Ray Roberts Lake Fishing
Access points, records, regulations and the current lake level on 25,600 acres in Denton County, Cooke County and Grayson County.
- 25,600acres
- 106 ftmax depth
- 7boat ramps
- 15.18 lbrecord bass
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
Ray Roberts Lake, Texas at a glance
Ray Roberts Lake is a 25,600 acre reservoir, 106 feet deep at the dam, first filled in 1987. On the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, 10 miles north of Denton off FM 455. The dam is in Denton County but the reservoir extends into Cooke and Grayson counties..
TPWD biologists rate largemouth bass, crappie and white bass as excellent here; catfish and sunfish rate good.
The lake record largemouth weighed 15.18 pounds and was caught in 2015.
Water clarity is usually clear; you will see native emergent vegetation includes water willow and cattail. submerged vegetation includes chara and milfoil which fluctuate with water level. native floating-leaved vegetation includes pondweed along the banks and flats; levels swing 3-5 feet.
Controlling authority: US Army Corps of Engineers. Ray Roberts Lake facts from the TPWD lake page, checked October 2026.
Water level at Ray Roberts Lake today
Current Ray Roberts Lake reading from TWDB. A minus sign means below full pool.
Texas Water Development Board, Water Data for Texas, reading dated 2026-10-08. Retrieved Oct 9, 2026 5:07 am ET. 30 day chart on TWDB.
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
What bites at Ray Roberts Lake
TPWD survey ratings for Ray Roberts Lake, species by species.
Bars: 4 excellent, 3 good, 2 fair, 1 poor.
The main game fish TPWD lists for this lake: Largemouth bass, White bass, Blue catfish, Channel catfish, Crappie, Sunfish.
Ray Roberts Lake lake records
Every species record TPWD keeps for Ray Roberts Lake.
| Species | Weight (lb) | Length (in) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead catfish | 62.6 | 54 | 2014-12-15 |
| Blue catfish | 61.05 | 45.38 | 2026-03-14 |
| Smallmouth buffalo | 35.92 | 37.25 | 2024-07-30 |
| Longnose gar | 22 | 51.25 | 2004-03-29 |
| Freshwater drum | 21.2 | 31.5 | 2004-06-19 |
| Largemouth bass | 15.18 | 26.25 | 2015-03-07 |
| Common carp | 12.82 | 27.5 | 2018-10-27 |
| Channel catfish | 11.22 | 27.88 | 2016-11-29 |
| Hybrid striped bass | 11.1 | 28 | 2020-06-13 |
| Striped bass | 8.26 | 29 | 1998-08-28 |
| Smallmouth bass x spotted bass bass | 6.42 | 21.5 | 2019-03-02 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6.16 | 21.25 | 2011-11-19 |
Ray Roberts Lake records: TPWD water body records, list updated October 8, 2026. Retrieved October 2026.
Boat ramps and access on Ray Roberts Lake
TPWD lists 7 access points on this lake, 7 with a boat ramp and 2 with a marina.
Buck Creek
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (940) 686-2148
Jordan Park
Four lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (940) 686-2148
State Park, Isle du Bois Unit
Boat ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (940) 686-2148
Sanger Park & Ray Roberts Marina
Boat ramp; marina; fee charged. (940) 458-7343
Pond Creek
Two lane ramp; marina; fee charged; restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (940) 686-2148
Pecan Creek
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (940) 686-2148
State Park, Johnson Branch Unit
Boat ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (940) 637-2294
9 mapped points from the TPWD access layer; ramp notes from the Ray Roberts Lake page at TPWD, checked October 2026.
Fishing limits at Ray Roberts Lake
No lake specific exceptions are posted for Ray Roberts Lake, so statewide limits apply.
| Species | Daily bag | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | 5 | 14 in minimum |
| Striped bass | 5 | 18 in minimum |
| Hybrid striped bass | 5 | 18 in minimum |
| White bass | 25 | 10 in minimum |
| Flathead catfish | 5 | 18 in minimum |
| White crappie | 25 | 10 in minimum |
| Black crappie | 25 | 10 in minimum |
Limits for Ray Roberts Lake from the TPWD Outdoor Annual, 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027), checked October 2026.
