Lake Wright Patman, Malden Lake Park, Texas. (original) (raw)

Fishing Lake Wright Patman

As I recall from my childhood, Lake Wright Patman (as named on the official Texas state map, not Wright Patman Lake) was a much, much larger lake than the recent pictures of Ms. Sarah Reveley suggest.

This large and beautiful lake with multi thousands upon thousands of acre feet of fresh water on the Sulphur River, holds vast water reserves for the entire Ark-La-Tex area. The dam site and spillway are magnificent, too. Growing up within a stones throw of that mighty lake, my Dad and I fished there frequently with Uncle Frank Fed. Those two were "net" fishermen. Fishing from a boat with our nets, we must have harvested hundreds upon hundreds of pounds of fish over a 10 to 15 year period.

A "Buffalo" they called it! The "Buffalo" was the most prominent fish harvested by net on the lake, in addition to Catfish (the prize), Bass, Grenal and a host of some "unwanted" and unmarketable fish. The "Buffalo" is a good "eating" fish for "po country folk". It's only negative is a highly unusual amount of very small, mi-nute bones that are often severed or missed in the "dressing" process. Thus, upon dining, very slow and cautious eating was advised or those small bones could be missed a second time.

In December 1973, Lake Wright Patman replaced Lake Texarkana. This change was done by President Richard Nixon to honor the local Congressman, the Honorable Wright Patman.

The lake now covers a great part of the Sulphur River bottoms, which was at one time the hideout, domain and stomping grounds of notorious and infamous NE Texas outlaw, Cullen Baker; which is a whole 'nother story. -

"Ramblin' Ray, Conroe, Texas, December 12, 2007 Texas Park & Wildlife:
www.tpwd.state.tx.us

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