Valentine’s Day was a day to love to fish on Richland Chambers as Skeeter Bass Champs North Region began its 2009 season. Three bass were weighed in tickling the 10 pound mark, with a winning stringer just shy of 30 pounds! Richard Draper and Phil Marks topped a field of 183 teams and took home $26,000 in cash for their win!

The lake was wind-blown and murky on this cold, chilly morning. Despite that it was an incredible day. Looking at the statistics in most tournaments, the average per bass weight runs in the two pound range. The average bass of the 329 weighed in was just over three pounds! Several big bass were weighed in, including three just missing the 10 pound mark. Richard Draper and Phil Marks had the biggest weighing 9.82 pounds, a big part of their winning stringer totaling 29.88 pounds.

Full Story

Lake Characteristics

Location: On Richland and Chambers creeks, east-southeast of Corsicana on US 287
Surface area: 41,356 acres
Maximum depth: 75 feet
Impounded: 1987

Water Conditions

Conservation Pool Elevation: 314 ft. msl
Fluctuation: 3 feet
Normal Clarity: Cloudy to moderately clear

Reservoir Controlling Authority

Tarrant County Water Control
Rt. 1, Box 1660
Streetman, Texas 75859
(903) 389-3928

Aquatic Vegetation

Moderate to light vegetation in coves and creek arms; some beds of floating pondweed and water stargrass along the shoreline

Predominant Fish Species

• White & hybrid striped bass
• Blue & channel catfish
• Largemouth bass
• Crappie
• Smallmouth buffalo
• Carp

Lake Records
Current Fishing Report
Stocking History

Fishing Regulations

Statewide regulations apply to all fishes.

Angling Opportunities

Richland Chambers is an excellent choice for anglers seeking catfishes, crappie, white bass or hybrid stripers. Angling for largemouth bass can be very good where anglers can find vegetation and clear water; however, these areas are somewhat limited in size compared to the lake surface. Many anglers set jug lines for catfishes and go after schooling white bass and hybrids while waiting for jug line action. Richland Chambers produces abundant crappie (both black and white) and may be the area’s most consistent fishery for these fishes.

Species	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
Largemouth Bass
Catfish
Crappie
White & Hybrid Striped Bass
Sunfish

Fishing Cover/Structure

Native pondweeds are abundant in Big Cedar Creek and along the south bank of the Chambers Creek arm. Hydrilla is scattered along the south bank of the Richland Creek arm from Midway Marina west to the railroad trestle and from 7L ramp south to Pin Oak Creek. The old Trinity River levee forms a crescent-shaped underwater structure between the confluence of the Richland and Chambers creek arms and the dam.

Tips & Tactics

Largemouth bass anglers should look for fish congregated around underwater structure where they can be caught with jigging spoons and deep-diving crankbaits. Crappie anglers will have success with jigs or minnows near bridge crossings and in the abundant timber in the upper Richland and Chambers creek arms. Catfishes are everywhere; cut bait, stink bait, chicken livers, and worms are all productive. White bass and hybrid stripers are active from the 287 bridge to the dam. Use a graph recorder to find schools of shad or follow the birds to find schooling activity. Heavy jigs or slabs work well when fish are deep.

 

Source:Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/richland_chambers