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Lake Information for Ray Roberts Lake
Lake Ray Roberts (formally Ray Roberts Lake) is a 29,350-acre (119 km2) lake located 10 miles (20 km) north of Denton, Texas. It was named after Ray Roberts (a local congressman who supported creation of the lake) in 1980.
It is located in, and supplies water to, Cooke, Grayson, and Denton counties. Between the cities of Pilot Point, Texas and Sanger, Texas.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department operates two state park units and several satellite parks around this lake. Park fees are charged at all locations except Pecan Creek, where donations are requested. A restaurant and full-service marina are located near Sanger Park.
Buck Creek
* Located on the west side of US 377, approximately one mile south of Tioga
* Two-lane concrete ramp with boarding pier and parking for up to 75 vehicles
* Fee required
* Open all year
* Operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (940) 686-2148
Jordan Park
* Located approximately 1 mile west of Pilot Point on FM 1192
* Four-lane concrete ramp with boarding pier and parking for up to 75 vehicles
* Fee required
* Open all year
* Operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (940) 686-2148
State Park, Isle du Bois Unit
* From I-35 at Sanger, go 12 miles east on FM 455. Look for signs on the north side of the road.
* Multi-lane concrete ramp with boarding pier and parking for up to 125 vehicles. Lighted fishing pier also available.
* Park entrance fee required
* Open all year
* Operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (940) 686-2148
Sanger Park & Ray Roberts Marina
* Located off FM 455 about 3 miles east of Sanger
* Multi-lane concrete ramp with boarding pier and parking for up to 75 vehicles
* Fee required
* Open all year
* Operated by private concession (940) 458-7343
Pond Creek
* Located off FM 455, just north of entrance to Ray Roberts Marina
* Two-lane ramp with boarding pier and parking for up to 75 vehicles
* Fee required
* Open all year
* Operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (940) 686-2148
Pecan Creek
* Take the FM 3002 exit off I-35 north of Sanger, follow 3002 about 4 miles east, cross the second bridge, then look for the sign on the south side of the road.
* Two-lane ramp with boarding pier and parking for up to 75 vehicles
* No fee required; donation accepted
* Open all year
* Operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (940) 686-2148
State Park, Johnson Branch Unit
* Take the FM 3002 exit from I-35 north of Sanger, go 7 miles east and look for the sign on the south side of the road.
* Multi-lane ramp with boarding pier and parking for 125 vehicles
* Park entrance fee required
* Open all year
* Operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (940) 637-2294
Fishing Regulations
Most species are managed under statewide regulations. The exception is a 14-24 inch slot limit on largemouth bass. Largemouth bass 14 inches and less or 24 inches or greater in length may be retained. The daily bag limit is five fish, except that only one bass 24 inches long or greater may be retained per day.
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.
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.
Businesses Located Nearby
Bait & Tackle
- Bubba's Bait & Tackle Shop
- 22627 Us-377 - Whitesboro, TX
- (903) 564-4735
- Harrington Bait & Tackle
- 1601 E Sandy Lake Rd - Coppell, TX
- (972) 745-2930
- Live Bait Outlet
- 990 N Mill St - Lewisville, TX
- (972) 436-2642
Boat Rental
- JT's Snacks & Boat Rentals
- 20400 Hackberry Creek Park Rd - Frisco, TX
- (972) 292-1001
- Flying and Floating Toys Boat Rental & More
- 11258 Goodnight Ln - Dallas, TX
- (972) 241-2326
- Boat Rentals @ Lake Lewisville
- 3000 N Stemmons Fwy - Lewisville, TX
- (214) 621-8499
Vacation Rental
- Traveler TST Vacation Rentals
- 1122 Jackson St - Dallas, TX
- (888) 392-6963
- Hyatt Regency-Dallas
- 300 Reunion Blvd E - Dallas, TX
- (214) 651-1234
- Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
- 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd - Dallas, TX
- (214) 559-2100
Bar and Restaurant
- Diverso Restaurant & Bar
- 100 S Texas St - Tioga, TX
- (940) 437-5000
- Steves BBQ Pit
- 403 E Hickory St - Denton, TX
- (940) 387-5911
- Metzlers Food & Beverage
- 111 E University Dr - Denton, TX
- (940) 383-1987