Lake Fork Reservoir is located on Lake Fork Creek which is a major tributary of the Sabine River. The reservoir is owned and operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas. The lake inundates land in Wood, Rains and Hopkins Counties. Preliminary engineering studies for Lake Fork were started in November 1972 with actual construction beginning in the fall of 1975. Final closure of the dam was made in February 1980 and the normal lake level was reached in December 1985. Over 41,000 acres were acquired for the lake. The actual surface acres of Lake Fork during normal pool level is 27,690. Normal pool elevation is 403.0 feet above mean sea level. Lake Forks dam is over 12,400 feet in length with a crown width of 20 feet. The upstream slope of the embankment is protected from erosion by 2 feet of soil cement. The over all length of the spillway is 250 feet. The flow of water over the concrete ogee wier is controlled by five 20x40 foot tainter gates. Also contained in the spillway structure are two 5x8 low flow outlets and three metered water release pipes. The design discharge of the spillway is 81,900 cubic feet of water per second. Lake Fork Creek rises in the southwestern corner of Hunt County and flows east for 78 miles to where it joins the Sabine River southeast of Mineola. The stream drains an area of approximately 685 square miles in Wood, Rains and Hopkins Counties. Over 490 square miles of the Lake Fork Creek drainage area lies above the reservoir dam site. The topography of Lake Fork consists of gently rolling upland hills transected by the moderately wide flat floodplain of Lake Fork Creek. Lake Fork has been a Texas icon virtually from its beginning. More bass over 8 pounds are caught from Lake Fork than any other lake in Texas and perhaps the county. Recent economic studies show that over 300,000 anglers and their families visit Lake Fork each year with an overall $27.5 million dollar impact yearly on the surrounding area. Lake Fork dominates the Texas Top 50 Big Bass List with 34 entries. To get on the Texas Top 50 list, it takes catching a bass over 15 pounds. In addition to these over 15 pound bass, Lake Fork has also held the state record for largemouth bass since 1986! Bass fishing was tremendous when the lake first opened to the public in 1980. Fishermen could go out and catch over a hundred bass daily. Although these were mainly small bass with an occasional larger one thrown in, the tone was set for Lake Fork. As the 80's progressed, the bass became much larger at Lake Fork! In November 1986, a state record bass weighing 17.67 pounds was caught. This record held up until January 1992 when the current state record of 18.18 pounds was caught. Fishermen expect a new state record is out there just waiting to be caught!

DAY USE PARK:
Located on the northwest end of the SH-154 bridge this day use park is owned and operated by the Sabine River Authority. The park includes a nice fishing pier with wheel chair access, restrooms, swings and a pavilion.