Sam Rayburn is an awesome crappie lake. Same for Lake of the Pines. That said Fork is closer than both.

Biggest crappie I've ever seen was 19 inches. Caught on a 10xd crank in an urban strip pit/pond. It has depths of 55 feet. My buddy was trolling the huge crank from his yak...

No one would suspect there were any fish there outside of carp. Much less huge crappie. Caught several between 15-16 inches there.

Just goes to show.

+2

All of the big lakes have big fish. Fork, pines, Toledo bend, texoma, the list goes on.

The top 4 big crappie lakes in Texas are under 800 acres and no one in their right mind is going to share which ones. A certain lake got around on social media the last 2 years and it’s not worth the trip anymore. Small lakes, low population and big fish. Doesn’t take many people to clear them out.

Yup its one thing to mention big lakes, it's another to blow out little ones.

When it comes to crappie fishing in Texas, several lakes stand out for their impressive size and abundance of these tasty panfish. Here are three of the best lakes where you can find big crappie:

Sam Rayburn Reservoir:
Lake Record White Crappie: 2.94 pounds
Lake Record Black Crappie: 2.15 pounds
Sam Rayburn, located in Northeast Texas, consistently produces quality crappie. It’s a favorite among anglers seeking both white and black crappie. Focus on submerged brush and trees during the spring months when crappie move to shallow waters for spawning.

Lake Fork Reservoir:
Lake Fork, situated east of Dallas, is renowned for its trophy bass, but it’s also a fantastic crappie fishery.
The lake offers both white and black crappie, and you can catch them year-round. Look for brush piles, submerged structures, and creek channels for crappie hotspots.

Toledo Bend Reservoir:
Toledo Bend straddles the Texas-Louisiana border and is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States.
It consistently produces quality crappie, especially during the spring spawn. Target shallow areas near submerged vegetation and fallen timber for excellent crappie action.

Remember to use small jigs, live minnows, or other crappie-specific baits to entice these delicious fish.


Richland Chambers Bait and Tackle
9866 US 287
Corsicana, TX 75109
903-257-8566
rcbtpos@rcbaitandtackle.com
Facebook.com/rcbaitandtackle
Richlandchambersbaitandtackle.com

Tawakoni, Creeks and docks have 3 pounders.

I don't wish death upon you, but a nice dose of carpal tunnel would be looked upon favorably! SERENITY NOW!

I've caught 3 pounders out of Fork and Cedar Creek. Traveling on the job near Wright Patman quite a few years ago, and had never seen the lake. Drove past the dam and saw a ton of guys catching sandies below it on the river. High tailed it up to the nearest Wally world, picked up a zebco and a few small lures, and got to the river. Was catching lots of decent size sandies when I hooked what I thought would probably be a bass. Biggest crappie I've ever seen. I'm guessing well over 3 pounds. I was about to toss it back too and the guy about 30 yards from me yells..."STOP! if you aint gonna keep em I will".

Biggest crappie i have seen came out of lake conroe each spring during the spawn. We used to fish 3 to 4 feet deep around the floating marinas and pulled stringers of dinner plate size crappie out of there. That was 15 to 20 years ago, so I don't know if pressure on that lake from Houston's growth has effected the size of the crappie or not. I know that conroe still has some of the largest bluegills in the state.