Purtis Creek Lake is a 349-acre TPWD-built state park lake on Purtis Creek in Henderson County, East Texas, 4 miles north of Eustace and 60 miles SE of Dallas via Hwy 175 + FM 316. Constructed in 1985 specifically for recreation, the lake's defining characteristic is its CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY regulation for largemouth bass — every bass must be released. This protection has made it one of Texas's most productive trophy-bass producers per acre: 8+ lb fish are caught regularly, and the lake has contributed to TPWD's ShareLunker program despite its small footprint. Standing timber was preserved when the lake filled, creating excellent submerged structure throughout. Maximum depth ~30 ft, conservation pool 315 ft msl. Major features: standing timber clusters in the NE arm, the dam/spillway area on the south end, brush piles planted by TPWD across mid-depth flats, the boat ramp / fishing pier area near the state park entrance, and shoreline aquatic vegetation. Boat motors are limited to electric / trolling motors only — no gas outboards permitted, which keeps the lake quiet and accessible to kayak and small-boat anglers. Public access via Purtis Creek State Park (entrance fee). The lake is small enough to learn quickly but rewards anglers who fish standing timber methodically — TPWD's biological staff continue to stock and survey the bass population.
largemouth · smallmouth · spotted · guadalupe
Everything below points at one goal — finding the most, and the biggest, largemouth bass on Purtis Creek Lake.
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