The Medina Lake reservoir is located just northwest of San Antonio, in Bandera County, Texas. The lake is a popular recreation destination during the warm summer months where anyone can come to camp, swim, picnic, or go fishing.
Medina Lake is a public lake that has a variety of fish, some of which occur naturally and others that are stocked to maintain the water’s health and for recreational fishing.
Medina Lake, Texas is a great place to go fishing from your boat or for setting up camp and casting a line out into the water on a warm summer day. If you are looking to head out to Medina Lake for a fishing trip, read on to get answers and tips on the best way to fish at Medina Lake.
Article Contents
Can You Fish at Medina Lake?
Recreational fishing is one of the main activities that Medina Lake caters to. Around the lake, you will be able to purchase bait and tackle and even rent pontoons, pleasure boats, jet skis, kayaks, and canoes. There are boat launch ramps at Bandera County Medina Lake Park, which are open to the public starting in early August.
You are allowed to fish off of the bank or from your boat or canoe. The lake offers over one hundred miles of shoreline to fish from. You can also stay for a week or a weekend, as the lake also offers the following amenities:
- Campground
- Lodging
- RV Hookups (Check out the best RV Campgrounds at Media Lake in that article!)
- Restaurant
The lake is also safe and clean enough to swim in, and there are plenty of spaces for a picnic. The same guidelines that apply throughout Texas for fishing will also apply at Medina Lake.
Do You Need a Fishing License at Medina Lake?
Since Medina Lake is a public lake, fishing licenses are required for anyone over the age of 17. A fishing license is required throughout the entire state of Texas if you are fishing in public waters.
While the Red Cove Camp located at Medina Lake is privately owned, the waters of Medina Lake are public, and therefore any line cast into the lake must be done by someone who holds a Texas fishing license.
You will also need a Texas fishing license and not a license from out of state. A freshwater fishing license for the state of Texas will cost around $30 and is easily acquired online. Fishing without a license is a misdemeanor in the state of Texas and can result in a minimum fine of around $500, or as much as $4,000.
What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Medina?
In 2019, Texas Parks and Wildlife stocked Medina Lake with over two hundred thousand largemouth bass. This was done both to help restore the lake’s health and to provide for recreational fishing.
In addition to largemouth bass, Lake Medina has a variety of fish. The main species that reside in its waters are:
- Largemouth bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Catfish
- Black and white crappie
- White Bass
- Hybrid striped bass
You can also find bluegill, tilapia, longnose gar, and green sunfish. The most prevalent species are catfish and bass. Catfish can be successfully caught year-round at Lake Medina.
What Are the Daily Bag and Length Limits at Lake Medina?
Texas enforces statewide regulations for the bag and length limits, and they are determined according to the species of fish. Consult the following table to determine the strictest length and bag limits for certain species that can be found at Medina Lake, as detailed on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website:
| Type of Fish | Length | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 14 inches | 5 - for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass |
| Smallmouth Bass | 14 inches | 5 - for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass |
| Striped & Hybrid Striped Bass | 18 inches | 5 - for any combination of striped and hybrid |
| Longnose Gar or Alligator Fish | N/A | 1 |
For catfish, the specimen must measure at least 12 inches and can be caught in any variety of subspecies up to 25. Crappies must measure at least 10 inches and can also be caught in any variation up to 25. There are no limits on sunfish.
Consult the Texas Parks and Wildlife website for the most up-to-date guidelines for fishing limits and regulations throughout the state.
What Are Some of the Difficulties When Fishing at Medina Lake?
Medina Lake was built between 1911-1912 as a reservoir to provide the surrounding land with irrigation water. As it is not a naturally occurring body of water, the lake has been known to experience drought and flooding, and struggles to maintain a natural aquatic population both for fish and plants.
Due to the great amount of upkeep that goes into maintaining the reservoir, the area is closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for restoration purposes. Rainfall can also be so heavy at times that all boat launches are flooded out and unavailable.
Similarly, drought can leave boat ramps stranded on land, but you may still use the sloped gravel in some areas to get your boat in the water. In the event that the boat ramps are unusable, you can still fish off of the banks or the shoreline that is open to the public.
