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Lake Athens

Athens, Texas — Henderson County.

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1,799Surface acres · TPWD
50 ftMax depth
1962Impounded

Surface area: TPWD (official surface acres); the USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 114025665) measures 1,473 acres; max depth from TPWD.

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Athens is in Texas

The red circle marks Lake Athens.

Fast facts

About Lake Athens

  • County: Henderson
  • City or town on the shore: Athens
  • Location (TPWD): Approximately 5 miles east of Athens, south of FM 317 in Henderson County
  • Impounded: 1962 (TPWD)
  • Controlling authority: Athens Municipal Water Authority · (903) 804-8501
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 28 mi from Tyler and 73 mi from Dallas, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Texas: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Texas

Official TPWD pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Lake map

Lake Athens shoreline

Lake Athens RV Park (campground)1 mileN

No public access sites are listed for this water in the OpenStreetMap boat ramps (TPWD publishes ramp names per lake, not coordinates) data.

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 114025665), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (TPWD publishes ramp names per lake, not coordinates). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Athens

We found 23 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Athens, 1 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles
  • Badgers Den · 8.6 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Coon Hollow · 8.8 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Staff Cabins · 10.4 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Beaver Lodge · 10.6 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Staff Camp · 10.8 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Hickory Hill · 10.8 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Gum Ridge · 10.8 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Pine Cove · 10.9 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Cedar Gap · 10.9 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Cypress Knee · 10.9 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Dogwood Ridge · 11.0 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Elm Flats · 11.0 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Red Oak · 11.0 mi from the shore · Henderson County
  • Post Oak Point · 11.1 mi from the shore · Henderson County

All campgrounds & RV parks in Texas

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (32.2153, -95.7442). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Athens. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Athens

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Fish you can catch

    Largemouth bass ★White bassCrappieRedear sunfishLone Star bass ★

    ★ = stocked recently (see Stocking). Predominant species from the TPWD Lake Finder.

    TPWD Lake Finder: Lake Athens

    Fishing outlook & regulations

    Regulations (TPWD): This reservoir has special regulations on largemouth bass. See bag and size limits for this lake.

    Aquatic vegetation (TPWD): Shoreline beds of coontail, pondweed, lilies, and alligator weed, primarily above the 2495 bridge

    Conservation pool: 440 ft. msl

    Water-level fluctuation: 2 feet

    Normal clarity: Moderately clear

    TPWD Lake Finder page · Current fishing report · Lake records · Latest survey report

    Ratings are TPWD's own Poor / Fair / Good / Excellent scale. Statewide rules: TPWD Outdoor Annual, fishing. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Stocking history

    TPWD has 40 stocking records for Lake Athens from 1973 to 2026. The table shows 2022–2026.

    YearSpeciesFishSize
    2026Bass, Lone Star46,408Fingerling
    2025Bass, Lone Star49,040Fingerling
    2025Bass, Lone Star115,005Fry
    2024Bass, Lone Star44,375Fingerling
    2024Bass, ShareLunker largemouth60Fingerling
    2023Bass, Lone Star45,954Fingerling
    2023Bass, Lone Star69,660Fry
    2022Bass, Lone Star1Fingerling

    TPWD stocking history for Lake Athens

    Invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Athens

    Clean, Drain, Dry. In Texas the law requires draining water from boats and onboard receptacles when leaving or approaching public fresh water, and possessing or moving zebra mussels is illegal. TPWD rules.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Texas lakes & ponds · All waters in Athens