Fish stocked in Ray Roberts Lake
| Year | Species | Number | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lone star bass | 347,062 | Fingerling |
Ray Roberts Lake stocking: TPWD stocking by water body, retrieved October 2026.
Tournaments on Ray Roberts Lake
| Date | Event | Organizer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-21 | 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour | B.A.S.S. | completed |
| 2026-04-18 | Bass Champs 2026 Stop #4 – Ray Roberts | Bass Champs | completed |
| 2026-05-16 | 2026 TXTT Stop 4 Lake Ray Roberts | Texas Team Trail (Outdoor Teamworks) | completed |
| 2027-04-03 | Bass Champs 2027 Stop #3 – Ray Roberts | Bass Champs | upcoming |
| 2027-05-12 | 2027 Toyota Series at Lake Ray Roberts (Southwestern Division) | Major League Fishing | upcoming |
Tournament dates for Ray Roberts Lake from each organizer, retrieved October 2026.
Shops and guides near Ray Roberts Lake
- Ray Roberts MarinaSanger, 4 miles northwest of the lake, (940) 458-7588
- Xcite BaitsPilot Point, 9 miles northeast of the lake, (940) 324-3507
- Myers Market Gas & Bait, 9 miles north of the lake
- SDS OutdoorsDenton, 10 miles southwest of the lake, (214) 551-1530
- Academy Sports + Outdoors DentonDenton, 11 miles southwest of the lake, (940) 483-4300
- Academy Sports + Outdoors FriscoFrisco, 14 miles southeast of the lake, (469) 296-1076
- Lakeview BaitLittle Elm, 15 miles southeast of the lake, (972) 292-2525
- Cottonwood Creek MarinaLittle Elm, 16 miles southeast of the lake, (972) 292-1100
Shop and guide sources for Ray Roberts Lake: OpenStreetMap, store locators and guide websites (October 2026).
Lakes and towns near Ray Roberts Lake
Lewisville Lake
20 miles south, 29,592 acres
Grapevine Lake
27 miles south, 6,684 acres
Muenster Lake
29 miles northwest, 309 acres
Moss Lake
31 miles north, 1,140 acres
- DentonDenton County, 11 miles southwest
- Little ElmDenton County, 14 miles southeast
- CorinthDenton County, 14 miles south
- CelinaCollin County, 15 miles east
- Denton CountyFishing access across the county
- Cooke CountyFishing access across the county
- Grayson CountyFishing access across the county
Questions about fishing Ray Roberts Lake
How big is Ray Roberts Lake?
Ray Roberts Lake covers 25,600 surface acres and is 106 feet deep at its deepest point, according to TPWD.
When was Ray Roberts Lake built?
The reservoir was impounded in 1987 on Elm Fork.
What is the Ray Roberts Lake record largemouth bass?
The lake record largemouth bass weighed 15.18 pounds and measured 26.25 inches, caught 2015-03-07, per TPWD water body records.
What other lake records does Ray Roberts Lake hold?
Flathead catfish 62.6 lb; Blue catfish 61.05 lb; Smallmouth buffalo 35.92 lb.
What fish are best at Ray Roberts Lake?
TPWD rates largemouth bass excellent; catfish good; crappie excellent; white bass excellent; sunfish good.
How many boat ramps are on Ray Roberts Lake?
TPWD lists 7 boat ramps on Ray Roberts Lake, and 1 of them charge no fee.
Is there a marina on Ray Roberts Lake?
Yes. TPWD lists 2 marinas at Ray Roberts Lake: Sanger Park & Ray Roberts Marina and Pond Creek.
How do I check the water level at Ray Roberts Lake?
Look at the water level section of this page: it pulls the Ray Roberts Lake reading from TWDB every hour.
What are the fishing limits at Ray Roberts Lake?
No special rules at Ray Roberts Lake. The statewide largemouth limit is 5 fish, 14 inch minimum.
Is Ray Roberts Lake stocked?
Yes. TPWD stocked 347,062 fingerling lone star bass in 2024.
Are there fishing tournaments on Ray Roberts Lake?
Upcoming: Bass Champs 2027 Stop #3 – Ray Roberts on 2027-04-03, run by Bass Champs.
What town is closest to Ray Roberts Lake?
Denton is 11 miles southwest of the lake center, in Denton County.
Plan a day on Ray Roberts Lake
Check the level, then pick a ramp from the list above.