What fish are at Rita Blanca?

Fishing Rita Blanca is most likely to be for Channel Catfish. Channel Catfish accounts for 13 of 33 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and 7 more. Channel Catfish was last stocked July 1, 1978. Rainbow Trout was last stocked November 1, 2025. Largemouth Bass was last stocked July 1, 1980. Blue Catfish was last stocked July 1, 1979. 5 more species are on the stocking report.

Rita Blanca fishing

Fishing at Rita Blanca is on a reservoir, stocked with Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Flathead Catfish, and 3 more. It is stocked about 0.5 times a year since 1965, most often in July and November. Species guides list dusk and night for Channel Catfish, dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass and Rainbow Trout, and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout.

Last stocked

November 1, 2025

Plants on record

Since 1965

Species recorded

Elevation

3,891.1 ft

Common questions

What fish are at Rita Blanca?: Fishing Rita Blanca is most likely to be for Channel Catfish. Channel Catfish accounts for 13 of 33 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and 7 more. Channel Catfish was last stocked July 1, 1978. Rainbow Trout was last stocked November 1, 2025. Largemouth Bass was last stocked July 1, 1980. Blue Catfish was last stocked July 1, 1979. 5 more species are on the stocking report.
When is Rita Blanca stocked?: Last stocked November 1, 2025. It is stocked about 0.5 times a year since 1965, most often in July and November. The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of July. In 2025 it was November 1, 2025, later than usual. No plants recorded in 41 years between 1965 and 2025.
How do you get on Rita Blanca?: Shore fishing is available, there is no boat ramp, and no fee is required. The nearest town is Dalhart, TX. This 150-acre lake south of Dalhart no longer has a fishing, boating, or swimming opportunity; the surrounding 1,668-acre former state park (now a City of Dalhart park) is a day-use site for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and is a major Central Flyway waterfowl wintering area.
Which lakes near Rita Blanca were stocked more recently?: Meredith (54 mi), Pampa City (93.9 mi), and Fryer (104.3 mi) were stocked more recently. Meredith is also stocked with Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout, Pampa City is also stocked with Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, and Blue Catfish, and Fryer is also stocked with Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and Rainbow Trout.

Access and facts

Water type: reservoir
Nearest town: Dalhart, TX
Shore access: Yes
Boat ramp: No
Fee required: No

This 150-acre lake south of Dalhart no longer has a fishing, boating, or swimming opportunity; the surrounding 1,668-acre former state park (now a City of Dalhart park) is a day-use site for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and is a major Central Flyway waterfowl wintering area.

Sources: tpwd.texas.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , tpwd.texas.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , thedalharttexan.com, accessed September 23, 2026 , tpwd.texas.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , thedalharttexan.com, accessed September 23, 2026 , tpwd.texas.gov, accessed September 23, 2026

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How Rita Blanca is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of July. In 2025 it was November 1, 2025, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 41 years between 1965 and 2025.

Meredith (54 mi), Pampa City (93.9 mi), and Fryer (104.3 mi) were stocked more recently. Meredith is also stocked with Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout, Pampa City is also stocked with Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, and Blue Catfish, and Fryer is also stocked with Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and Rainbow Trout.

Fish at Rita Blanca

Fishing Rita Blanca is most likely to be for Channel Catfish. Channel Catfish accounts for 13 of 33 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and 7 more.

Channel Catfish 13 plants

Plants: 13 of 33
Last stocked: July 1, 1978

Seasons and rigs are on the Channel Catfish guide.

Rainbow Trout 7 plants

Plants: 7 of 33
Last stocked: November 1, 2025

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Largemouth Bass 5 plants

Plants: 5 of 33
Last stocked: July 1, 1980

Seasons and rigs are on the Largemouth Bass guide.

Blue Catfish 2 plants

Plants: 2 of 33
Last stocked: July 1, 1979

Seasons and rigs are on the Blue Catfish guide.

Hybrid Sunfish 2 plants

Plants: 2 of 33
Last stocked: July 1, 1981

Seasons and rigs are on the Hybrid Sunfish guide.

Bighead Carp 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 33
Last stocked: July 1, 1993

Brown Trout 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 33
Last stocked: November 1, 1973

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Flathead Catfish 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 33
Last stocked: July 1, 1975

Seasons and rigs are on the Flathead Catfish guide.

Panfish 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 33
Last stocked: July 1, 1993

Fish stocked per year

16,0001965
81,0001966
5,0001967
4,0001968
10,5001969
15,0001970
6,0001971
35,0001972
56,7501973
20,8111974
10,3001975
11,1501976
9,2251977
5,0001978
2,5001979
71,6761980
52,0001981
660,0001993
1,3482024
2,5952025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 33 plants Showing 33 plants

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
November 1, 2025	Rainbow Trout	2,595	–	report
November 1, 2024	Rainbow Trout	1,348	–	report
July 1, 1993	Panfish	360,000	–	report
July 1, 1993	Bighead Carp	300,000	–	report
July 1, 1981	Hybrid Sunfish	52,000	–	report
July 1, 1980	Hybrid Sunfish	52,381	–	report
July 1, 1980	Largemouth Bass	19,295	–	report
July 1, 1979	Blue Catfish	2,500	–	report
July 1, 1978	Channel Catfish	5,000	–	report
November 1, 1977	Rainbow Trout	3,975	–	report
July 1, 1977	Channel Catfish	5,250	–	report
November 1, 1976	Rainbow Trout	5,850	–	report
July 1, 1976	Channel Catfish	5,300	–	report
November 1, 1975	Rainbow Trout	8,300	–	report
July 1, 1975	Flathead Catfish	2,000	–	report
November 1, 1974	Rainbow Trout	16,811	–	report
July 1, 1974	Channel Catfish	4,000	–	report
November 1, 1973	Brown Trout	5,000	–	report
November 1, 1973	Rainbow Trout	16,750	–	report
July 1, 1973	Largemouth Bass	15,000	–	report
July 1, 1973	Channel Catfish	20,000	–	report
July 1, 1972	Channel Catfish	30,000	–	report
July 1, 1972	Blue Catfish	5,000	–	report
July 1, 1971	Channel Catfish	6,000	–	report
July 1, 1970	Largemouth Bass	5,000	–	report
July 1, 1970	Channel Catfish	10,000	–	report
July 1, 1969	Largemouth Bass	3,000	–	report
July 1, 1969	Channel Catfish	7,500	–	report
July 1, 1968	Channel Catfish	4,000	–	report
July 1, 1967	Channel Catfish	5,000	–	report
July 1, 1966	Largemouth Bass	71,000	–	report
July 1, 1966	Channel Catfish	10,000	–	report
July 1, 1965	Channel Catfish	16,000	–	report

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Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.