Lake Ralph Hall's New Fish Habitat

Lake Ralph Hall located in Southeast Fannin County and under construction on the North Sulphur River is one of Texas’ newest lakes. The 7,600-acre lake, which is being built by the Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) will supply water for the North Texas area, but it’s also expected to be a prime fishing location for anglers. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff and biologists from the Inland Fisheries Division, in partnership with UTRWD, had the rare opportunity to shape the fish habitat literally at the ground floor. The Denison District embarked on a massive fish habitat installation project in early 2024.
“This is a once in a career type of opportunity for folks in the fisheries field,” said Dan Bennett, Inland Fisheries Division Denison District Supervisor. “To see a new reservoir construction in the area and having a large source of funding to utilize for fish habitat that will benefit anglers for the next several decades is tremendous.”
TPWD staff placed three different types of habitat, called “reef balls”, “spider humps” and gravel spawning beds at multiple locations around the lake. TPWD will share the structure’s coordinates with anglers online using the Texas Fish Habitat Web Map in the future so they can go right to the exact spots and fish on them.
“There are a few different types of structures, including one that’s made of concrete called a reef ball,” said Bennett. “They are used mostly on the coast in the Gulf to create artificial reefs. We’ve had around 203 made to put out in the lake basin and are stacking those in configurations to congregate fish in areas. The spider humps are a conglomeration of logs and riprap (rocks) piled on top of each other and we are also installing 50,000 square feet of gravel spawning beds as part of the project. These beds will help the sunfish and bass have more reproductive success as the lake gets going. Anglers will be able to target the habitat improvements as soon as the lake fills.”
In addition, a coastal style fishing jetty was built by the Upper Trinity Regional Water District to enhance shoreline access for fishing once the lake is completed. TPWD and the Upper Trinity Regional Water District partnered to submit a $250,000 grant for the habitat and angler access project.
“I’d like to acknowledge and thank those who made this funding possible,” said Bennett. “Bass Pro Shops and the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) provided the initial $250,000 grant generated by the Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open which included a fishing event at Lake Ray Roberts. UTRWD matched that amount and provided funds for the coastal-style fishing jetty. They are also providing additional funding for boat ramps and access facilities around the reservoir. It’s really kind of unique that we have been allowed to come in and do this type of fish habitat construction before the lake fills.”
TPWD is also getting a jumpstart on fish stocking at Lake Ralph Hall. Fingerlings (largemouth bass) from the Toyota ShareLunker program and threadfin shad are going into a pond within the footprint of the reservoir to allow time for the fish to mature and begin spawning. Additional bass and other species will be stocked once the reservoir starts to fill to provide future fishing opportunities and establish healthy fish populations.
Construction began on Lake Ralph Hall in June of 2021.
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