Lake Ray Roberts, TX

Angling Opportunities

Guided trips for largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie are popular on this lake. There are many good spots to fish for largemouths. White bass fishing peaks in the spring during the spawning run up tributaries, and again in the summer when bass school in the main pool off the dam. Crappie produce best in winter, and catfishing is great all summer, especially in early June when feeder creeks carry runoff.

Fishing Cover/Structure

Ray Roberts Lake has approximately 2,000 acres of standing timber, located mostly in the upper reaches of both major arms. There is rip-rap along the dam at the south end of the main pool and 2,212 acres of floating and submersed aquatic vegetation. Additional structure is provided by stream channels, flooded main-lake points, inundated pond dams, flooded rocks/boulders/stumps, and 44 inundated brush piles constructed before impoundment. Some of this structure is shown on lake maps available from the Chambers of Commerce or at most fishing tackle stores.

Tips & Tactics

Largemouth bass angling seems to peak in the spring and fall, but most trophy bass are caught in February and March. The bait of choice in cold months is a jig or jig and pig combination fished slowly around deep submerged points. In spring you might want to try a Carolina rigged worm or lizard in shallow water found on the man flats between feeder creeks in the Isle du Bois Creek arm. In early summer, try vertical jigging in the acres of standing timber. In June, big bass can be found at the base of flooded trees in 25 feet of water. In the fall try jerk baits, crank baits, and spinners. A white spinner bait in dingy water is an excellent choice.

There are many good spots to fish for white bass on this lake. Once you visit here you will understand. Baits of choice include surface baits, jigs, spoons, and minnows. For catfish, bait up with cut bait, shrimp, or stink bait. Crappie produce best in the winter when they school deep and around structure or during the spring when they come in to spawn. In either case the baits of choice include a myriad of jigs and minnows. For sunfish such as bluegill, fish around any flooded brush or rocks and use live earthworms.