The Fishing Lake
The park's lake is one of Texas Parks & Wildlife's Neighborhood Fishin' lakes, one of just four in the Houston area, stocked regularly with channel catfish in the warm months and rainbow trout in winter.
What's here
- A lake stocked through TPWD's Neighborhood Fishin' program.
- Channel catfish from spring to fall, rainbow trout in winter.
- Bank fishing around the lake, along the walking loop.
- Ducks and other water birds.
Good to know
Kids under 17 fish free. Adults need a Texas fishing license with a freshwater endorsement. Pole and line only, two poles per person at most, and a daily bag limit of 5 fish (all species combined), including no more than 1 black bass 14 inches or longer.
Neighborhood Fishin'
Texas Parks & Wildlife's Neighborhood Fishin' program stocks city lakes so families can catch fish close to home. Mary Jo Peckham is one of four Houston-area lakes in the program, along with Burke Crenshaw Park in Pasadena, Community Park in Missouri City and Herman Little Park in Spring.
Channel catfish are stocked about every two to four weeks from spring into fall, skipping the hottest weeks of summer. When the water cools, the stockings switch to rainbow trout, from late November or early December into March.
Rules and limits
Fish with pole and line only, no more than two poles per person; trotlines, jug lines and cast nets aren't allowed. The daily bag limit is 5 fish of all species combined, of which only 1 can be a black bass 14 inches or longer. Kids under 17 fish free, and adults need a Texas fishing license with a freshwater endorsement.
Tips
Fish the days after a stocking for the best chance at a catch. For trout, try small spinners, PowerBait or corn on a small hook; for catfish, chicken liver, cut bait or stink bait on the bottom. Early mornings are quietest. The resident ducks will happily take bait, so keep your tackle box closed and don't feed them.
Be a good neighbor
Take your line, hooks and trash home, since loose line injures birds and turtles. Give other anglers room on the bank, and watch your backcast near the walking path.
See the rest of the park
Fishing Lake is one of 6 featured areas at Mary Jo Peckham Park.