Excellent
White bass
Lake Livingston's signature fishery; TPWD says white bass are plentiful and grow to large sizes.
Live lake level: 94.3% full · 129.80 ft · measured Sep 8, 2026
Water Data for Texas →TexasDefined checks Lake Livingston's official Water Data for Texas page when this page opens; the reading is not stored as evergreen copy.
Texas Defined Fishing · Piney Woods
Lake Livingston Fishing Guide
A 90,000-acre Trinity River reservoir north of Houston where white bass and blue-catfish strength matter more than trophy-bass reputation, with broad public access and Lake Livingston State Park on the shoreline.
90,000 acres77 ft max depthVerified August 13, 2026
At a glance
What makes Lake Livingston different.
Lake Livingston is a white-bass and catfish lake first. TPWD rates both excellent, notes blue catfish dominance in the catfish fishery, and rates largemouth bass and crappie much lower. The page should reflect that reality instead of forcing a bass-lake template onto every reservoir.
- Surface area
- 90,000 acres
- Maximum depth
- 77 ft
- Impounded
- 1969
- Counties
- Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker
- Waterway
- Trinity River
- Conservation pool
- 131 ft msl
- Normal fluctuation
- 1–2 feet annually
- Water clarity
- Moderately to highly turbid
- Controlling authority
- Trinity River Authority
Cover & structure
What the water looks like to a fish.
Native emergent vegetation is limited mainly to upper-reservoir areas and the backs of coves and embayments.
Water hyacinth occurs around the reservoir and can change local access and cover conditions.
PVC fish-habitat structures provide additional targetable cover and TPWD publishes GPS-enabled habitat tools.
The Trinity River channel, tributaries and creek systems are central to white-bass and catfish patterns.
Fish this lake
The targets that define Lake Livingston.
Excellent
Catfish
A major fishery dominated by blue catfish, with channel and flathead catfish also present.
Fair
Striped bass
A stocked fishery that is less abundant than white bass or catfish but remains a real open-water target.
Poor
Largemouth bass
Good catches remain possible in habitat-rich portions of the reservoir, but TPWD does not rate Livingston as a primary largemouth destination.
Poor
Crappie
A secondary fishery that improves around suitable structure and seasonal shallow cover.
Good
Sunfish
Bluegill and related sunfish add shoreline and family-fishing options.
Quick answers
Plan the trip faster.
What is Lake Livingston best known for?
Lake Livingston is a white-bass and catfish lake first. TPWD rates both excellent, notes blue catfish dominance in the catfish fishery, and rates largemouth bass and crappie much lower. The page should reflect that reality instead of forcing a bass-lake template onto every reservoir.
How large is Lake Livingston?
Lake Livingston covers 90,000 acres and reaches a published maximum depth of 77 feet.
Where should I check Lake Livingston fishing rules?
Use the current Texas Parks & Wildlife Department rules before harvesting fish; this guide avoids freezing changeable bag limits into evergreen copy.
Local fishing services
A directory designed to grow around the lake.
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Fishing guidesMarinas & fuelBait & tackleBoat rentals & repairCampgrounds & lodgingRestaurants
Local business inventory is ready, but no verified fishing-business listing is published for this lake yet. We do not invent businesses to make the directory look full.
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Source transparency
Core facts and durable fishing patterns were checked against official sources on August 13, 2026. Water levels, closures, access, regulations and current fishing activity can change.