I'm trying to find more outdoor things for my kids to do on the weekends. We live in Cinco Ranch in Katy, and both my kids like to fish. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to take them? I know of Mary Jo Peckham Park, but just curious if there's any other good neighborhood spots or catfish farms, for example, that can make for a fairly easy outing for a couple of hours with two kids. I don't mind a little drive and have all the equipment, just need help finding places to go that are accessible to the public, hopefully not super crowded, and has a decent chance at catching something.

Thanks.

I see kids fishing at Park Lake (running along Cinco Blvd.) all the time.
It's catch and release though.

Jones Creek Ranch off of 359 is nice to go fish

Firethorne has some ponds and they pull out some nice bass out of there.

I have had good luck at Cross Creek (Fulshear Bend and Cross Creek Bend) and Cinco Ranch Beach Club right next to the boat/kayak launch. Seems to be real slow right now as the migratory birds have been eating the sun fish.

Beach club is a good spot. We usually hit up the kayak launch area for sunfish and keep a line out for catfish.

River Green Park off Cinco outside 99 has been good too. Lots of sunfish and have had luck on catfish there too. Can fish the portion right off the parking lot. You may have to deal with lots of turtles there though.

I second Cross Creek. We've hit bass, catfish, and lots of perch there. I've never had good luck at MJP in Old Katy.

If the kids are little, the main lake in Firethorne is super easy to catch small perch.


There is a bench you can fish from near the stepping stones or the deck or cross over to the "island"

wgk said:

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Beach club is a good spot. We usually hit up the kayak launch area for sunfish and keep a line out for catfish.

River Green Park off Cinco outside 99 has been good too. Lots of sunfish and have had luck on catfish there too. Can fish the portion right off the parking lot. You may have to deal with lots of turtles there though.

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We live down the street from River Green Park so used to frequently fish and there were tons of bass back when my kids were younger so that was a lot of fun.

Lure or bait for the sunfish if you don't mind me asking?

We have tried some various things for catfish but have ended up with turtles like you mentioned!

I think it's called lake George - the huge one at Cinco and spring Green. Can park at the lake house. I see people there every day so I'm guessing it's a decent spot but haven't tried myself

The ditches running through the neighborhood have good bass in them.

Cinco has a fishing pond right off of Cinco Ranch Blvd right up against the bayou. Its a tiny pond, but there is a couple fishermen out there every time its good weather.

Have also seen kids fishing in buffalo bayou right there under the bridges. Watch out though, one of our neighbors has a video of their kid's friend reeling in a big fish only for an alligator to take it. Couldn't even see the alligator in the brown water until it decided to take the fish.

The biggest pond is in Cinco II right off of spring green and cinco.

If you follow buffalo bayou along its more northern fork into barker reservoir there is always water in the canal and I see some fishermen and fish in that canal all the time. Nice trial and bridge as well.

Where buffalo bayou crosses Westheimer in the middle of barker reservoir is a spot to pull off on the side of the road and walk a trail back down barker reservoir to where the two canals meet.

Has anyone been to John Paul Landing or have any idea how busy it gets? I haven't been but the satellite on Google maps looks like it is set up really well for fishing.

I've been for birthday parties at the pavilions. The fishing setups look great and I've never seen them crowded.

Brenner said:

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Has anyone been to John Paul Landing or have any idea how busy it gets? I haven't been but the satellite on Google maps looks like it is set up really well for fishing.

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I've only been once, a few years ago. It's pretty big so I can't imagine it gets crowded.

Also, I suck at fishing and I was able to catch some catfish.

You can try Mary Joe Peckham park as well. They have trout stocked by TPWD, I think they have a schedule on their website when they restock.

Edit - only half read the OP didn't see you mentioned Mary Jo kindly ignore me.

We usually use night crawlers for the sunfish. Have tried small spinners and jigs too but not as successful as the worms.

Take your kids to the Firethorne lake. Cut a little piece of a worm for their perch rig. Take the perch and put him on a bigger hook. Throw him out freeline and wait.