Lake Fork Profile...Includes the dam, fish species, main creeks and climate of Lake Fork, Texas.

Lake Fork, Texas

Lake Fork Profile

Lake Fork is owned and operated by Sabine River Authority of Texas.
Lake Fork was opened to the public for fishing in the fall of 1980.
FISHING LICENSE: License sales by phone are available by calling (1-800-895-4248) 24-hrs./day, with approved VISA or MasterCard. Licenses can be purchased by phone for immediate use without waiting to receive an actual paper license by mail ( not valid for deer or turkey hunting due to tag requirements). You can also purchase your licenses from most Lake Fork merchants.
REGULATION ON BASS: Lake Fork's current regulation on largemouth bass is a 16"to 24" slot limit. ( Bass over 16" and less than 24" must be returned to Lake Fork.) Only one bass per day 24 inches or greater may be retained.
REGULATION ON CRAPPIE: Lake Fork's curent regulation on black and white crappie all crappie under 10 inches must be released...daily bag limit of 25. Lake Fork's curent regulation on black and white crappie caught from Dec. 1 through the last day of Feb., there is no Minimum Length Limit, daily bag = 25 in any combination, and all crappie caught must be retained.
REGULATION ON CATFISH: Blue & Channel Minimum Length Limit - 12 Inches Daily Bag - 25 fish in any combination Possession Limit - Twice the Daily Bag Limit. No exceptions
CONSTRUCTION: A total of 41,100 acres of land was acquired in the development of Lake Fork Reservoir. The preliminary engineering studies for Lake Fork Reservoir were begun in November of 1972. Construction work for Lake Fork began in the fall of 1975. Pool level was reached in December of 1985.
SIZE & DEPTH: At normal pool level Lake Fork is 27,690 acres. (elevation of 403 feet above mean sea level) The maximum depth is found at the dam area around 60 feet. The average depth is 12 to 15 feet. Lake Fork has a shoreline of 315 miles and a drainage area of 493 miles.
DAM: The dam is about 12,410 feet long and final construction was reached in February of 1980. The overall length of the service spillway is 250 feet. The design discharge of the spillway is 81,900 cubic feet per second.
CREEKS: Lake Fork Creek, Caney Creek, Birch Creek and Little Caney are the major creeks of Lake Fork. Carroll Creek, Running Creek, Long Creek, Glade Creek, Penson Creek, Taylor Creek, Magee Creek, Bell creek, White Oak Creek, Wolf Creek, Dale Creek, Ray Creek, Boardtree Creek, Mustang Creek, Chaney Creek, Little Mustang, Williams Creek and Searcy Creek some of which are considered branches of the main creeks. There are also over 70 creeks that do not have a name.
HABITAT: Lake Fork has the perfect fish habitat consisting of under-water structures include timber, flooded dams and farm ponds. Lake Fork's vegetation : hydrilla, milfoil, lily pads and duckweed .
FISH SPECIES: Although the main subject on Lake Fork is it's Florida Largemouth Bass...Other species of fish include: White & Black Crappie, Blue Catfish, Bowfin, Yellow Bass, Bluegill, Gar and Sunfish abound here too.
CLIMATE: The Lake Fork area, which includes the following counties: Wood, Rains and Hopkins have been classified as subtropical. Characterized by warm summers and mild winters which lend to making Lake Fork a lake to fish year round.