Best Fishing Spots Around Waxahachie, TX for Kids (2026)

Waxahachie has more fishable water than most DFW suburbs its size — Lake Waxahachie sits 4 miles from downtown, Bardwell Lake adds a Corps of Engineers reservoir to the east, and a TPWD Neighborhood Fishin' pond in Red Oak gives younger kids a guaranteed-stocked option close by. Kids under 17 fish free in Texas. Here's what's worth the trip.

1. Mustang Creek Park (Waxahachie)

Location: 1200 Cantrell Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165

Waxahachie's closest in-town fishing pond — catfish, a playground, and a walking trail: Mustang Creek Park is a city park in north Waxahachie with a fishing pond tucked into the greenway along Mustang Creek. Channel catfish are the main catch, and the playground keeps younger kids occupied when the fish aren't biting. It's the no-commitment pick — close enough that a 90-minute outing on a weekday evening is reasonable without planning a full trip.

Good to know: fishing pond, bank fishing, playground, walking trail, picnic areas, restrooms, parking.

Parent tip: Fish the creek inlet end of the pond — baitfish stage near the flowing water and catfish follow. Evening bites are stronger here than morning in summer.

For current hours and seasonal closures, see the official Mustang Creek Park page.

2. Sports Complex Park (Waxahachie)

Location: 2049 Brown Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165

The Waxahachie park where baseball games and fishing happen simultaneously: Sports Complex Park's dual-purpose layout—fishing pond right next to athletic fields—is the deliberate design for families where some kids are fishing and others are playing sports. Channel catfish and bass wait in the pond, the fields are visible from the water, and the free access makes this the most efficient use of a single family outing.

Good to know: fishing pond, bank fishing, ball fields, picnic areas, restrooms, parking, playground.

Parent tip: Fish the shaded west bank of the pond in summer — the trees keep the water a few degrees cooler and the fish stack there. A long-shanked hook makes releasing catfish easier for kids.

3. Lake Waxahachie (Waxahachie)

Location: Lake Waxahachie Park, Waxahachie, TX 75165

The Waxahachie lake that serves the city—free shore fishing for bass, catfish, and crappie: Lake Waxahachie's 690-acre size and Waxahachie-city status combine to create one of the best accessible fishing options in the county: largemouth bass, channel catfish, and crappie are all in the water, public shore access is completely free, and the boat-ramp structure attracts fish even for bank fishers. It's the right lake when city ponds feel too small.

Good to know: bank fishing, lake fishing, boat ramp, picnic areas, parking, restrooms.

Parent tip: The dam area on the south end holds bass and catfish near the concrete structure — fish the transition from riprap to open mud bottom for the best results. Spring crappie move shallow along the submerged brush on the north bank.

4. Pearson Park (Red Oak)

Starting in Waxahachie, the drive takes about 13 min without traffic — the round trip fits inside a morning.

Location: 200 Lakeview Drive, Red Oak, TX 75154

TPWD Neighborhood Fishin' pond in Red Oak — the stocked option with the best catch odds for beginners: Pearson Park in Red Oak is part of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Neighborhood Fishin' program, which means it gets rotating state-managed catfish and perch stockings designed specifically for families and beginners. Fresh stockings happen through spring and fall, and catch rates after a stocking are noticeably higher than at unstocked city ponds. It's the pick when the goal is making sure younger kids actually catch something.

Good to know: fishing pond, bank fishing, stocked pond, TPWD Neighborhood Fishin' program, playground, picnic areas, restrooms, walking trail, parking.

Parent tip: Check the TPWD stocking report at tpwd.texas.gov to see when Pearson Park was last stocked — timing a visit within a week of a fresh stocking is the single biggest factor in a successful trip.

Hours and amenities shift with the season — confirm today's on the Pearson Park city page.

5. Midlothian Community Park Lake (Midlothian)

Coming from Waxahachie, expect about 14 min without traffic — Midlothian has enough nearby to make a half-day of it.

Location: 1 Community Circle, Midlothian, TX 76065

Catfish and bass with trails and playground—Midlothian's community-park approach to fishing: Midlothian Community Park's 200-acre layout focuses on complete family outings: the lake holds channel catfish and largemouth bass, the trail system adds hiking/walking, the playground keeps non-fishing kids engaged, and the shade pavilions make full-day sessions comfortable. It's bigger and more amenity-rich than Waxahachie's neighborhood ponds.

Good to know: fishing pond, bank fishing, playground, walking trail, picnic areas, restrooms, parking, shade.

Parent tip: The covered fishing area at the water's edge is first-come, first-served — arrive by 8am on summer weekends if you want the shaded spots. The fishing pressure is lower on the far north end of the lake.

Planning a specific day? Check the Midlothian Community Park Lake status page for closures first.

6. Highview Park (Ennis)

Out of Waxahachie, plan for about 20 min in the car — makes Ennis a realistic weekday-afternoon option from Waxahachie.

Location: Route 1, Box 90, Ennis, TX 75119

A 3,570-acre Army Corps lake where spring white bass runs attract serious fishers—Bardwell Lake's local secret: Highview Park's Bardwell Lake location puts Waxahachie families in front of a genuinely productive reservoir: white bass (especially spring runs), crappie, catfish, and largemouth bass all swim here, and the general lack of crowds compared to Joe Pool or Ray Hubbard means you find actual fishing success. The Army Corps infrastructure (restrooms, picnic areas, free access) completes the facility.

Good to know: bank fishing, Bardwell Lake access, boat ramp, picnic areas, restrooms, parking, shade.

Parent tip: Spring white bass runs peak March through April on Bardwell — the fish school up in the creek channels entering the lake from the north. Surface action is the indicator; follow the birds and the jumping shad.

Before you load up the car, review the Highview Park page for maintenance or event closures.

How we picked these

We weighted public shore access without a boat, documented stocking programs or productive fish populations, family amenities (restrooms, shade, playground), and driving distance from Waxahachie. No paid placements — no relationship with any of these parks.

Planning your visit

Spring (March–May) is the best season on Bardwell Lake — white bass and crappie pick up sharply. Lake Waxahachie catfish and bass are reliable year-round. Texas fishing license required for ages 17 and up; kids under 17 fish free. Pearson Park's TPWD stocking schedule is posted at tpwd.texas.gov. For more kids' events near Waxahachie this week, see the Waxahachie events page.