White River Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (TX)

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Lake depth chart

White River Lake, TX

Max 65 ft

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Where to start

Fall shad migration window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Fall shad migrationActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Dec 15 · upper ends and stained creeks turn on first, the main lake follows; Deep-South creeks hold bait into December

adultall day, best mid-afternoon as the sun warms the bait — the rare pattern where you can sleep in — follow the bait, not the structure: gulls, herons and egrets diving or stacked in a creek mean the shad (and the bass) are there — run and gun until you find flickering bait or surface activity

Concentrates hard but unevenly — whole stretches go empty while one creek loads up. The birds are the map.

Creek-arm run-and-gun: lipless crankbait and squarebill through the flats and ditches, walking topwater over surface schools, a 3/8 oz spinnerbait around isolated cover along the creek channel. Downsize to match the young-of-year shad; jerkbaits are the sleeper.

The event happens over backs of creek arms, pockets and ditches, secondary points on the way in, and main-lake flats where the bait balls roam

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · in ~5 months

Shad spawn · baitfishMar 15 – Jun 15 · in ~6 months

Bluegill spawn (bream-bed bass) · forageMay 1 – Jul 31 · in ~8 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at White River Lake

1 angler watching on this water. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put White River Lake on the board.

Fishing White River Lake: what the data says

1,418-acre reservoir near Spur. South Plains water-supply lake with a walleye fishery. The lake tops out around 65 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.

Shoreline on the chart totals 12.9 miles, broken up by an island. A development index of 3 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 67% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 2.3 mi long by 1.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Crosby County. The nearest mapped water is Lake Alan Henry, 30 mi to the south.

Largemouth Bass fishing at White River Lake

In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. Spring largemouth bass concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 6 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. 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	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Spinnerbait, Chatterbait
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (16 ft)	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (16 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	15 to 35 ft	midday	Break off the point (29 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

White Bass fishing at White River Lake

When the water first warms, white bass slide up into 2 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 16 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) rigged through the warm months.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank
Summer	8 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (16 ft)	Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish)
Fall	6 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (16 ft)	Jigging spoon, Blade bait
Winter	15 to 40 ft	midday	Deep basin (55 ft)	Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait

Walleye fishing at White River Lake

Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 40 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 29 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	4 to 15 ft	dusk & dawn	Main-lake point (16 ft)	1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig
Summer	15 to 35 ft	dusk & dawn	Break off the point (29 ft)	Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled)
Fall	12 to 40 ft	dusk & night	Break off the point (29 ft)	Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow
Winter	20 to 40 ft	dusk & dawn	Break off the point (29 ft)	Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait

Crappie fishing at White River Lake

Spring puts crappie in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring crappie. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub
Summer	10 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled)
Fall	8 to 20 ft	dawn	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2")
Winter	15 to 35 ft	midday	Break off the point (29 ft)	Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon

Channel Catfish fishing at White River Lake

In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 25 ft before dropping to 20 to 40 ft for winter. Fall channel catfish concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 29 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)
Summer	8 to 25 ft	night & dusk	Break off the point (29 ft)
Fall	10 to 30 ft	dusk	Break off the point (29 ft)
Winter	20 to 40 ft	midday	Break off the point (29 ft)

Flathead Catfish fishing at White River Lake

Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 45 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 29 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 20 ft	night & dusk	open water
Summer	8 to 30 ft	night & dusk	Break off the point (29 ft)
Fall	10 to 35 ft	night & dusk	Break off the point (29 ft)
Winter	20 to 45 ft	midday	Deep basin (55 ft)

White River Lake also holds bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.

Notable structure

White River Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 55 ft down.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 55 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 29 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 16 ft
Secondary point: point, around 16 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft

White River Lake stocking report

Date	Species	Count	Size
2026*	Channel Catfish (fingerling)	63,487	—
2026*	Walleye (fry)	1,053,640	—
2026*	Lone Star Bass (fingerling)	23,327	—
2025*	Walleye (fry)	1,582,980	—
2025*	Lone Star Bass (fingerling)	21,409	—
2024*	Walleye (fry)	2,061,200	—
2024*	Lone Star Bass (fingerling)	21,620	—

* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: TPWD stocking history, retrieved 2026-09-03.

White River Lake fishing regulations

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 White River Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Texas fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is White River Lake?

White River Lake is about 65 ft (20 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in White River Lake?

Anglers target largemouth bass, white bass, walleye, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, bluegill on White River Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on White River Lake?

Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.

When is the best time to fish White River Lake?

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.

Is White River Lake stocked with fish?

Yes — per TPWD stocking history records, White River Lake was most recently stocked 2026 with 63,487 channel catfish (fingerling). The full stocking history is listed above.

What are the fishing regulations for White River Lake?

Fishing on White River Lake 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.

Nearby waters

Lake Alan Henry 30 mi · Buffalo Springs Lake 36 mi · Lake J.B. Thomas 61 mi · Mackenzie Reservoir 77 mi · Lake Colorado City 78 mi · Baylor Lake 80 mi · Champion Creek Reservoir 82 mi · Lake Sweetwater 85 mi · Lake Stamford 90 mi · Millers Creek Reservoir 98 mi · Lake Fort Phantom Hill 102 mi · Greenbelt Lake 106 mi

See how White River Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Texas · best walleye lakes in Texas · best white bass lakes in Texas · best crappie lakes in Texas

Browse all Texas fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.