Lake Texoma has its own string of islands with sandy beaches. The islands are the place to be and be seen, especially on summer weekends. The 88,000 acre Corps of Engineers lake is the largest lake in capacity in the Tulsa district and the tenth largest in the United States, It leads all Corps lakes west of the Mississippi river in recreational attendance. The Denison Dam and Powerplant, the first hydroelectric power installation in the Tulsa district, produces a major block of electric energy into the Texas and Oklahoma transmission systems. Tours of the powerhouse are conducted on week days at 1:00 P.M.
The lake area includes two wildlife refuges, two state parks, fifty-four U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed parks, twenty-six resorts, hundreds of campgrounds and a variety of excellent golf courses. Sheltered coves created by the serpentine shape of the lake ensure a calm, quiet spot even on windy days.
Lake Texoma offers a haven for every type of boating from power to sail. Personal watercraft, water skiers and wind surfers all consider the lake an excellent place to have fun. In fact, there's such a variety and so much activity, it's easy to relax and be entertained just watching all the boats on the lake.
RECREATIONAL FUN
Time spent together on the lake can be a very special time for families, especially at Lake Texoma, one of the nation’s finest recreation attractions.
The lake itself is heaven for water sports. Its serpentine shape creates many sheltered coves which are ideal for teaching kids to fish, ski or handle a boat. Hundreds are experiencing the thrills of personal watercraft—jet skis, wave runners, etc. Paddle boats
round out Texoma’s appeal to the whole family.Opportunities for hiking, golfing, water-skiing, fishing and boating abound at Lake Texoma. Nearly all the resorts and marinas have good spots for pleasant strolls.
Camping and picnicking are especially rewarding around Texoma. Those who want to “rough it” will discover plenty of rustic sites. For travelers who bring along the comforts of home in a recreational vehicle, there are ample trailer spaces with utility hook-ups. A wide selection of accommodations awaits the cabin-seeker as well.
All these facilities include ready access to paved roads, parking areas, trash containers, charcoal grills and picnic tables. Public boat docks and marinas, boat and motor rental services and stores that sell fuel, food and supplies —all ensure that visitors have everything for a fun-filled outdoor adventure. For vacationers seeking to be pampered indoors, 26 resorts and a variety of restaurants will satisfy any mood.
Golfers can choose from several excellent public golf courses—most of them 18-hole courses. Texoma has outstanding private courses, too. Many of the private courses accommodate visitors.
Miniature golf is always a family favorite. Bumper boats and a few laps around a go-cart track are great options for youthful fun.
Friendly and knowledgeable people are always available to help visitors select appropriate gear and advise about permits and safety precautions.
SAILING/BOATING
Lake Texoma's reputation as a major sailing center is well-deserved. This huge, deep lake with miles of sailing shoreline has plenty of great anchoring spots on sandy beaches or in secluded coves. Some of the best places are only accessible by water. The lakeside terrain adds to the experience as it varies from tree-covered slopes to dramatic rocky cliffs.
Several charter companies on the lake can provide vessels for those who know how to said by don't own a boat. Selections ranges from 25 to 48 feet in length, complete with living and picnicking accommodations. Vacationers only need to pack food and gear.
Anyone who's ever dreamed of sailing can charter a boat with an instructor/guide to get a feel for what it's like. And, if they find it's the life they were meant to live, the charter companies offer lessons (usually three days on the water of two nights in a classroom with one day on the lake). Of course, any type of craft is available to rent or buy on Texoma - from personal watercraft to ski boats to party barges and houseboats.
FISHING
To say the fishing is great on Lake Texoma would be an understatement. Texoma offers a fishing experience to appeal to just about any sporting spirit. Given the size of the lake and the variety of species and habitats found on Texoma, it’s a safe bet anglers will never be bored.
Black bass, sand bass, small mouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish and others are abundant, but the king of Texoma fish has to be the “striper.” Striped bass (affectionately called stripers) are native to ocean waters. Since stripers were introduced here in the late 1960s Texoma has become known for some of the best striper fishing in the Southwest. In fact, very few lakes in the United States can match Texoma. Because stripers tend to migrate from one end of the lake to the other, a little advice from the locals can be very helpful to vacationing anglers.