Due to these dramatic shifts in water level, some years, the amount of fish available can drop drastically or nearly disappear altogether. For now, the waters are maintaining sustainable populations of fish for the continuation of recreational fishing.
Boat Ramps at Medina Lake Park
Medina Lake offers two main boat ramps, one at the Bandera County Medina Lake Park and another located at Red Cove Camp. These two locations vary in their availability throughout the year, and each will charge a small fee for daily use. Take a look at what each location has to offer and their hours of operation.
For more tips on boating on Medina Lake check out that article!
Fishing at Bandera County Medina Lake Park
The boat launch for Medina Lake is located at the Bandera County Medina Lake Park. Admittance for residents of Bandera County is $5 per person and $10 for non-residents. All children under six years old are admitted for free. The park does not open until early August, but you are free to fish from shore at other times.
Payments for day use can only be made in cash. The park is also closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for restoration purposes and open on all other days of the week from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Red Cove Camp Boat Ramp at Medina Lake Park
Red Cove Camp is where the Medina Lake marina is located and offers a boat ramp that can be used for a small fee. This camp is privately owned, but the boat ramp can be used year-round. You will also find a small cafe here to dine at.
Red Cove Camp, like Bandera County Medina Lake Park, is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and open on all other days of the week from 11 AM – 8 PM. As this location is privately owned, you may want to call ahead of time: (830) 751-2902
3 Useful Highlights From the Texas Parks Site Regarding Fishing at Medina Lake
The Texas Parks and Wildlife site provides a few highlights for fishing in the Medina Lake recreation area. If you are new to fishing in the area or unfamiliar with the fish species present in the lake, these tips will increase the likelihood of a successful catch.
If you want an even more in-depth look at the lake records, stocking history, and latest survey reports, check out the Texas Parks and Wildlife website and their description page for Medina Lake.
Angling Opportunities at Medina Lake
The Texas Parks and Wildlife website ranks the following fish species in order from most prevalent to least as the following:
- Catfish & Hybrid Striped Bass
- Largemouth, Smallmouth, and White Bass
- Crappie
You will be able to find larger channel and blue catfish, potentially catching specimens weighing in well over 5lbs. It has also been reported that there is a good amount of hybrid striped bass that are large enough to take home.
Types of Fishing Cover and Structure at Medina Lake
The Texas Parks and Wildlife website states that Medina Lake offers the following types of fishing cover and structure:
- Coves
- Rocky outcrops
- Creek beds
Different species of fish can be found in these locations, while others will be better caught out in the open water, where depths can reach up to 152 feet. There is not a whole lot of aquatic vegetation, so you will not experience too many snags and lost lures, but do think ahead and set up your pole according to the location you wish to fish in.
Tips and Tactics for Catching Fish at Medina Lake
Largemouth Bass: Texas Parks and Wildlife recommends fishing for largemouth bass in the summer when the water is warm and using “jigs or shad imitating lures.”
Smallmouth Bass: For smallmouth bass, Texas Park and Wildlife suggests fishing near rocky outcrops and “using crawfish-colored crankbaits and jigs.”
Hybrid Striped Bass: Texas Parks and Wildlife indicates that hybrid striped bass will be located in deeper parts of the lake out in open water or near the dam. For bait, they suggest chicken liver and “troll spoons or rattle traps… with downriggers.”
White Bass: For white bass, Texas Parks and Wildlife recommends the use of “small spoons or shad imitating jigs” for open water areas and suggests looking for schools of fish coming up to the surface. You should then cast your lure over the pod and reel it in fast.
Catfish: For baiting catfish, Texas Parks and Wildlife recommends “chicken liver, blood bait, or shads” and fishing in “deep coves that have feeder creeks,” whether those creeks are flowing or not.
Conclusion
Fishing at Medina Lake will be similar to fishing at any other public water source. You will find a variety of fish and sufficient accommodations to provide you with bait, tackle, and plenty of room to find your own private fishing spot, whether on the shoreline or out on the lake.
Make sure to show up with a Texas fishing license and to brush up on the Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations before casting a line. Medina Lake has experienced both drought and flooding, so check the weather forecast and call ahead of time to make sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.
And if you want to take a break from fishing, check out one of the Medina Lake restaurants where you can enjoy a great meal!
