By Kent Huffman
Although there are five public lakes in Wood County, Texas, there are even more places to enjoy the fast-growing activity of fishing. From the Sabine River to Lake Fork Creek to many privately owned stocked ponds, angling of all types can be enjoyed by the whole family, from young children all the way up to their great grandparents.
Lake Fork
By far the largest and most popular of all the public lakes in Wood County is the incomparable Lake Fork. This massive reservoir was built and is now managed by the Sabine River Authority, which was established by the Texas Legislature in 1949 as an official agency of the State of Texas. The SRA was “created as a conservation and reclamation district with responsibilities to control, store, preserve, and distribute the waters of the Sabine River and its tributary system for useful purposes.”
Lake Fork has earned a reputation as one of the premier bass fishing lakes in the nation, and it serves as the host for a number of high-profile professional and amateur fishing tournaments, such as the Bassmaster Elite Series, Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash, and Bass Champs, just to name a few.
The SRA has recently completed construction of the Caney Point Recreation Area on Lake Fork, which features a six-lane boat ramp, a huge parking lot, restrooms, a massive event pavilion, and a protected “lagoon” for beaching boats during fishing tournaments. The entire area is open to the public at no charge.
Lake Hawkins
Arguably the most scenic body of water in Wood County, Lake Hawkins offers excellent fishing for largemouth bass, chain pickerel, black and white crappie, and sunfish. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Lake Hawkins is a “633-acre reservoir that was constructed by Wood County for flood control and recreation in 1962.”
Adjacent to the shoreline, Lake Hawkins Park was built in 1990 in cooperation with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on property owned by Wood County. In 2018, Wood County began leasing the park out for private management. The park covers about 55 acres, is half wooded, and includes roughly 1,800 feet of shoreline on Lake Hawkins, about 700 feet of which is a beautiful white-sand beach. The park also offers RV and tent camping facilities.
Lake Holbrook
Located just three miles northwest of Mineola, Lake Holbrook is a 653-acre impoundment, with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Holbrook is a part of the Sabine River basin and sit on Keys Creek.
Lake Holbrook is known for its large sandy swimming beach and unusually clear water most of the year. There are two county parks located along the shoreline where camping and picnicking are allowed year-round. Public boat ramps and docks are provided at both parks.
Wikipedia notes that the primary prey fish of Lake Holbrook are “bluegill and redear sunfish. The larger fish species consist of largemouth bass, channel catfish, and black and white crappie.”
Lake Quitman
According to LakeHub, “Lake Quitman sits at the edge of northeast Texas’ Piney Woods region in Wood County, five miles north of Quitman, Texas and 22 miles southeast of Sulphur Springs, Texas. It covers 814 acres and has a maximum depth of 25 feet. Wood County owns and operates Lake Quitman for flood control and recreational purposes.”
“Dry Creek, a tributary of the Lake Fork of the Sabine River, feeds Lake Quitman. It is comparatively small as compared to most Texas lakes, but its shoreline hosts several lakeside communities within a rural ecosystem. FM 69 flanks Lake Quitman’s eastern border and FM 2966 flanks its western edge.”
“Lake Quitman has several islands, with the largest ones in the northern part of the lake where there are wide-open waters.”
Lake Winnsboro
Near the picturesque East Texas town from which it derives its name, Lake Winnsboro offers an enjoyable escape from city life. According to Winnsboro Online Guide, the lake is “located five miles southwest of Winnsboro. It is 806 surface acres, with an average depth of 23 feet.”
“Lake Winnsboro’s shoreline is fringed with native emergent vegetation such as maidencane and cutgrass. A public campground and boat ramps are available. It is generally a quiet lake with fisherman and a moderate number of speed boats.”
According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, “largemouth bass is a popular sportfish in this lake. The quality of crappie fishing is sporadic. Bluegill and redear sunfish provide an additional fishery. Blue and channel catfish have been stocked but are generally uncommon.”
Private Lakes, Ponds, and Other Fisheries
In addition to fishing in the public lakes all around Wood County, some great fishing can also be found in the local rivers and creeks. And there are literally hundreds of private lakes and ponds scattered around the county that offer a great chance to wet your hook, but of course, always ask for prior permission before fishing on private property! And finally, if you plan to fish on any of the public lakes in Wood County, be sure to purchase an official Texas fishing license from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.