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 31 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 29 ft, rated prime for winter channel catfish. Time it for after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Murvaul Creek inflow (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (29 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Deep basin (29 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 31 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 29 ft of water that rates prime for flathead catfish in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Murvaul Creek inflow (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (29 ft) | |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (29 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Deep basin (29 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluegill in 1 to 6 ft. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 15 ft, wintering in 10 to 25 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 1 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (6 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Feeding flat (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (29 ft) | Tiny spoon |
Lake Murvaul carries 17 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 29 ft down.
Access data: Texas Parks & Wildlife — Public Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | Lone Star Bass (fingerling) | 58,770 | — |
| 2024* | Lone Star Bass (fingerling) | 59,535 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: TPWD stocking history, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Texas waters are set by the Texas Parks & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Lake Murvaul specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Texas fishing regulations →
Lake Murvaul is about 31 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Texas Water Development Board bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, bluegill on Lake Murvaul.
Back-bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per TPWD stocking history records, Lake Murvaul was most recently stocked 2026 with 58,770 lone star bass (fingerling). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Lake Murvaul is regulated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife. Check the official Texas regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Martin Creek Lake 16 mi · Lake Naconiche 20 mi · Pinkston Reservoir 23 mi · Brandy Branch Reservoir 28 mi · Lake Striker 33 mi · Lake Nacogdoches 36 mi · Lake Tyler East 43 mi · Lake Kurth 44 mi · Lake Tyler 46 mi · Cross Lake 47 mi, LA · Lake Gladewater 48 mi · Toledo Bend Reservoir 49 mi, TX/LA
See how Lake Murvaul stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Texas · best crappie lakes in Texas · best bluegill lakes in Texas · best channel catfish lakes in Texas
Browse all Texas fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.