Lakes

The Dallas/Fort Worth area boasts many of the state's top boating, fishing and camping lakes; a 175-mile radius of the area would show more than a half million acres of public access waters.

LAKE TEXOMA
This 89,000-acre lake lies about 80 miles north of Dallas. It ranks as the top Texas recreational lake because of facilities, amenities, beauty and fishing. Every type of boat is available for rent. The lake's deep, unobstructed waters are ideal for skiing, sailing or cruising; it can also get extremely rough in high winds. As the state's top recreational lake, it can also get very crowded on weekends or holidays. FISHING NOTES: Most productive striped-bass lake in Texas, but fishing is also good for other species. Texoma is on the Texas-Oklahoma border. The lake spills over into both states. Since the states lack a reciprocal fishing-license agreement, a special Texoma fishing license is a good investment. Anglers with a Texas license can legally fish in Texas waters, but it's hard to know when you've crossed over into Oklahoma. Directions: Take U.S. 75 north to Denison, turn west on FM 120 to Pottsboro or north on FM 84 to Eisenhower State Park.

LAKE WHITNEY
Whitney meanders along 23,560 acres of the Brazos River, and is located about 75 miles south of Dallas. With steep, rocky bluffs, Whitney is a scenic lake. It has good lakeside facilities, including a state park, several local or private parks and a number of full-service marinas. The lake is good for cruising, fishing or sailing. FISHING NOTES: Excellent for striped bass and sandies; also known as the state's top smallmouth-bass lake. Directions: Take I-35 south to Hillsboro, and Hwy. 22 west to the lake or, from the town of Whitney, take FM 933 north and FM 1713 west to the lake.

POSSUM KINGDOM LAKE
This 19,800-acre lake about 150 miles west of Dallas is located in scenic, rocky hills northwest of Mineral Wells. Its overall depth and narrow, windy configuration make Possum Kingdom an excellent lake for sailing and pleasure boating as well as fishing. It is one of the deepest lakes in Texas and reaches a maximum depth of 145 feet. The rock formation known as Hell's Gate is one of the most impressive natural features found in a Texas lake. Directions: Take I-20 to Weatherford, FM 180 west to Mineral Wells, Hwy. 337 north to Graford and Hwy. 254 west to the lake.

LEWISVILLE LAKE
This Corps of Engineers lake, formerly known as Garza-Little Elm and Lake Dallas, is 20 minutes north of Dallas. At 29,592 acres, Lewisville is a very popular for speed boats, personal watercraft and cruisers; while there is some fishing, it truly is more of an urban boating lake. FISHING NOTES: Good for sand bass, catfish, crappie and largemouth bass. Directions: Take I-35 north. The interstate crosses Lewisville Lake between the cities of Lewisville and Lake Dallas.

CEDAR CREEK LAKE
This 34,300-acre lake is about an hour's drive southeast of Dallas is a good recreational lake. FISHING NOTES: Excellent fishing lake for white bass and crappie, as well as largemouth bass. Directions: From Dallas, take U.S. 175 south to Mabank, then Hwy. 198 south to Gun Barrel City and Hwy. 334 across the lake to Seven Points.

LAKE RAY HUBBARD
Ray Hubbard is a 22,745-acre impoundment about 15 miles east of downtown Dallas, and has a national reputation among sailors. Revamped marinas offer good boat rentals and lakeside services. There is no swimming allowed. FISHING NOTES: Excellent for sand bass, striped bass and hybrid stripers; largemouth bass fishing is improving. Directions: Take I-30 east. The highway crosses Lake Ray Hubbard between Garland and Rockwall.

RAY ROBERTS LAKE
This 29,350-acre lake between Sanger and Pilot Point, about 70 miles north of Dallas, is one of the most fully developed parks in Texas, offering everything from paved trails to horseback trails. FISHING NOTES: Excellent fishing for largemouth bass, sand bass and crappie. Directions: Most direct route from Dallas is north on I-35 to Sanger, then east on FM 455 to the south of the lake.

