Joe Pool Lake
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| Joe Pool Lake | |
|---|---|
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  Joe Pool Lake  Joe Pool Lake | |
| Location | Dallas / Tarrant / Ellis counties, Texas, United States |
| Coordinates | 32°37′43″N 97°0′19″W / 32.62861°N 97.00528°W |
| Catchment area | 233 sq mi (600 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 7,740 acres (31.3 km2) |
| Max. depth | 75 ft (23 m) |
Joe Pool Lake is a fresh water impoundment (reservoir) located in the southern part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in North Texas. The lake encompasses parts of Tarrant, Dallas and Ellis counties. The lake measures 7,740 acres (31.3 km2) with a conservation storage capacity of 176,900 acre-feet (218,200,000 m3). With a maximum depth of 75 feet (23 m) the lake drains an area of 232 square miles (601 km2).
Joe Pool Lake was named after Joe Pool, a congressman from the Oak Cliff area of Dallas who represented this district from 1963 until his death in 1968. Pool was highly influential in the passage of legislation and funding of the lake. The project to build Joe Pool Lake initiated by a promise made in 1961 by Joe Pool and was carried out by a citizens committee called the Lakeview Planning Council. He project was approved by Congress in 1965 and known as Lakeview Lake until 1982 when it was renamed to the present name. Actual construction began in 1977 and was completed in December 1985. Impoundment of water began in January 1986 and the lake was filled by June 1989. [1]
Parks and recreation
Joe Pool Lake includes a number of parks, paved boat ramps and parking lots, public swimming areas, a public marina as well a second marina located inside Cedar Hill State Park. Other parks include Britton Park, Loyd Park, and Lynn Creek Park.
Lynn Creek Marina
A marina and restaurant located on the north side of the lake, just off Lake Ridge Parkway near the Lynn Creek Park entrance. The Lynn Creek Marina has more than 500 wet slips for fishing, pleasure and sail boats; boat rentals; an indoor-outdoor fishing area; and Blue Sunshine Patio Bar & Grill - formerly The Oasis restaurant.
Water Resources
Joe Pool lake is mostly fed by Mountain Creek and Walnut Creek and drains north into Mountain Creek leading into Mountain Creek Lake. Joe Pool Lake is one of the few lakes in Texas that actually drains to the north. Joe Pool lake impounds water in two arms formed by Mountain Creek and Walnut Creek. The Mountain Creek Water Shed is in the Upper Trinity River Basin and has a length of 37 miles (60 km) and a total drainage area of 304 square miles (787 km2).
Currently (2005) Joe Pool Lake serves as a reservoir for the City of Midlothian for their public water supply. Several other entities have water interests in Joe Pool Lake, but are not currently using the water resources. The City of Midlothian has a water intake structure in the southeast leg of the lake. They consume water at a daily rate anywhere from 1 million US gallons (3,800 m3) in the winter months to 9 million US gallons (34,000 m3) in the summer months. The Trinity River Authority of Texas also has a water intake structure in Cedar Hill State Park, but it currently not in use.
Fishing
Fishing Regulations
Most species are currently managed with statewide regulations. The exception is a 14 to 21-inch (530 mm) slot limit on largemouth bass. Anglers may keep bass that are 14 inches (360 mm) or less in length, or 21 inches (530 mm) or greater. Daily bag for all species of black bass is 5 in combination, but only one largemouth bass 21 inches (530 mm) or greater may be retained each day.
