Fall Fishing in Northeast Texas: Pat Mayse Lake and the Red River

October is my favorite month to fish in Northeast Texas, and that is saying something, because I spend all summer bragging about the porch here at 6260 Farm Road 197. The afternoon heat backs off, the water cools into the sixties, and the fish at Pat Mayse Lake start feeding hard ahead of winter. If you have wondered what rural lifestyle Texas really feels like, this is the season that answers: a quiet lake a short drive from your gate, the Red River even closer, and a log cabin waiting for the evening fire.

Why October Is Prime Time on the Water

Texas Parks and Wildlife rates crappie fishing at Pat Mayse Lake as good, and October is a big reason. As the water cools, crappie school up around brush piles and standing timber in about 15 to 20 feet of water, where a 1/8-ounce jig or a live minnow does most of the work. White bass, what local anglers call sand bass, push shad toward the surface in open water, and largemouth bass chase the same baitfish, which makes shad-imitating crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters the right call on a calm morning.

"Cool water, feeding fish, and a quiet ramp: October fishing in Northeast Texas is hard to beat."

Getting on the Lake

Pat Mayse is a 5,940-acre Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on Sanders Creek, about 12 miles north of Paris. Launch at Sanders Cove off FM 906, or the Lamar Point and Clay Bluff ramps, and you have the water to yourself on a weekday. The campgrounds at Pat Mayse West, Pat Mayse East, and Sanders Cove have electric hookups, drinking water, and restrooms, so a weekend on the water is easy to plan. Day-use passes are handled through Recreation.gov, and the drive from Arthur City is a pretty stretch of country road.

The Red River Is Part of the Deal

For catfish, the Red River is the classic stop here, and it runs right along the north side of our corner of Lamar County. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish all call it home, and the rules are simple: a combined daily bag of 15 for blue and channel catfish, and five flatheads, with no minimum lengths. When the fish are not biting, the riverbank, with the Oklahoma line just up the road, is worth the drive on a cool afternoon.

The Best Part Is Coming Home

What makes a property like 6260 Farm Road 197 special is that the day does not end at the ramp. The 4.5 acres, with sandy loam soil, pipe and barbed-wire fencing already in place, and mature trees out back, give you room to spread out, keep a few animals, or just store the boat and gear you will use every season. The log cabin's wrap-around porch is the spot for the evening fire, and the wood-burning fireplace warms the house when the Red River valley sunsets turn pink. Country living in Lamar County means the recreation is five minutes one direction and the quiet is right outside your door.

Interested in a property like this? Contact the Shannon Miles Group at (903) 785-2005 or visit shannonmiles.com