Lake Athens is one of the most
picturesque lakes in East Texas and the fishing is terrific,
too! This 1500-acre impoundment lies just five miles
east of its namesake city on FM 2495. Known for its
excellent largemouth bass fishery and consistent
water quality, Lake Athens is a must destination for
serious bass fishermen, or families who just want a
quality family fishing experience. Spring is the best
time to target the largemouth bass as they move into
shallow water to spawn. Bass move to boat docks and
submerged structures when water temperatures rise in
the summer. Athens' lake record for largemouth bass
is an astonishing 13.81 pounds. Bass 3-8 pounds are
common. The lake offers a variety of habitats including
shoreline vegetation, flooded timber, submerged brush
piles and boat docks.
Lake
Athens is also known for its quality bluegill
and redear sunfish populations. Late spring to
early summer is the best time to target these prolific
species, though they can be caught year-round. Warming
water temperatures bring these hard-fighting, tasty
fish to shallow water to spawn, providing great sight
fishing for fly fishermen. They are also very easy to
catch with conventional fishing equipment when spawning,
as they aggressively guard their nests typically located
in water 3-5 feet in depth. Other species commonly caught
in Lake Athens include white bass and crappie.
For
general information on the surrounding area, contact
Athens Visitor
Initiative Program toll-free at 888.294.2847.
