Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, straddling the Oklahoma–Texas border along the Red River — a massive lake of about 89,000 acres with roughly 580 miles of shoreline, formed by Denison Dam in 1944. It is a landmark recreation destination for the two states, drawing millions of visitors for its outstanding fishing, boating, camping and lakeside recreation.

Lake Texoma is particularly famous as one of the country’s finest striped bass (striper) fisheries — the striper population was established in the 1960s as a self-sustaining inland fishery, now producing some of the best striper fishing in the nation. Beyond fishing, the lake’s broad waters, state parks, marinas and resort areas make it a beloved recreation hub. As a premier fishery and recreation destination, Lake Texoma is a treasured icon of Oklahoma.

Summer (June through August) is the main recreation season for boating, swimming and water sports, when the weather is warm and all facilities are open (and the lake is busiest), while spring and fall offer excellent fishing (especially for stripers) and quieter shores. Striped bass are active and catchable year-round, with spring and fall typically most productive. The lake is enjoyable year-round, with mild Oklahoma and Texas winters. Summer for full water recreation and spring/fall for the best striper fishing are the highlights — fish in the shoulder seasons and enjoy the full lake in summer.

Lake Texoma and its shoreline host bald eagles (a notable winter concentration), white pelicans, cormorants, great blue herons, ospreys, and waterfowl, while the surrounding woodlands have white-tailed deer and wild turkeys, and the lake supports its famous striped bass and a rich warm-water fishery of catfish, crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass. The vast lake, its wooded shores and the region’s position on a major flyway support fine wildlife and birding. Lake Texoma offers excellent wildlife watching, with the winter eagle concentration and the pelicans and osprey among the highlights.

Lake Texoma is a large, open lake — sudden wind and storms raise big waves quickly on the open water; wear life jackets, watch the forecast and know your distance from shore when boating. The lake can be crowded with fast boat and personal watercraft traffic on summer weekends. Follow posted speed limits and no-wake zones, especially near shore, docks and swimmers. The zebra mussel contamination is an ecological concern; clean your boat. Respect the big open water, the boat traffic, the sudden storms and the zebra mussels when visiting the lake.

Lake Texoma is a premier recreation destination for boating, sailing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, swimming, and especially fishing — it is one of the country’s finest striped-bass fisheries (with excellent catfish, largemouth bass and crappie as well) — with state parks (Lake Texoma State Park on the Oklahoma side), marinas, resorts, beaches, boat ramps and campgrounds ringing the lake. Striped-bass fishing and boating on the vast lake are the signature draws. The combination of a huge, productive lake, outstanding striper fishing and a full range of water sports makes Lake Texoma exceptional.

The Red River valley and surrounding area are the homeland of the Chickasaw Nation and other southern plains peoples. Denison Dam was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1944, creating Lake Texoma for flood control, hydropower and recreation, flooding the Red River valley on the Oklahoma–Texas border. The lake was named for the nearby city of Texoma (combining the state names). The legendary striped bass population was established in the 1960s. Lake Texoma preserves this iconic reservoir and its storied fishing heritage, a treasured icon of Oklahoma and Texas.

Lake Texoma is a human-made reservoir on the Red River, impounded by Denison Dam across the river’s valley in the Red Beds plains of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas — a landscape of Permian-age red sandstones, mudstones and gypsum beds eroded into rolling red-soil plains and river valleys. The Red River carries the red-tinted sediment that gives it its name. The Denison Dam, the Red River valley and the surrounding red-bed plains and limestone hills (including the Arbuckle uplift to the north) created this vast reservoir.

Lake Texoma is a large reservoir on the Red River, its waters, shoreline, coves and the surrounding mixed woodland and grassland supporting a rich fishery, abundant birds and the self-sustaining striper population (unique and famous). The lake is managed jointly by Oklahoma and Texas. Water quality, invasive species (zebra mussels were detected), fisheries management and shoreline habitat are the focuses of management. Protecting the water quality, the striper fishery, the shoreline and the migratory bird habitats sustains both the ecology and the outstanding recreational value of Lake Texoma.

Lake Texoma holds a treasured place among the icons of Oklahoma and Texas — a massive, beloved reservoir on the Red River boundary between the two states, one of the largest and most-visited lakes in the country, and the home of a legendary self-sustaining inland striped-bass fishery that draws anglers from across the nation. Its broad blue waters, endless shoreline and world-class fishing embody the outdoor spirit of the southern plains. Lake Texoma is a cherished icon of Oklahoma.

Lake Texoma straddles the Oklahoma–Texas border along the Red River, reachable via U.S. Highway 70 and State Highway 99 on the Oklahoma side and U.S. 75 on the Texas side; the main Oklahoma gateway is the city of Ardmore (about 30 miles north), with nearby communities including Durant, Madill and the resort area near the lake. Lake Texoma State Park (on the Oklahoma shore near Kingston) provides camping, marinas, a golf course and full facilities (a park fee applies). Numerous private marinas, resorts and campgrounds ring the lake. Check Oklahoma State Parks and local marinas for current access, fees and striper-fishing regulations.

Oklahoma and Texas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and wildlife agencies jointly manage Lake Texoma. Visitors help by cleaning, draining and drying watercraft to limit the spread of zebra mussels (required — they are already present in the lake), not polluting the water or shoreline, following fishing regulations (striper fishing has specific rules), respecting wildlife and nesting birds, and packing out everything. The water quality, the striper fishery and the migratory bird habitat are sensitive. Protecting them sustains both the ecology and the outstanding value of Lake Texoma.

Clean, drain and dry watercraft to prevent spread of zebra mussels (required by law in Oklahoma). Wear life jackets; follow Oklahoma and Texas boating laws. Fishing requires a valid Oklahoma or Texas license (each state honors the other’s license on the lake); striper fishing has specific size and limit rules — check current regulations with Oklahoma and Texas wildlife agencies. Lake Texoma State Park has entry and camping fees. Follow speed limits and no-wake zones. Pets must be leashed in state-park areas. Pack out all trash. Check Oklahoma State Parks and Oklahoma and Texas wildlife agencies for current rules before visiting.

The cities of Durant and Ardmore (Oklahoma) and Denison and Sherman (Texas), the Chickasaw National Recreation Area at Sulphur (with its natural springs), the Chickasaw Nation’s cultural sites, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, and the southern Oklahoma and northern Texas plains lie near the lake. The Red River border country and the Chickasaw homeland define the region. Lake Texoma anchors the recreation experience of southern Oklahoma, a centerpiece of a Red River adventure, easily combined with the Chickasaw NRA, Durant’s Chickasaw Nation sites and the region’s heritage.

Book a guided striper fishing charter on Lake Texoma — the self-sustaining inland striped-bass fishery is one of the country’s finest, and guides know the productive spots throughout the year (spring and fall are especially good). For boating and water sports, summer brings warm water and full facilities. Stay at Lake Texoma State Park, clean your boat to prevent zebra mussel spread, wear life jackets and watch for boat traffic and afternoon storms on the big, open water, and combine your visit with a side trip to the Chickasaw NRA’s natural springs at Sulphur.