Hords Creek Lake is a West Texas gem that most people outside Coleman County have never heard of, and that's exactly why the fishing is so good. A 510-acre lake with 50 feet of depth is unusual in this part of the state, and that deep water holds fish through the brutal West Texas summer when other small lakes bake. I'd focus on crappie around the submerged timber in spring and come back in fall for bass on the rocky points.
Today's Bite Score · October 8, 2026
Above average conditions worth planning a trip
🌘Waning Crescent
Hords Creek Lake Fishing Report
October FishingMonthly fishing report · October patterns and techniques
Hords Creek Lake in October presents anglers with transitional water conditions as the month progresses. Water temperatures are moderating from summer heat, and fish behavior is shifting accordingly. Anglers are finding that understanding these temperature changes is key to locating active fish throughout the month. The bite is responding to the seasonal adjustments, with fish moving to different depths and structures as they adapt to October's conditions.
In October, anglers are finding that multiple species remain active at Hords Creek Lake. Fish are holding at various depths depending on the specific structure and current conditions throughout the month. The bite is strongest where fish can find optimal water temperatures and adequate forage. Anglers are targeting areas that provide the combination of depth and cover that fish seek in October.
The most effective techniques in October involve matching baits and lures to the current fish activity at Hords Creek Lake. Anglers are finding success by adjusting their presentations based on where fish are holding this month. The bite responds well to both live bait and artificial lures when deployed in the right locations and at appropriate depths. Successful anglers in October are focusing on the details of depth, structure, and presentation to maximize their time on the water.
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Hords Creek Lake Fishing Strategies by Species
Seasonal patterns and techniques by target species · Verified against official sources
Hords Creek Lake is a 510-acre US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on Hords Creek in Coleman County, Texas, impounded in 1948. Despite its small size, the lake reaches 50 feet in depth - unusually deep for a West Texas reservoir - which provides thermal refuge for fish through the extreme summer heat and creates quality habitat year-round. Located near the city of Coleman in the West Texas rolling plains, Hords Creek Lake receives light fishing pressure relative to its quality and provides some of the best crappie fishing in Coleman County. The USACE manages the surrounding land and provides public recreation access. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) regulations apply: verify current limits at tpwd.texas.gov before fishing.
Hords Creek Lake Largemouth Bass Fishing Report
Largemouth bass fishing at Hords Creek Lake benefits from the combination of the lake's relatively deep water, the light fishing pressure, and the natural structure preserved along the USACE shoreline. The rocky points and coves created by the Hords Creek drainage provide good bass habitat, and the 50-foot depth allows fish to find comfortable temperatures through the West Texas summer when shallow lakes struggle. Spring bass fishing from February through April is the prime season, with fish moving from the deeper structure onto the rocky points and the flat coves to spawn. Texas-rigged worms and spinnerbaits worked along the rocky banks and the available brush in 2 to 8 feet produce the most spring bass. Summer fishing requires going deeper - Carolina rigs and drop-shot rigs worked along the rocky transitions in 12 to 25 feet produce bass during the brutal July and August heat. The deeper coves with any available shade or submerged cover hold fish when surface temperatures peak. Fall bass fishing is excellent as fish return to the shallower rocky points to feed on baitfish. The light pressure on Hords Creek Lake means bass are less conditioned to specific lure presentations, which is a significant advantage. Verify Texas largemouth bass regulations at tpwd.texas.gov.
Hords Creek Lake Crappie Fishing Report
Crappie are the signature panfish of Hords Creek Lake and provide the most consistent angling action at this small USACE reservoir. The submerged timber and brush preserved in the lake from its 1948 impoundment, along with any rocky structure and the deeper coves, hold crappie populations that receive minimal pressure from anglers. Spring crappie fishing is the annual highlight, peaking from March through May when fish move to spawn near brush and timber in 4 to 10 feet of water. Crappie jig-minnow rigs and small tube jigs in white or yellow worked under a slip-float near the submerged timber produce the best catches. Post-spawn crappie at Hords Creek Lake retreat to the deeper sections of the submerged timber and the rocky structure in 15 to 30 feet, accessible by vertical jigging with small jigs and live minnows through the summer. The deeper water in Hords Creek Lake is a critical advantage for summer crappie - fish can suspend at a comfortable temperature without leaving the lake system entirely. Fall crappie fishing improves again as fish return to mid-depth brush in the coves. The limited boat traffic and the natural character of the lake make crappie approachable throughout the day. Verify current crappie regulations at tpwd.texas.gov.