COOPER LAKE
This 19,000-acre lake about 90 miles east of Dallas is gaining in popularity, as the newest and one of the most fully developed, state parks in Texas. FISHING NOTES: Cooper is a good fishing lake for largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. Directions: Take I-30 east to Sulphur Springs, then Hwy. 154 north to the lake. Cooper is also accessible from Commerce via Hwy. 24.

LAKE RICHLAND CHAMBERS
Richland Chambers is an excellent fishing lake with the size (44,752 acres) and proximity to Dallas (about 75 miles) to be one of the best all-around recreation lakes in Texas. FISHING NOTES: Good for crappie, sand bass and catfish, as well as largemouth bass. Directions: Take I-45 south to Corsicana and U.S. 287 east to the lake.

LAKE TAWAKONI
Lake Tawakoni is a 36,700-acre lake about 60 miles east of Dallas, and features ample lakeside facilities and marinas. Lake Tawakoni is well-suited to cruising or sailing. FISHING NOTES: Excellent fishing lake for sand bass and striped bass; catfish and crappie are also popular. Directions: Take U.S. 80 east to Wills Point, then FM 47 or FM 751 north to the lake. Or take U.S. 69 south from Greenville to Lone Oak and FM 1571 to Wind Point Park.

JOE POOL LAKE
Virtually in the shadow of downtown Dallas, Joe Pool Lake covers 7,740 acres between Cedar Hill and Grand Prairie. Directions: Take I-20 to Great Southwest Parkway and go south on Great Southwest Parkway.

LAKE LAVON
Lake Lavon, about 20 miles northeast of downtown Dallas, is a favorite of boaters who learn the waters. Though convenient to Dallas, the 21,400-acre Corps of Engineers lake is less crowded than other close-in favorites, probably because it's not located on a major highway. Notable: Lavon is a good fishing lake for crappie and sand bass. Directions: From Dallas, take Hwy. 78 north to Lavon.

LAKE FORK
This 27,000-acre lake about 80 miles east of Dallas is one of the top largemouth bass fishing lakes in America. Submerged timber in the lake can be a hazard for recreational boaters who are not familiar with the lake. FISHING NOTES: Bass fishing at Lake Fork has been estimated to be a $27.5 million per year business; it is one of the top largemouth bass fishing lakes in the US. Directions: Take I-30 east to Greenville, Hwy. 69 south to Emory and Hwy. 515 east to the lake. Alternate route is to stay on I-30 to Sulphur Springs and take Hwy. 154 south to the lake.

LAKE BOB SANDLIN
This 9,460-acre lake about 150 miles east of Dallas is a scenic East Texas jewel. Sandlin has good lakeside facilities, including a state park. It is a good all-around recreational lake. FISHING NOTES: Lake Bob Sandlin has good fishing for bass, crappie and catfish Directions: Take I-30 east to Mount Vernon, then FM 21 south to the lake.

GRAPEVINE LAKE
One of the more scenic urban lakes, the 7,280-acre Lake Grapevine lies about 15 miles from downtown Dallas, under the northern approach path to D/FW Airport. FISHING NOTES: Grapevine offers surprisingly good fishing, particularly for largemouth bass. Directions: Take Hwy. 114 to the city of Grapevine, then Hwy. 121 north to the lake.

LAKE O' THE PINES
Lake O' the Pines is 18,700 acres about 160 miles east of Dallas. Named for the pine forest that surrounds it, Pines is similar to neighboring Caddo Lake with more of a Texas feel as opposed to Caddo's swampy Louisiana style. Directions: Lake O' the Pines is accessible either by I-30 from its north side to Mount Pleasant and Daingerfield or I-20 from the south side via Longview or Hallsville.

LAKE PALESTINE
Another scenic reservoir in a piney woods setting, Palestine backs up 25,560 acres on the Neches River drainage south of Tyler. This is an excellent lake for all-around recreation, including family boating and sailing. FISHING NOTES: Fishing is fair for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and hybrid striped bass. Directions: Take I-20 east to Tyler, then Hwy. 155 south to Lake Palestine.

