Acres Of Water & Miles Of Shoreline
25,000 acres and 135 miles of shoreline
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Brief Overview:
Lake Palestine is located among beautiful pines and dogwood trees about 15 minutes from downtown Tyler. The 135 miles of shore line is partially developed with homes and a few campgrounds. The length of the lake is 18 miles long and the average depth is 16.25 feet, with a maximum depth of 50 feet. The water is pretty clear and the lake has a number of coves that are good for skiing, fishing, or swimming.
A Typical Texas Outsider Day
Our only visit to Lake Palestine was in February and it was 20 degrees, so the boat did not touch the water. Therefore, we can't provide any first hand knowledge of how we would spend time on Lake Palestine.
Other Cool Things To Do:
We ask around about things to see and do on the lake and in most cases got the answer of "go fishing." In Ledbetter Bay is Lake Palestine Campground and Lodge and they have a lakeside cafe for lunch and breakfast. Or you can park the boat and walk up the hill for lunch or dinner at Coffee Landing Restaurant and enjoy a great seafood buffet - also in Ledbetter Bay.
What To Do If No Boat:
We are not aware of any boat rentals available on Lake Palestine.
Nearby Activities:
Tyler has plenty to see and do, check out the Texas Outside Guide to Tyler to learn more about what to do in Tyler. There are also some good golf courses nearby, Pine Dunes, Garden Valley, and Oak Hurst are our favorites - click here to find the courses and read a review.
Restaurants, Bars, & Music:
The only restaurants that we are aware of on the lake are Coffee Landing Restaurant and the Cafe at Lake Palestine Campground and Lodge.
Wake Boarding & Skiing:
No first hand knowledge on where to ski or board, but the lake does have a few coves and Bays (Ledbetter, Saline, and Flat Bay) that look like they would be good for skiing, swimming, or boarding.
Fishing:
If you want to go fishing and catch the big ones, then you need to contact some fishing guides - click here to find some of the best and recommended fishing guides on Lake Palestine.
According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, Lake Palestine offers something for everyone in terms of a fishery. The lake is very popular for largemouth bass tournaments due to its consistent success. Both white bass and hybrid striped bass are present; white bass are particularly popular during their spring run up the Neches River and Kickapoo Creeks. Channel and blue catfishes are abundant and flathead catfish provide great opportunity for trophy-sized fish.
Some info on fishing cover and stucture includes: most vegetation and inundated timber are located above the Texas Highway 155 bridge in the main lake, Highsaw and Ledbetter arms, in Kickapoo and Neches River arms and in Flat Creek. Anglers have placed brush piles in many locations between the dam and the bridge; these can be found using graph recorders. The bridge itself provides excellent structure on the main crossing between Dogwood and Coffee Cities and over Highsaw/Ledbetter creeks.
Here are some tips and tactics. Hybrid stripers and white bass are particularly active from the dam to Highway 155 during winter months and into spring. Largemouth bass anglers report greatest success in the upper end of the lake (above the pipeline), in Cobb and Stone Chimney creeks, and Saline Bay. Catfish anglers frequently drift fish with worms or chicken livers between Hawn point (at the mouth of Flat Creek) to the Highway 155 bridges, and will catch more legal sized fish if they target blue catfish using live fish or cut fish as bait. Crappie anglers do well near 155 during the spring with small jigs or minnows.
| Species | Poor | Fair | Good | Excellent |
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*Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
Camping, Waterfront Lodging, and Day Use Parks
Duck Inn is an excellent B&B on the shore of Lake Palestine. The owner is very friendly, prepares an excellent breakfast, and the rooms are clean and cozy. Some rooms have hot tubs and all have an excellent view of the lake. Duck Inn has a hammock and boat dock for your enjoyment.
Skytraq is a small but nice campground on the south west end of the lake. Skytraq also has a boat ramp and cabins. Other campgrounds on the lake include: Lake Palestine Campground & Lodge, Palestine Pines, and Big Mikes - click here to find the campgrounds on a lake map and to read Texas Outside's campground review.
Ramps & Marinas
Here is a map of Lake Palestine and the marinas, ramps, and parks.
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More Pictures
Texas Outside Lakes Rating Scale
Texas Outside rates lakes on a 1 to 10 scale based on:
- Beauty: high scores are given for lots of trees, hills, or pretty houses
- Water Clarity: if you’re standing in two feet of water and can’t see your toes or the water has a deep brown color, we’re talking a 1
- Water Conditions: rough water with waves over a foot (good for PWCs or surfing) due to consistent wind or boat wakes don’t rate high on our scale
- Skiing & Board Conditions: on the weekends if you can typically find a good cove or part of the lake with glass, we’re talking a 10
- Beaches: don’t you hate those beaches when you step into the water you sink in mud up to your knees and loose your flip-flops or it’s all slime and weeds or small rocks – if so, that’s a 1
- Fun Scale: lakes scoring a 10 have fun restaurants and bars, great coves for raft ups or swimming, and fun rental toys
- Cruising & Touring: if you can cruise the lake and look at beautiful houses, nice marinas, pretty coves, or anything similar it will score high
- Restaurants & Bars: nothing better than cruising over and having some good food and listening to some great music on the deck of a fun restaurant – the ride back with smooth water and a fun moon is also pretty cool – we’re talking a 10
- Safety Level: lakes with lots of wild and crazy jet skiers or fast cigarette boats will score low
- Camping: we’re looking for beautiful spacious sites right on the water with a nice sandy beach to swim and park the boat
- Fishing: the bigger the better and they have to be easy to hook
*Fishing information was provided with permission of the Texas Parks and Wildlife (www.tpwd.state.tx.us) in 2006. Texas Parks and Wildlife does not endorse Texas Outside or information presented on texasoutside.com. ©Copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
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