What fish species are in Possum Kingdom?
Possum Kingdom Lake lies in the foothills of the Palo Pinto Mountains about 100 miles west of Ft. Worth, Texas, on the Brazos River. It covers about 16,716 acres with 310 miles of shoreline.
Predominant species are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and white bass. Other species include Guadalupe bass, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, yellow bass, bluegill, black and yellow bullhead, blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black and white crappie, green sunfish, longear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, and redear sunfish, walleye, and warmouth.
Also present are baitfish, bowfin, black, bigmouth, and smallmouth buffalo, common and grass carp, freshwater and red drum, alligator, longnose, spotted, and shortnose gar, and paddlefish. Striped bass are stocked in most years and provide a fair fishery with good growth potential and strong fighting characteristics.
Is Possum Kingdom Good for Fishing?
Fishing is great at Possum Kingdom Lake. Besides boat fishing, bank fishing is popular in areas with access to the shoreline at Possum Kingdom Lake. Much of the shoreline has a variety of aquatic vegetation, and more during the warm months than in colder months. Anglers find good fishing year round.
Baitfish tend to move shallow in spring and fall, then deep again in winter and summer months. Catfish are productive year round and tend to migrate along creek channels. Find crappie around docks, brush, and standing timber. When pursuing bass, look for schools of baitfish.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regularly stocks largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass. Emergent rushes exist in the mid- to upper part of the reservoir at two-three-foot depths. Submerged vegetation is found throughout the lake in late summer and fall. There are multiple boat ramps scattered around Possum Kingdom Lake, along with bait and tackle shops, boat rentals, marinas, campgrounds, lodging, and restaurants.
Possum Kingdom Lake Depth
Possum Kingdom Lake has a maximum depth of 145 feet, with an average depth of 37 feet. The upper part of Possum Kingdom Lake is the main body of water, and the rest of the lake winds around the Brazon River channel like a snake to the south. Possum Kingdom Lake has two popular islands, Devil’s Island and Costello Island, along with a few much smaller islands.
Top PK Fish Species and Limits
- Black Crappie: 25 combination of black and white with 10″ minimum
- White Crappie: 25 combination of black and white with 10″ minimum
- Walleye: 5 per day and only two can be under 16 inches
- Trout: 5 in any combination with no minimum length requirements.
- Catfish: 25 in any combination including subspecies
- Catfish Flathead: 5 per day with a minimum length of 18 inches
- Spotted Bass: 5 per day for any combination of species of bass
- Striped/Hybrid Bass: 5 per day with a minimum length of 18 inches
- White Bass: 25 per day with a minimum of 10 inches
- Yellow Bass: No limit or length
- Largemouth Bass: 6 per day minimum 12″
- Smallmouth Bass: 6 per day minimum 12″
- Panfish: No size or limit