Fishing
Joe Pool Lake has some of the best fishing in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. This 7,400 acre lake offers large mouth black bass, crappie,and catfish. There are several ways to fish at Joe Pool Lake. Anglers can fish from the bank, at both Marinas in floating fishing platforms, in the parks from man-made fishing jetties, or by boat.
Fishing Tips
Joe Pool Lake has a lot of grassy / hydrilla areas back in coves. These spots hold a lot of bass, but seem to be fished pretty frequently. You can still pull some fish out of these with plastic frogs, worms, or top water lures. And these are a lot of fun.
Some other areas you might consider fishing are some underwater ponds. There are a number of these located around the lake. Many of the main lake points offer great fishing options as well. We have had some successful trips just fishing these points fishing for bass hanging on the underwater ledges.
The bank fishing in Cedar Hill State Park is great as well. You can reach many of the grassy coves from the bank. There are also two fishing piers to fish from and on floating fishing dock. Within Cedar Hill State Park there are also two ponds available for fishing.
From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
Many anglers enjoy fishing from the discharge channel of the Outlet Works. This area is located off of Camp Wisdom Road below the dam. There is a parking lot for your fishing convienance. Anglers land many crappie and catfish from this area. This area is a main attraction when water is being released after a heavy rainfall event. Fishing platforms are offered along the discharge tube. Caution must be exercised if you are fishing from the bank as this area becomes turbleant with gate changes. Pay attention at all times and listen for the siren which sounds before each gate change.
From Texas Parks and Wildlife:
Fishing Cover/Structure
The upper third of both arms of Joe Pool Lake is covered with the timber that was left in the lake when it filled. The lower end was cleared, but several large marked brush piles were constructed prior to filling. Numerous flooded stock ponds, bridges, road beds, and other features were left as structure when the lake was built. Hydrilla is found throughout the lake, especially near the dam.
Tips & Tactics
Largemouth bass are often found associated with hydrilla, pondweed, and underwater structural features. Crappie fishing is good under the bridges that cross the two arms of the lake and white bass school in the lower portion of the lake. Find channel catfish near the creek channels.
Size and Bag Limits for Joe Pool Lake
Black bass
For largemouth bass, length limit is a 14-21” slot. Bass 14 inches and less or 21 inches or greater in length may be retained. Only one largemouth bass 21 inches or greater may be retained each day. For smallmouth bass (if present), minimum length = 14 inches. Daily bag limit for all four species of black bass = 5 in combination.
White, striped and yellow bass
For striped and hybrid striped bass, minimum length limit = 18 inches and daily bag limit = 5 in any combination. For white bass, minimum length = 10 inches and daily bag is 25. There are no bag or size limits for yellow bass.
Carp
There is no minimum length limit or daily bag limit for common carp.
Catfish
For channel and blue catfish, their hybrids and subspecies, minimum length limit = 12 inches and daily bag limit = 25 in any combination. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag limit = 5.
Crappie
For white and black crappie, their hybrids and subspecies, minimum length limit = 10 inches. Daily bag limit = 25 in any combination.
Gar
For alligator gar, daily bag limit is 1 fish of any size. No bag limits on other species of gar.
Sunfish
There is no minimum length or daily bag limit on bluegill, redear, warmouth or other species of sunfish.Trout For rainbow and brown trout, their hybrids and subspecies, there is no minimum length and daily bag limit = 5 trout in any combination.