Amistad Reservoir
A large border reservoir on the Rio Grande northwest of Del Rio, fed by the Devils and Pecos rivers and managed with Mexico. It is best known for big largemouth bass in clear water, with good catfish and white bass fishing too.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Rocky points, drop-offs and flooded brush. Topwater at dawn and dusk, Texas or Carolina rigs deeper at midday.
Channel Catfish
Stinkbait and cutbait in coves and along creek channels.
Blue Catfish
Cutbait along channel edges in the main lake and river arms.
White Bass
Spring spawning runs from late January through March. Rattle traps, jigging spoons or minnows.
Striped Bass
Roam open water chasing bait. Watch for surface schools.
Smallmouth Bass
Rocky banks and bluffs, especially up the river arms.
Boat launches
7 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Diablo EastFeeNPS main ramp near the dam with fish cleaning station. Lake use pass requiredDirections ↗
- Rough Canyon MarinaMarinaNPS ramp and leased marina on the Devils River arm. Slips and pump-out, no gasDirections ↗
- Box CanyonFeeNPS ramp. Often closed at low waterDirections ↗
- Southwinds (U.S. Air Force) MarinaMarinaMilitary and retirees only. Only marine gas on the lakeDirections ↗
- Spur 406RampNPS old-roadway launch, not a true ramp. Launch with cautionDirections ↗
- Spur 454RampNPS old-roadway launch usable at low waterDirections ↗
- Pecos RiverFeeNPS ramp on the Pecos arm with fish cleaning station. Often closed at low waterDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Amistad Reservoir are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Amistad MarineNearby7348 US Hwy 90 W, Del Rio(830) 775-0878Directions ↗
Local tips
- Ramp status changes quickly with lake level. Check the NPS boat ramp status page before you tow.
- The border runs down the old Rio Grande channel, marked by buoys RG1 to RG28. You need a Mexico license to fish south of it.
- Thunderstorms and wind build fast on this big, open lake, and gas is only sold at the military marina.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Texas lakes
Lake Livingston Richland-Chambers Reservoir Lake Tawakoni Cedar Creek Reservoir Lewisville Lake Lake Fork Choke Canyon Reservoir Ray Roberts Lake All Texas lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.