Lake Palestine

Lake Palestine is situated in East Texas along the Neches River, located about fifteen miles southwest of Tyler. Spanning portions of Smith, Cherokee, Henderson, and Anderson counties, the expansive reservoir covers roughly 25,560 surface acres with 135 miles of shoreline.

In terms of national rankings, Lake Palestine is recognized primarily as an elite regional fishery and high-frequency tournament destination rather than a top-ten national headline lake. Major outlets like Bassmaster and In-Fisherman frequently cite Lake Palestine for its incredible consistency, strong bass density, and exceptional crappie population, making it one of the most heavily fished waters in the East Texas piney woods.

The reservoir has an established presence in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Toyota ShareLunker Program. Lake Palestine has produced two official Legacy Class ShareLunkers weighing over 13 pounds. Its all-time lake record largemouth bass is a 13.22-pound trophy reeled in by Casey Lee Laughlin in February 2014. Across the lower Lunker, Elite, and Legend tiers, anglers have submitted dozens of quality bass weighing between 8 and 12 pounds over the program's history.

Formed in 1962 following the construction of Blackburn Crossing Dam to serve as a primary water supply for the city of Tyler, Lake Palestine is known for its diverse habitat. The northern end of the lake, particularly around Kickapoo Creek, features heavy standing timber, river channels, and stump fields, while the southern main body offers extensive boat docks, submerged brush, rock riprap, and aquatic vegetation. Beyond its largemouth bass reputation, Lake Palestine is renowned as a premier destination for black and white crappie, blue and channel catfish, white bass, and hybrid striped bass.