LAKE GRANBURY
This long, winding, riverine lake on the Brazos River southwest of Fort Worth makes a charming centerpiece for the city of Granbury. Fishing is good for striped bass, sand bass and catfish. Granbury is a popular recreational boating lake, but its narrow configuration means crowded conditions, so be careful. Notable: A suburban lake with excellent facilities all along the shoreline. Public parks and boat ramps are ample. Directions: Take Hwy. 377 for 33 miles southwest of Fort Worth. Hwy. 377 crosses Lake Granbury.

LAKE WRIGHT PATMAN
This scenic lake was named for a popular East Texas congressman, and covers 20,000 acres in Bowie and Cass Counties, about 175 miles east of Dallas. FISHING NOTES: Best fishing is for crappie, sand bass and channel catfish. Directions: Take I-30 east to State Hwy. 8 and turn south on Hwy. 8 to the lake.

LAKE ATHENS
Lake Athens, 1,500 acres about 80 miles southeast of Dallas, is a hot spot for skiing, sailing and cruising. FISHING NOTES: Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located at Lake Athens and is worth a side trip to view native fish in a natural setting. Directions: Take Hwy. 175 south to Athens, then Hwy. 2495 east to the lake.

FAIRFIELD LAKE
Fairfield Lake is a 2,353-acre power plant lake about 100 miles south of Dallas. The lake is surrounded by a good state park and wildlife is plentiful. Bald eagles winter at Fairfield Lake and the state park runs eagle tours during cold months. When eagles are present, you can glimpse them from hiking trails that follow the bank. FISHING NOTES: Largemouth bass, redfish and hybrid stripers. Directions: Take I-45 south to Fairfield, then Hwy. 2570 and 3285 east to Fairfield State Park.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN LAKE
Eagle Mountain Lake, 9,200 acres, lies about 35 miles west of Dallas near Azle, and is a Tarrant County Water District lake. FISHING NOTES: While not known as a fishing hot spot, Eagle Mountain is fair for white bass and spotted bass. Directions: Take I-30 to Fort Worth, then Hwy. 1220 or 199 to Eagle Mountain Lake.

BENBROOK LAKE
Benbrook Lake, a 3,770-acre Corps of Engineers lake just outside Fort Worth's Loop 820, is small but popular. FISHING NOTES: Benbrook is one of the area's top lakes for hybrid striped bass; it is also good for sand bass and largemouth bass. Directions: Take I-30 west to Fort Worth, then Hwy. 377 south. The Hwy. passes just west of the lake, south of the town of Benbrook.

LAKE BRIDGEPORT
Lake Bridgeport, 13,000 acres near the town of Bridgeport, about 100 miles northwest of Dallas, is on the West Fork on the Trinity River. Primary uses are water skiing, cruising and fishing. FISHING NOTES: Fishing is good for crappie and sand bass, fair for largemouth bass and catfish. Directions: Take Hwy. 114 north all the way to the lake.

LAKE ARLINGTON
This 2,275-acre power plant lake between I-20 and I-30 in Arlington has two day-use parks, both equipped with boat ramps. FISHING NOTES: Fishing is good for crappie, hybrid stripers and largemouth bass. Directions: Take I-30 west, then turn south on East Chase Parkway, which turns into Green Oaks. Head west on Arkansas Lane.

LAKE WORTH
Lake Worth, 3,560 acres just northwest of downtown Fort Worth, is best known as a recreational boating lake. Fort Worth Nature Center on the upper end of Lake Worth offers bank-fishing access as well as hiking trails and an interpretive center. FISHING NOTES: The lake has plenty of small bass and fair fishing for crappie. Directions: Fort Worth's Loop 820 crosses Lake Worth northwest of the city.

MOUNTAIN CREEK LAKE
About 10 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, Mountain Creek Lake is one of the least-utilized metropolitan lakes. FISHING NOTES: Mountain Creek is rated as one of the most productive fishing lakes in the metropolitan area. Directions: Take Loop 12 south to Spur 303 and turn west. Spur 303 crosses the lake.

Source: Ray Sasser, The Dallas Morning News. Great Lakes 2001, 5/13/2001.