Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma is located at the confluence of the Red River and Washita Rivers and is one of the largest reservoir lakes in the United States. Lake Texoma is formed by Denison Dam on the Red River in Bryan County, Oklahoma, and Grayson County, Texas and attracts approximately 6 million visitors a year. In 2004, a blue catfish weighing 121.5 pounds was caught at Lake Texoma, setting a world record for a rod-and-reel catch.

Lake Characteristics

Location: A Red River impoundment on the Texas-Oklahoma border northwest of Sherman-Denison, west of US 75 Surface area: 89,000 acres Maximum depth: 100 feet Impounded: 1944

Aquatic Vegetation

Not abundant, but there are some stands of water willow, American lotus, floating heart, and bushy pondweed. Blue-green algae blooms occasionally occur in this reservoir.

Predominant Fish Species

Lake Records
Current Fishing Report
Stocking History
Latest Survey Report

Lake Maps

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers a downloadable map media download (PDF 204.3 KB) of the shoreline and Texas/Oklahoma state line. Detailed fishing maps are available from local chambers of commerce, the Lake Texoma Association, and most North Texas fishing tackle stores

Fishing Regulations

Two-thirds of this lake lies in Oklahoma. Anglers with Texas licenses may fish in the Texas portions of the reservoir, or purchase a Lake Texoma license ($12) to fish the entire lake. Special bag and size limits are in effect for several fish species on this lake. Anglers should also be aware of rules in effect here to prevent the spread of exotic invasive species. Boats, livewells, and bait buckets must be drained of all water before leaving the area. In the Red River downstream, from the Texoma dam to the Arkansas state line, it is unlawful to transport live, nongame fishes from this stretch of river to any other water body. Nongame fishes may be collected and used for bait within these waters. For more details, see Possession and Transport of Exotic Aquatic Species.

Angling Opportunities

Free-flowing current in the Red River makes Texoma one of the few lakes in Texas with a self-sustaining population of striped bass, and one of only eight inland freshwater reservoirs worldwide where this species has spawned. A cousin of the white bass, striped bass were first stocked in Lake Texoma by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in 1965. They began spawning in 1974.

Species	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
Largemouth & Spotted Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Blue Catfish
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Crappie
Striped Bass
White Bass