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Lake Livingston
Lakes in the East Texas Area
 Map showing the location of Lake Livingston |
In East Texas, there are over 50 lakes offering a variety of outdoor sports for vacations or weekends. These lakes provide fishing, swimming, water skiing, houseboats, jet skis, sailing and other outdoor and hiking activities.
Within easy driving distance are lakes such as Toledo Bend Reservoir, Wright Patman, Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lake Tawakoni, Caddo Lake and many others..
Lake Livingston Location, Size & Characteristics
Lake Livingston was built, and is owned and operated, by the Trinity River Authority of Texas (TRA) under contract with the City of Houston for water-supply purposes. It is located on the Trinity River in Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties.
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It covers 90,000 acres, and is 31 miles long and 9 miles wide. The lake is the second-largest lake located wholly within the state of Texas; Sam Rayburn Reservoir is the largest.
Lake Livingston is a notable white bass fishery. White bass are plentiful and grow to large sizes. Also notable is the catfish fishery, dominated by blue catfish. Largemouth bass, striped bass, and crappie are less abundant but good catches are possible in areas of the reservoir where habitat is available.
The Lake Livingston Dam
The Lake Livingston Dam, constructed across the Trinity River 7 miles southwest of the City of Livingston, is 2.5 miles in length. The lake has an average depth of 55 feet, and a maximum depth of 90 feet. Lake Livingston has no flood control or flood storage capacity — flow through the dam is controlled by 12 tainter gates in a concrete and steel spillway. Operation of the spillway mirrors river behavior — as river flow increases, discharges will increase as well.
Lake Livingston Dam
Lake Livingston State Park
The park is located on 635 acres along the southeastern edge of Lake Livingston in Polk County. The lake is an impoundment of the Trinity River, and provides water for the city of Houston and other East Texas cities. It is ideal for boating and fishing because of its size and constant level. At the park, visitors can swim, fish, boat, hike, bird, camp, picnic, mountain bike, geocache and study nature. It offers many camping options, from tent sites with water nearby up to campsites with full hookups. |
Fishing Lake Livingston
Aquatic Vegetation
Native emergent plants are limited to the upper areas of the reservoir and in the backs of coves and embayments. The floating exotic water hyacinth is found throughout the reservoir.
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Predominant Fish Species in Lake Livingston
- Striped bass
- White bass
- Blue, Flathead and Channel Catfish
- Crappie
- Largemouth bass
- Bluegill
Angling Opportunities
Lake Livingston is a notable white bass fishery. White bass are plentiful and grow to large sizes. Also notable is the catfish fishery, dominated by blue catfish.
Largemouth bass, striped bass, and crappie are less abundant but good catches are possible in areas of the reservoir where habitat is available.
Fishing Tips & Tactics on Lake Livingston
White bass are most readily caught in early spring in the many creeks that feed into Lake Livingston.
Striped bass can be caught around the 190 bridge area by trolling and vertical jigging spoons or live shad.
Largemouth bass are most frequently caught in the bays and creeks from the Kickapoo/Penwaugh area northward. Spring and fall are the most successful seasons for largemouths.
Channel and blue catfish can be caught most any time of year on a variety of organic and live baits over the main river channel and in off channel tributaries and creeks.
Lake Livingston Water Level: Conservation Pool Elevation is 131'
Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
Map of Lake Livingston Area (Courtesy of Google Maps)
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The City of Livingston
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The City of Livingston is the county seat of Polk County, in Upper East Texas at the junction of US Highways 190 and 59. It is located about 70 miles north of Houston and 65 miles south of Nacogdoches.
Polk County is the gateway between the Texas Forest Country and Texas Gulf Coast Area, providing fishing, hunting, outdoor activities, antiquing, hometown restaurants and much more.
In the midst of the Big Thicket forest in Polk County lies Texas' oldest Indian Reservation, home of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.
Special events are held throughout the year and center around the participation of families. Livingston Trade Days is a quarterly event held in Pedigo Park where vendors sell a variety of crafts, antiques, and collectibles.
Downtown activities are held on July 4th with Picnic in the Park, Saturday Farmers Market during the summer months and a highlight of the year is Hometown Christmas held each December.
Map Showing Location of Livingston in Deep East Texas
Lake Livingston Area Resources
- City of Livingston Texas - Website
- Polk County Texas
- Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce
- Trinity River Authority
- Lake Livingston State Park
- Martin Dies, Jr. State Park
- Huntsville State Park
- Outback Campground and Marina
- Texas Freshwater Lakes provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife