Hunting and Fishing Combos — East Texas Lakes Near WMAs

For a certain type of outdoorsman — the one who gets up before dawn regardless of the season, who considers both a shotgun and a rod in the same truck bed to be efficient packing — East Texas is paradise with pine trees.

The region has something genuinely rare: lakes with serious fisheries sitting alongside some of the most productive public hunting land in Texas. Wildlife Management Areas administered by Texas Parks and Wildlife are distributed across the Pineywoods in a way that creates natural hunting-and-fishing combos. A morning in a duck blind on the WMA, an afternoon on the reservoir for bass or crappie — that's not a fantasy itinerary. That's Tuesday in East Texas if you plan it right.

Here's how the best combinations stack up.

Quick Facts

Caddo Lake + Caddo Lake WMA — The Crown Combo

TPWD magazine has called Caddo Lake WMA its number one pick for East Texas public hunting, and the lake is simultaneously one of the most unusual fishing destinations in the state. The combination is hard to beat for those who want to do both seriously.

The WMA: The 8,000-acre Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area in Marion County opens each day of the early teal season, north zone duck season, and eastern zone goose seasons — with hunting allowed for all waterfowl species having an open season. Youth-only frameworks are offered at the beginning and end of the regular waterfowl seasons. Permanent duck blinds are prohibited on the WMA. Hunting is restricted to the lake surface and within 100 feet of the existing water's edge.

Duck and goose hunting at Caddo is particularly productive because the lake maintains sustained water levels through fall and winter, which is not guaranteed on many East Texas lakes. Teal, mallards, and various dabblers move through reliably. The dense cypress swamp also provides exceptional cover and the kind of wild-country atmosphere that hunters who've worked manicured impoundments on private land genuinely appreciate.

The fishing: Caddo Lake holds 71 species of fish — the diversity is remarkable. Largemouth bass is the primary sport fishery, with trophy-size fish caught regularly in the flooded timber and channel edges. White bass, crappie, sunfish, and all three catfish species (channel, blue, flathead) are accessible throughout the year. Chain pickerel — a smaller relative of the northern pike — adds an unusual species to the mix. The lake's 42 miles of marked boat roads navigate the maze of channels, and local outfitters can orient first-timers.

Logistics note: Access beyond the county roadways on the WMA requires a Texas Conservation Passport, Annual Public Hunting Permit, or Limited Public Use Permit. Public boat ramps are located at Bevilport, Caddo Lake State Park, and through local marinas in Uncertain.

Lake Tawakoni + Tawakoni WMA — Waterfowl and Bass

Lake Tawakoni east of Dallas is one of the larger East Texas waterfowl hunting opportunities, with a WMA encompassing more than 36,000 acres — a significant footprint that gives it more open hunting days than most comparable WMAs in the region.

The WMA: The Tawakoni WMA opens for hunting each day of the north zone duck and eastern zone goose frameworks, with all-day shooting during the early teal season (most WMAs restrict to noon). Snipe and woodcock may also be taken during their respective open seasons on waterfowl hunt dates. Hunting is restricted to the lake surface and within 100 feet of the existing water's edge, with exclusion zones near inhabited structures, dam, spillway, and the Sabine River Authority office area.

Tawakoni is a duck haven because of consistent water levels and relatively open main-lake exposure that attracts diving ducks alongside the typical East Texas dabbler assemblage.

The fishing: Tawakoni is a legitimately good bass lake — not Lake Fork good, but productive and less crowded. Crappie, white bass, and catfish all add to the mix. The lake is notable among East Texas reservoirs for being one of the few that does not have significant hydrilla infestation, which some anglers and swimmers appreciate.

Proximity advantage: Tawakoni is close enough to DFW to support a true hunting-then-fishing day trip, which makes it accessible for hunters who can't commit to a multi-day East Texas trip.

B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir + Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA — Deep East Texas Wild Country

B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir near Jasper is one of the most distinctive lakes in East Texas — a shallow, timber-filled impoundment at the confluence of the Neches and Angelina Rivers, bordered by the Angelina-Neches/Dam B Wildlife Management Area. This is genuine wild country, accessible primarily by boat, and the hunting-fishing combo here is for the serious outdoorsman.