The white bass, often called sand bass, is another popular fish. “Sandies” receive a lot of attention in the spring when massive schools travel to spawn in the creeks and streams that feed into the lake. Another popular time for sand bass is the summer when they school on the surface.
Lake Texoma is invariably mentioned in conversations about catfish—especially conversations about blue catfish. Texoma has produced a number of record fish—one Texoma “cat” weighed in at 118.5 pounds—as well as plenty of fish big enough to inspire more than a few fish tales.
A Lake Texoma fishing license will permit access to any part of the lake. To fish the Red River below Denison Dam, however, requires a state license from the appropriate state. Most marinas as well as bait and tackle shops sell licenses and can help explain the regulations.
The easiest way to ensure a successful catch is to hire a professional fishing guide. The Lake Texoma Association can put a visitor in touch with an experienced guide (580/564-2334). Not only can a guide take a seasoned angler straight to the best spots for the particular time of year, but they’re also great for the novice. They can provide all the best equipment and help with a little instruction on the proper techniques, too.
From bank fishing to boat fishing, from angling in a quiet cove to trolling the open water, the choices are here. It’s no wonder
why fishing is one of the most popular activities on Lake Texoma and why Lake Texoma is one of the most popular fishing spots in the Southwest.HUNTING
Approximately 80,000 acres of project land are open for public hunting. The State of Oklahoma has been provided 20,058 acres of these lands for intensive wildlife management purposes. Principal game species include whitetail deer, bobwhite quail, mourning dove, ducks, geese, cottontail rabbits, and squirrels. In addition, there are two national wildlife refuges located on the project. Public hunting maps showing areas open for hunting are available from the Denison Resident Office or the Tulsa District Office.
"Hunting licenses are not reciprocal and a license is required for the State in which you are hunting. A reciprocal license is available for fishing in the lake. however, if you plan to fish in the Red river below the dam a license for the state in which you are located is required."
CAMPING AND PICNICKING
Texoma's wide expanses of blue water and miles of cove-studded shoreline provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities for the millions of visitors it attracts annually. Fifty-four park areas have been developed by the Corps of Engineers. The States of Texas and Oklahoma each maintain large state parks. The 405-acre Eisenhower State Park, located a mile west of the south end of Denison Dam, has a large marina and one of the finest camping and public use parks in Texas. The Oklahoma State Park is a 1,844 acre playground on U.S. Highway 70 midway between Durant and Kingston. It has a lodge, modern cabins, trailer spaces, and camping sites.
The paved access roads that lead to the numerous parks are a sportman's roadway to unlimited recreation. The parks include drinking water, parking areas, fireplaces, trash containers, designated tent and trailer spaces, charcoal grills, and picnic tables for the convenience of all. There are also public boat docks which provide boat and motor rental services, fuel, food, and other boating supplies and services.
HIKING TRAIL
The Cross Timbers hiking trail begins in Juniper Point recreation area and winds west some 14 miles along the southern shoreline of the lake through Cedar Bayou and Paw Paw Creek Resorts to Rock Creek Camp. Between Juniper Point and Cedar Bayou, the hiker travels high above the lake on the rocky ledges that make up the shoreline. From these high vantage points, the hiker is refreshed by beautiful views of the lake and its shore. From Cedar Bayou to Paw Paw Creek Resort, the trail meanders through a blackjack oak woodland which typifies the Cross timbers environment. This segment of the trail takes the hiker through many changes of elevation. Between Paw Paw Creek Resort and Rock Creek Camp, the trail is much flatter and the tree cover sparse.
The trail is well marked, and mile posts have been erected along the way as reference points. you can expect a moderate to easy degree of difficulty from the trail as it is ideally suited for weekend adventures into the wilderness and for conditioning in preparation of extended wilderness trips.
A map and other pertinent information are available from the Resident Engineer in a brochure entitled, "Cross Timbers Hiking Trail."
US Army Corps of Engineers Project Office
351 Corps Road
Denison, Texas 75027
903-465-4990
Camping Reservations: 1-877-444-6777LAKE TEXOMA ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 610
Kingston, OK 73439
580-564-2334
