Joe Pool Lake Fishing
Boat ramps, survey ratings, records and the live level on 6,469 acres in Tarrant County, Ellis County and Dallas County.
- 6,469acres
- 75 ftmax depth
- 4boat ramps
- 14.45 lbrecord bass
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Joe Pool Lake, Texas at a glance
Dating to 1986, Joe Pool Lake takes in 6,469 acres with a maximum depth of 75 feet and lies in Tarrant County, Ellis County and Dallas County in the Prairies & Lakes region of Texas. Look for it in Tarrant, Ellis, and Dallas Counties four miles south of Grand Prairie on Mountain Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River.
Good TPWD ratings go to largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and white bass here.
The largemouth record here is 14.45 pounds, set in 2008.
Expect clear (near the dam) to stained water on a typical day; you will see hydrilla and small stands of american pondweed are found throughout the lake along the banks and flats; TPWD notes level fluctuation as 2-4 feet annually.
Controlling authority: US Army Corps of Engineers (972) 299-2227. Joe Pool Lake facts from the TPWD lake page, checked October 2026.
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The TWDB gauge for Joe Pool Lake against its conservation pool.
Texas Water Development Board, Water Data for Texas, reading dated 2026-10-14. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026 10:32 pm ET. 30 day chart on TWDB.
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
Species ratings for Joe Pool Lake
Each bar is the TPWD rating for that species at Joe Pool Lake.
Scale used for Joe Pool Lake: excellent 4, good 3, fair 2, poor 1.
The predominant fish on the TPWD list are Largemouth bass, White bass, White crappie, Channel catfish.
Trophy marks for Joe Pool Lake
Certified rod and reel records for Joe Pool Lake, sorted by weight.
| Species | Weight (lb) | Length (in) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead catfish | 39.38 | 2024-03-23 | |
| Blue catfish | 34.4 | 2023-12-19 | |
| Grass carp | 32 | 40 | 1997-06-05 |
| Common carp | 17.63 | 2008-06-07 | |
| Smallmouth buffalo | 15.1 | 27 | 2026-02-12 |
| Largemouth bass | 14.45 | 26.75 | 2008-04-08 |
| Channel catfish | 10.89 | 28 | 2006-11-18 |
| Freshwater drum | 9.38 | 26 | 2015-03-15 |
| River carpsucker | 4.35 | 21.25 | 2012-11-15 |
| White bass | 2.71 | 2021-03-17 | |
| White crappie | 2.59 | 16.75 | 1990-06-30 |
| Black crappie | 2.38 | 15.5 | 2025-03-16 |
Joe Pool Lake records: TPWD water body records, list updated October 8, 2026. Retrieved October 2026.
Getting onto Joe Pool Lake
Of the 5 access points TPWD lists here, 4 have a boat ramp and 2 have a marina.
Cedar Hill State Park
6 lane ramp; fee charged. (972) 291-3900
Ramp detailsBritton Park
Single lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking. (817) 467-2104
Ramp detailsLoyd Park
Four lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (817) 467-2104
Ramp detailsLynn Creek Marina
Two lane ramp; marina; fee charged; restrooms, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (817) 640-4200
Ramp detailsLynn Creek Park
Marina; fee charged; restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas. (817) 633-6265
Ramp details6 mapped points from the TPWD access layer; ramp notes from the Joe Pool Lake page at TPWD, checked October 2026.
Exceptions that apply on Joe Pool Lake
On this lake alone, the listed species follow these rules instead of statewide ones.
| Species | Rule at 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 bass 21 inches or greater may be retained. For smallmouth bass (if present), minimum length limit = 14 inches. No minimum length limit on Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass (if present.) Daily bag limit for all black bass species is 5 in any combination. |
Limits for Joe Pool Lake from the TPWD Outdoor Annual, 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027), checked October 2026.
What TPWD has stocked in Joe Pool Lake
| Year | Species | Number | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lone star bass | 165,387 | Fingerling |
Joe Pool Lake stocking: TPWD stocking by water body, retrieved October 2026.
Help on the water at Joe Pool Lake
- Lynn Creek MarinaGrand Prairie, 3 miles west of the lake, (817) 640-4200
- Rae J's Bait Beer & GrillArlington, 5 miles west of the lake, (817) 468-0276
- Lares MarinaArlington, 8 miles northwest of the lake, (682) 238-3745
- Academy Sports + Outdoors ArlingtonArlington, 8 miles west of the lake, (817) 375-3210
- Academy Sports + Outdoors MansfieldMansfield, 9 miles southwest of the lake, (817) 779-5420
- Flying FishArlington, 9 miles northwest of the lake, (817) 303-3335
- La Marina Community Resource CenterDallas, 9 miles northeast of the lake, (214) 623-0700
- Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co.Dallas, 14 miles northeast of the lake, (214) 219-2500
Shops within 30 miles of Joe Pool Lake: OpenStreetMap contributors and store lists, retrieved October 2026.
Other water close to Joe Pool Lake
Lake Arlington
13 miles northwest, 1,939 acres
Bachman Lake
16 miles northeast, 132 acres
White Rock Lake
19 miles northeast, 1,088 acres
Grapevine Lake
23 miles north, 6,684 acres
- Grand PrairieDallas County, 3 miles northwest
- DuncanvilleDallas County, 4 miles east
- Cedar HillDallas County, 4 miles southeast
- DeSotoDallas County, 8 miles east
- Tarrant CountyFishing access across the county
- Ellis CountyFishing access across the county
- Dallas CountyFishing access across the county
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Joe Pool Lake questions answered
How deep and wide is Joe Pool Lake?
TPWD lists Joe Pool Lake at 6,469 surface acres and is 75 feet deep at its deepest point.
When was Joe Pool Lake created?
Water started backing up behind the dam in 1986 on Mountain Creek.
What does the Joe Pool Lake bass record weigh?
The TPWD record largemouth here is 14.45 pounds and measured 26.75 inches, caught 2008-04-08.
Which non bass records stand at Joe Pool Lake?
Flathead catfish 39.38 lb; Blue catfish 34.4 lb; Grass carp 32 lb.
What fish are best at Joe Pool Lake?
Ratings from TPWD read largemouth bass good; catfish good; crappie good; white bass good.
How many boat ramps are on Joe Pool Lake?
You can launch from 4 boat ramps on Joe Pool Lake.
Is there a marina on Joe Pool Lake?
The TPWD list has 2 marinas at Joe Pool Lake, led by Lynn Creek Marina and Lynn Creek Park.
How full is Joe Pool Lake today?
TWDB data on this page shows how far Joe Pool Lake is from full pool, hour by hour.
Does Joe Pool Lake have special fishing regulations?
Yes, Black bass follow their own rules here, laid out in the 2026-27 table on this page.
What is the stocking history of Joe Pool Lake?
The latest TPWD stocking was 165,387 fingerling lone star bass in 2026.
What town is closest to Joe Pool Lake?
Try Grand Prairie, about 3 miles northwest of the lake center, in Dallas County.
Where can I buy bait near Joe Pool Lake?
Lynn Creek Marina in Grand Prairie is about 3 miles from Joe Pool Lake, one of 8 shops listed above.
Planning a day on Joe Pool Lake
Look over the nearby lakes in case the wind or the water level changes your plans.