Texas Porch

Fishing & Recreation

Pat Mayse Lake Is the County's Largest Public Fishing Spot

Pat Mayse Lake covers nearly 6,000 acres north of Paris and offers public fishing and boating with no special permit required.

Lamar County The Great Outdoors

Pat Mayse Lake sits about 12 miles north of Paris. The US Army Corps of Engineers impounded it in 1967 on Sanders Creek, a tributary of the Red River. It covers 5,940 acres with a maximum depth of 55 feet. No APH or lake use permit is required to fish there.

TPWD reports good fishing for catfish, crappie, and white bass. Largemouth and spotted bass are also present but rated fair. The upper lake has heavy timber and coves that hold bass and crappie. Public boat ramps are available. The ramps off FM 197 (Pat Mayse West and Pat Mayse East) are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. A Lamar County-operated ramp is at Clay Bluff, off CR 34770. For current conditions and access details, check the TPWD lake page or contact the Corps of Engineers at (903) 732-3020.

Source to confirm: TPWD — Fishing Pat Mayse Lake

More Lamar County notes

Property Tax Basics

Who Appraises and Who Collects Your Property Taxes

Two separate offices handle your property taxes in Lamar County — one sets the value, the other handles payment.

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Homestead Exemption

The Homestead Exemption Lowers Your School Tax Bill

Texas law requires school districts to take $140,000 off the appraised value of your primary home before calculating your school tax.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farmland Can Be Taxed on Its Farming Value, Not Market Value

If land in Lamar County is actively used for farming or ranching, it may qualify for a special valuation that can sharply lower the tax bill.

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Septic Systems

Building Outside City Limits Requires a Septic Permit

Most rural property in Lamar County has no sewer service, so any new home or addition needs a permitted on-site sewage system.

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