Fishing at Lake Whitnety
By: Shannon Spirit
Fishing Licenses
A valid fishing license with a freshwater or saltwater stamp endorsement is required to take fish, mussels, clams, crayfish or other aquatic life in the public waters of Texas. A hunting license is required to take turtles and frogs.
You do not need a fishing license/package if you:
- are under 17 years of age.
- were born before January 1, 1931.
- are a mentally disabled person who is engaging in recreational fishing as part of a medically approved therapy, and who is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or employed by a hospital, residence or school for mentally disabled persons. The mentally disabled person must carry an authorization identifying the entity supplying the service. This authorization may be in the form of an I.D. card that contains the name of the sponsoring entity.
- are a mentally disabled person who is recreational fishing under the direct supervision of a licensed angler who is a family member or has permission from the family to take the mentally disabled person fishing. While fishing, the mentally disabled person needs a note from a doctor stating the person has been diagnosed as mentally disabled.
License Fees
Resident
- Freshwater Package:$30
- Saltwater Package:$35
- All-Water Package:$40
- Senior Freshwater Package:$12
- Senior Saltwater Package:$17
- Senior All-Water Package:$22
- Special Resident All-Water License (for legally blind):$7
- Year-from-Purchase All-Water Package:$47
- One-Day All-Water License:$11
Species at Lake Whitney
- Largemouth Bass
- Channel & Blue Catfish
- Flathead Catfish
- Crappie
- White Bass
- Striped Bass
- Sunfish
Fish Info
Largemouth Bass
- The combined limit for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Guadalupe and spotted bass is 5 fish per day.
- Minimum Length:14 inches
Largest Caught: 25.50 Inches
Channel/Blue Catfish
- Daily Bag:25 in any combination
- Minimum Length:12 inches
- Largest Caught: 121.50 Inches
- Catfish are slow.
Flathead Catfish
- Daily Bag:5
- Minimum Length:18 inches
- Largest Caught: 98.50
- Catfish are slow
Crappie
- Daily Bag:25 (in any combination)
- Minimum Length:10 inches
- Largest Caught: 18.50 Inches
- Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles.
White Bass
- Daily Bag:25
- Minimum Length:10 inches
- Largest Caught: 20.75 Inches
- White bass are fair on Pirk Minnows and slabs.
Striped Bass
- Daily Bag:5 in any combination
- Minimum Length:18 inches
- Largest Caught: 48.00 Inches
- Striped bass are fair drifting live bait in 20-35 feet.
More Lake Info
Endangered/Threatened Species
No known endangered/threatened species in Lake Whitney
Invasive threats to Texas Lakes or Coast
- Giant Salvinia. Spotted in several East Texas lakes. An infestation can double its size in just one week.
- Lionfish appeared off South Florida in 1985 and spread rapidly, moving up the East Coast in the 2000s, covering the Caribbean by 2009 and then invading the Gulf of Mexico, reaching Texas in 2011.
- Zebra Mussel infestations have been documented in lakes Belton, Bridgeport, Lavon, Lewisville, Ray Roberts, Texoma and Waco.
ShareLunker Program
TFFC is headquarters for the Toyota ShareLunker Program, which encourages anglers who have caught 13-pound-plus largemouth bass to lend or donate the fish to TPWD for spawning purposes.
None caught yet in Lake Whitney
Re-Stocking History
Species/YearNumber/Stocked/Size
- Bass, Smallmouth/2011/134,722/Fingerling
- Bass, Smallmouth/2010/73,644/Fingerling
- Bass, Striped/2014/380,641/Fingerling
- Bass, Striped/2013/237,052/Fingerling
- Bass, Striped/2013/614,994/Fry
- Bass, Striped/2010/148,055/Fingerling
- Bass, Striped/2010/415,763/Fry