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Posted

So there’s a reservoir that just got put in 30-40 minutes from where I live called Bois D’arc Lake. It’s 16,600 acres so it’s no small pond. It actually used to be a 1000 acre lake called Bonham lake that was always pretty good fishing. Anyone who’s fished brand new, big reservoirs, where and how do you start fishing them? And is the fishing usually good right after it’s stocked and the fish haven’t seen any pressure? Or does it usually take a bit to get good? I’m eager to try it out but if I’m better off just sticking with my usual Texoma for a while until Bois D’arc matures, I’m just fine with that.

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here’s the lake for reference

 

thanks for y’all’s help!

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  • Super User
Posted

New ones that I have fished produced lots of fish on lots of different baits but we haven’t had any for a long time.

  • Super User
Posted

How long since the "new" lake was flooded?

 

Any stocking take place?

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  • Super User
Posted

April of 2021 is when they began to impound the lake.  It appears as though they've been stocking it pretty regularly.

 

Here's a link to an interesting map:

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/fish_attractors.phtml

Scroll down to the link for the habitat structure viewer, and it'll take you to an interactive map that shows what the area looked like before it was flooded.  It also has locations of timber piles, fish attractors, and gravel beds.  That's pretty handy.  But you might need to open up a second map in Google or something so you can see where the boundaries are of the actual lake.  Using these two together, you should be able to find plenty of areas worth checking out.  

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  • Super User
Posted

If there is a good population of forage/bait and a decent population of starter bass then you could be onto a winner.  Fresh impoundments usually have plenty of new shoreline/spawning cover for the first years to allow plenty of reproduction.  The bigger predators aren't there yet to knock down populations further.  All in it means there's a good start available.  Then it just depends on the forage amount and time.  I'd wager that over the next 5 years you'll have a pretty good place to fish.  You won't have big fish just yet uless the prior lake already had them, but you'll end up with a lot of 2-5 lb fish pretty quickly.  

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Posted

I dont know the history of this lake but there was probably bass in there for a while.  It looks like they've stocked with good sharelunker genes for at least 5 years and you got bluegill and threadfin shad in there.  It looks like Texas parks is taking this project seriously.. good lake to fish for big gals!  I'd first get a topo/depth map to survey and lookup local fishing reports.  When in doubt match the hatch.. good luck!

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Posted

I have fished a reservoir since its inception . Small fish everywhere. Almost everybody was beating the banks and visible cover. When I discovered how to fish points I had them all to myself for about two years. It was fantastic until everybody else caught on .

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  • Super User
Posted
1 hour ago, einscodek said:

It looks like Texas parks is taking this project seriously..

 

They take every lake seriously 

 

Every lake is Texas is man made except Caddo Lake.

  • Super User
Posted

I'd park on that lake for the next few years. I think it'll be amazing. 

Posted
1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

I'd park on that lake for the next few years. I think it'll be amazing. 

 

I have to agree with this. I would stay on that lake and learn everything there is to know about about it. By April of next year it will be 3 years old and with it being stocked fishing should be good. You might have to put up with some pressure for the first couple of years but don't let that deter you.

 

And Catt is correct in saying that Texas takes managing their lakes seriously. I would be extremely surprised if the lake turned out to be a disappointment.

 

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  • Super User
Posted

I’ve heard our wildlife resources folks say that our local lakes were very fertile after they were impounded and that this has diminished over time.  A lakes ability to produce trophy fish peeks after it is flooded and fish have had time to reach trophy size.  They point to two local lakes as an example.   Old Hickory lake produced the world record walleye 6 years after it was impounded.  Dale Hollow lake produced the world record smallmouth 12 years after it was impounded.  Both records still stand.  
 

Enjoy your new lake!

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Posted

Thanks everyone! I’m looking forward to taking the kayak out there this weekend

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Posted
On 10/31/2023 at 1:00 PM, ol'crickety said:

I'd park on that lake for the next few years. I think it'll be amazing. 

you and the entire rest of the state 

Bois D'arc is going to be crazy busy, it's been hyped up so hard and is close enough to DFW that I expect the ramps to be a madhouse for the first year or so that it's open. On other local forums it's like the only thing people really talk about much. I don't expect really big fish to come out of it for a few years at least - gotta get some of the smaller, faster fish out first. But I do anticipate an excellent trophy fishery here faster than the other lakes when they opened, and a higher overall bass per acre than its surrounding lakes in time. I would use caution on a kayak when it first opens but your catch rates are probably gonna be higher than anywhere else around at first.

 

23 hours ago, PBBrandon said:

Thanks everyone! I’m looking forward to taking the kayak out there this weekend

I wouldn't do this. The lake is not open to the public yet. Using Bois d’Arc Lake for recreation prior to its opening is considered trespassing and law enforcement may be notified. From what I have heard, those who do trespass will be fined, it's less of an "if" and more of a "when". I know those NTMWD guys to be highly unpleasant if you're breaking rules on their property. Ask me how I know 😃 Proceed with extreme caution if you do so at all

Posted
49 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

you and the entire rest of the state 

Bois D'arc is going to be crazy busy, it's been hyped up so hard and is close enough to DFW that I expect the ramps to be a madhouse for the first year or so that it's open. On other local forums it's like the only thing people really talk about much. I don't expect really big fish to come out of it for a few years at least - gotta get some of the smaller, faster fish out first. But I do anticipate an excellent trophy fishery here faster than the other lakes when they opened, and a higher overall bass per acre than its surrounding lakes in time. I would use caution on a kayak when it first opens but your catch rates are probably gonna be higher than anywhere else around at first.

 

I wouldn't do this. The lake is not open to the public yet. Using Bois d’Arc Lake for recreation prior to its opening is considered trespassing and law enforcement may be notified. From what I have heard, those who do trespass will be fined, it's less of an "if" and more of a "when". I know those NTMWD guys to be highly unpleasant if you're breaking rules on their property. Ask me how I know 😃 Proceed with extreme caution if you do so at all

Yeah I just read that it probably won’t be opening until January or so. Supposed to be a high school tourney or 2 in February. I’ll just hit up texoma instead. Gonna be a fight for spots when it opens it sounds like. Looking forward to it nevertheless 😎

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Posted
16 minutes ago, PBBrandon said:

Yeah I just read that it probably won’t be opening until January or so. Supposed to be a high school tourney or 2 in February. I’ll just hit up texoma instead. Gonna be a fight for spots when it opens it sounds like. Looking forward to it nevertheless 😎

Should be a high enough bass per acre that the pressure won't matter for a bit. We'll see if it fills up in enough time to make the tournament. I wasn't trying to rain on your parade, I just know that the tickets they're issuing to people on Bois Darc illegally are not cheap. 

Texoma is a great lake, I like flipping the docks around the state park. Good sheltered area. Great for kayaking just gotta stay inside the buoys. I had a 4lb there a few months ago that was being chased by at least two more just as big. You ever fish Lavon? If you ever wanna learn Ray Roberts shoot me a DM. I don't have a boat but the access to that lake is unparalleled in texas for its size. 

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