Stocking history
| Species | Year | Number stocked | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | 2006 | 325,681 | Fingerling |
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | 2005 | 317,036 | Fingerling |
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | 2001 | 182,049 | Fingerling |
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | 1987 | 203,315 | Fingerling |
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | 1986 | 248,256 | Fingerling |
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | 1986 | 417,554 | Fry |
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | 1984 | 2,700 | Fingerling |
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | 1981 | 2,970 | Fry |
| Bluegill, Coppernose | 1986 | 5,290 | |
| Bluegill, Coppernose | 1985 | 125,000 | |
| Bluegill, Coppernose | 1981 | 19,950 | |
| Catfish, Channel | 1986 | 546,900 | Fingerling |
| Catfish, Channel | 1986 | 203,100 | Fry |
| Shad, Threadfin | 1981 | 1,080 |
All-ages records
| Species | Weight | Length | Date | Angler | Bait or lure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Largemouth | 12.89 lb (5.85 kg) | 24.00 in (610 mm) | March 5, 2006 | Robert Gaston | |
| Bass, White | 1.94 lb (0.88 kg) | 17.00 in (432 mm) | June 18, 2005 | David Hartnett | |
| Bluegill | 0.38 lb (0.17 kg) | 8.25 in (210 mm) | September 8, 2005 | Chad Edwards | freelined corn |
| Bullhead, Yellow | 1.57 lb (0.71 kg) | 15.25 in (387 mm) | April 2, 2006 | Alissa Lewis | worm |
| Carp, Common | 12.02 lb (5.45 kg) | 32.00 in (813 mm) | January 26, 2005 | Chad Edwards | freelined bread |
| Carp, Grass | 32.00 lb (14.51 kg) | 40.00 in (1,016 mm) | June 5, 1997 | Alex Alatorre | homemade dough bait |
| Catfish, Channel | 10.89 lb (4.94 kg) | 28.00 in (711 mm) | November 18, 2006 | Trace Neatherlin | cut bait |
| Crappie, Black | 2.03 lb (0.92 kg) | 15.00 in (381 mm) | May 2, 2004 | Scott Pekrul | splittail spinner |
| Crappie, White | 2.59 lb (1.17 kg) | 16.75 in (425 mm) | June 30, 1990 | George T. Hearn | |
| Drum, Freshwater | 2.10 lb (0.95 kg) | 14.50 in (368 mm) | September 6, 2004 | Germain Gardea | shiner |
| Sunfish, Green | 0.65 lb (0.29 kg) | 10.00 in (254 mm) | May 12, 1990 | Richard Collins | |
| Sunfish, Longear | 0.06 lb (0.027 kg) | 4.81 in (122 mm) | September 10, 1995 | Jay Largent |
| Species | Weight | Length | Date | Angler | Bait or Lure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, White | 0.72 | 12.50 | July 26, 2005 | Howell Dodd | clouser |
| Sunfish, Green | 0.42 | 8.31 | July 3, 2003 | Jody Moore | popping bug |
| Species | Weight | Length | Date | Angler | Bait or Lure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 16.30 | 27.50 | December 26, 2005 | Bennett Crow | |
| Carp, Common | 21.13 | 34.25 | December 10, 2006 | Bennett Crow |
Junior angler records
| Species | Weight | Length | Date | Angler | Bait or Lure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullhead, Yellow | 1.57 | 15.25 | April 2, 2006 | Alissa Lewis | worm |
| Carp, Common | 6.06 | 0.00 | May 13, 2006 | Trey Edwards III | boiled maize |
| Catfish, Channel | 7.15 | 25.75 | August 5, 2005 | Alissa Lewis | worm |
Fishing tips
Marked brush piles offer habitat in the lower end of the reservoir which are often good for both bass and crappie. Crappie fishing is also good under the bridges on both arms of the lake. In the Walnut Creek arm, the old creek channel is a good place to look for bass.
Fishing quality
- Largemouth bass: 3 of 5
- Catfish: 2 of 5
- Crappie: 3 of 5
- Sunfish: 2 of 5
Facilities
The TRA maintains excellent day use and overnight public recreation facilities. The only free boat ramp on the lake is at Britton Park on the upper end of the Mountain Creek Arm, although it is $5 to park. Cedar Hill State Park on the east side of the lake has the second most campsites of any facility in the state park system. It also has lighted fishing piers, boat ramps and group shelters. Local anglers complain that state park gates do not open until 8 a.m. daily.
See also
References
- Cedar Hill State Park and Joe Pool Marina
- Tangle Ridge Golf Club
- Army Corps of Engineers Joe Pool lake
- Areas of Outdoor Interest
- Lynn Creek Marina
- Handbook of Texas Online
- SMU Archaeological and Historical Investigations of Joe Pool lake
- Cabins at Loyd Park on Joe Pool lake
- Dallas Morning News Article ID 0ED3CDCE9CEF65D0 Publish Date: December 22, 1985
- City of Grand Prairie Lynn Creek Park on Lake Joe Pool Offers Free Entry to Grand Prairie Residents[permanent dead link]
External links
- Cedar Hill State Park and Joe Pool Marina
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Joe Pool Lake
- Joe Pool lake dot Org Website
- Loyd Park
- Lynn Creek Park
- Information about all of the Lake's amenities