Hords Creek Lake Channel Catfish Fishing Report
Channel catfish thrive in Hords Creek Lake and represent one of the lake's most popular fisheries for local Coleman County anglers. The deeper channel areas and the flatter bottom sections hold catfish that find ideal feeding conditions in the fertile West Texas water. Night fishing from the USACE bank access areas with cut shad, chicken liver, stink bait, or nightcrawlers along the channel edges and the coves produces consistent catfish from May through September. The Hords Creek arm on the upper end of the lake holds catfish near the channel bottom year-round. The 50-foot depth of Hords Creek Lake allows catfish to find cool, oxygenated water through the summer without abandoning the lake, which maintains consistent catch rates even during peak summer heat. Bottom fishing with rod holders set along the deeper flats and channel edges produces catfish throughout the night. Hords Creek Lake catfish average 2 to 6 pounds with larger fish over 10 pounds occasionally caught in the deeper sections. The light pressure means catfish are relatively unsophisticated and respond well to a variety of standard catfish baits. Verify current Texas catfish regulations at tpwd.texas.gov.
Hords Creek Lake White Bass Fishing Report
White bass are present in Hords Creek Lake and provide a secondary sport fishery alongside the largemouth bass. The spring white bass run up Hords Creek occurs in late February and March as fish migrate toward the creek inflows to spawn. The small size of the lake means the spring run is more concentrated than on larger reservoirs, and white bass stacking below the upper reaches of the lake and in the Hords Creek arm can produce fast action. Rooster-tail spinners and small jigs work best during the spawning migration. Summer white bass on Hords Creek Lake school in the main basin and chase shad in the open water. The schools are most active in the early morning and evening hours and can be located by watching for surface activity or following the birds working the shad schools. The smaller scale of Hords Creek Lake means that schooling activity, when it occurs, is relatively easy to find and intercept. White bass are excellent table fish and are a popular target for local anglers during summer mornings. Verify current white bass regulations at tpwd.texas.gov.
Hords Creek Lake Bluegill Fishing Report
Bluegill are abundant throughout Hords Creek Lake and provide reliable panfish action from the USACE bank fishing areas and by boat throughout the reservoir. The shallow coves and the rocky shoreline areas with brush hold bluegill in good numbers from spring through fall. Spawning bluegill are active in May and June in the protected sandy areas of the coves, and small jigs, crickets, and worms under a bobber catch fish easily during the spawn. Bluegill fishing at Hords Creek Lake is an accessible activity for shore anglers at the USACE recreation areas. The light fishing pressure on Hords Creek Lake means bluegill have thrived in the absence of intensive harvest. Bull bluegill over 9 inches are caught regularly near the deeper brush and the rocky structure that also holds crappie. Summer bluegill fishing is best in the early morning near vegetation edges and the shaded rocky banks. Bluegill provide important forage for the largemouth bass population and also serve as an excellent target for fly fishing with small poppers and wet flies. Verify current bluegill regulations at tpwd.texas.gov.
If you haven't replaced your braided line in a season or two, now's the time. Braid holds up better than mono, but abrasion from wood and rock adds up. Reaction Tackle is one of my favorite places to order from.
Top Fish to Target in Hords Creek Lake
Lures for Hords Creek Lake
Tackle matched to this lake's species and structure.
The right line matters as much as the lure. For the presentations that work on this lake, whether flipping timber, fishing main lake structure, or working deep brush, braid is the move. No stretch, more feel, and it lasts. Reaction Tackle is where I get mine.
About Hords Creek Lake
Hords Creek Lake is a 510-acre US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on Hords Creek in Coleman County, Texas, impounded in 1948. Despite its small footprint, the lake reaches 50 feet in depth - providing an unusual thermal refuge for fish through the extreme West Texas summer heat. Located near the city of Coleman in the rolling plains of far west-central Texas, Hords Creek Lake is a lightly visited USACE recreation area that offers quality fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, white bass, and bluegill.
Deep water advantage. The combination of modest surface acreage and significant depth is one of the defining characteristics of Hords Creek Lake. Most West Texas lakes of similar size are shallow and struggle with water quality and fish habitat during drought and summer heat. The 50-foot depth at Hords Creek provides thermally stable water that supports crappie, catfish, and bass through the harshest conditions. This depth advantage has enabled the lake to maintain productive fish populations across multiple drought cycles.
Light pressure fishery. Hords Creek Lake receives less fishing pressure than almost any comparable lake in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth or Abilene fishing markets. The lake's remote location in Coleman County, the limited marina development, and its small size keep it off most anglers' radar. For those willing to make the drive from Abilene or the DFW area, the reduced pressure translates directly to better catch rates and fish that are less conditioned to angling presentations. The USACE has maintained natural shoreline cover that adds further habitat value.
Access and facilities. The US Army Corps of Engineers provides public boat launch access and camping facilities at Hords Creek Lake. The main recreation area is accessible from Farm-to-Market Road 502 west of Coleman. Coleman is located on US Highway 283 and US Highway 84 in west-central Texas. Obtain a Texas fishing license and verify all current regulations at tpwd.texas.gov before fishing Hords Creek Lake.