The WMA: The 12,636-acre WMA (about 7,000 acres covered by the reservoir itself) specializes in waterfowl, white-tailed deer, squirrel, and hog hunting. Rifle hunting is prohibited; hunters must use shotguns, muzzleloaders, or archery gear. Alligator hunts are conducted through a drawing. Access to the majority of the WMA is by boat only — airboats are prohibited. Reservable boat-in campsites are available along the Angelina River through the Corps of Engineers.

The WMA manager has described the hunting diversity here as exceptional: "ducks, rails, gallinules and wading birds" plus "squirrels, hogs and deer." Bald eagles are a common sighting, and the flooded timber habitat supports a remarkable mix of wildlife that most public hunting lands can't match.

The fishing: The shallow waters of Steinhagen offer good catfish, crappie, and bass fishing. The timber structure throughout the reservoir holds fish, and the combination of Neches and Angelina River inputs creates diverse habitat. Adjacent Martin Dies, Jr. State Park provides camping and trail access for those who want a land-based camp alongside the boat-in hunting and fishing.

Who this is for: Hunters and anglers who want a true wilderness experience, are comfortable with boat-only access, and don't need resort infrastructure. This is the real thing.

Sam Rayburn Reservoir + Bannister WMA

Sam Rayburn is the largest lake entirely within Texas, a renowned bass fishery, and the home reservoir for bass tournaments year-round. Less discussed is its proximity to Bannister WMA in San Augustine County, part of the Angelina National Forest, which sits on a peninsula extending into the reservoir.

The WMA: Bannister is a draw for teal, mallards, and wigeon, with waterfowl hunting typically remaining steady throughout the winter due to the nearby water supply. Hunting is allowed each day of the regular fall and winter waterfowl frameworks until noon daily. The WMA is separated from the lake by private land or national forest land, so confirm current access through TPWD before planning your trip.

The fishing: Sam Rayburn doesn't need introduction for bass anglers. The 114,500-acre reservoir holds tournament-quality largemouth bass and is supplemented by crappie, catfish, and white bass. A 74-pound flathead catfish has been pulled from the lake. The surrounding Angelina National Forest adds quality squirrel and deer hunting opportunities on national forest land (public access with a Texas hunting license — always confirm current regulations).

Seasonal note: Bald eagles overwinter at Sam Rayburn, moving between the forest and the lake. They're one of the visual rewards of a winter hunting-fishing combo trip here.

Lake Fork Area — Less Hunting, Great Fishing Anchor

Lake Fork in Wood County is primarily a fishing destination rather than a hunting hub, but it anchors well with hunting on surrounding private lease land and national forest access. Old Sabine Bottoms WMA, east of the lake, provides additional public hunting opportunity for deer, turkey, waterfowl, and small game in a bottomland hardwood environment.

The Fork itself is world-class for largemouth bass, and the Rains and Wood County area has deer hunting on private land that can be combined with guided or self-guided bass fishing. The pattern of fish in the morning, hunt in the afternoon (or vice versa depending on the season) works well here, particularly in the fall when bass fishing remains productive and deer season is open.

Planning Your Hunt-Fish Trip: Key Considerations

Timing the seasons: Waterfowl seasons in East Texas generally run from early September (teal) through late January. Deer season (archery, muzzleloader, and general firearms) overlaps significantly with fall and winter fishing. Crappie and catfish fishing, which holds up through winter, pairs particularly well with late-season waterfowl hunting.

Annual Public Hunting Permit: The $48 APH permit is an extraordinary value — it provides access to hunting on nearly a million acres of public WMA land across Texas for a full year. If you're not currently buying this permit annually, you're leaving significant public hunting opportunity on the table.

Limited Public Use Permit: The $12 Limited Public Use permit allows non-consumptive access to WMAs for fishing, hiking, birdwatching, and other non-hunting uses. For the fishing-only visitor who wants WMA lake access, this is worth knowing about.

Boat access vs. walk-in: Several of East Texas's best WMA hunting spots require boat access. Plan accordingly — you'll need a launched and rigged boat, which is the same rig you'd use for a fishing afternoon. This is not coincidental. The flooded timber and bayou habitats that produce the best duck hunting are often the same habitats that hold bass and crappie.

Invasive species between lakes: If you're doing a multi-lake trip — Steinhagen in the morning, Rayburn in the afternoon — drain, dry, and clean your boat before moving. Texas law requires it, and giant salvinia can spread from one lake to another on a single trip.