From Bone Dry to Almost Ready to Fish: Checking on Choke Canyon Reservoir After the Texas Floods

Published: Aug 9, 2026

Author: Edmund Winston

We came out expecting to catch nothing, just to see how much the lake had changed. A few weeks after flooding swept through the area, we headed back to check on a lake that had looked completely different the last time we visited.

We weren't really there to fish. The goal was simply to see what the water levels looked like now that the flooding had receded and the water had had some time to settle. And the difference was pretty incredible.

The Water Is Back

Our first stop was the 99 boat ramp. Even before getting there, it was obvious that the lake had changed dramatically. After driving across the bridge, we could see that the water was far higher than it had been during our previous visit.

The last time we were here, the water flowing through the area was little more than a trickle — about a foot deep. Now, the water has reached the boat ramp. If the dock were still in its normal location, there would be enough water to fish from it again, and boats could apparently make their way into the area — something that hadn't been possible when the lake was at its previous low point.

The water was also surprisingly clean and mostly clear, suggesting that things had settled down considerably since the flooding. Of course, getting to the bank was another story: vegetation and flood debris made some of the old paths nearly impossible to navigate.

A Completely Different Landscape

One of the biggest changes was how much of the old shoreline had disappeared beneath the water. During our previous visit, we were able to walk a considerable distance from the shoreline before even reaching the water — in some areas, almost all the way across what had once been part of the lake. Now, much of that same area was underwater.

Roads and paths that had previously been visible were gone, and areas that had once been easy to walk through were now covered by water or surrounded by thick vegetation. There was also a noticeable smell of rotting vegetation. The flood brought the water back, but it also submerged a tremendous amount of grass, brush and other plant material, which will take time to decompose — making fishing from shore difficult for now.

A Few Casts Anyway

Even though we weren't expecting much, it was hard to stand next to all that new water without making a few casts. The water looked good enough to fish, but the surrounding conditions weren't particularly promising: plenty of submerged and floating vegetation, plus wind.

We also checked an area where anglers had traditionally left fish remains after cleaning their catch — an informal way of seeing what people were catching. This time, there wasn't much evidence: some old bones and shells, and one relatively fresh-looking fish fillet and tail, possibly from a catfish. Compared with what we'd normally expect to see, the area was pretty empty. Not a scientific survey, but not a confidence booster either.

The Road That Disappeared

Another striking difference was an old road that used to run through the area. During our previous visit, the road was clearly visible and could almost be driven across. Now, the water has reclaimed it. What had once looked like a road or bridge crossing was now simply part of the lake. In another area, what had previously been a path down toward the water now almost looked like a boat ramp.

There's Still a Long Way to Go

Although the water level has improved dramatically, the lake is still not back to where it should be. In one area, we measured roughly 3½ feet of water, considerably better than before, but there's still room for the lake to rise.

The biggest problem right now may actually be the amount of vegetation left behind. Areas that had been completely dry were covered with grass and brush. Now that those areas are underwater, that vegetation is decomposing, which means fishing conditions may remain difficult for a while. On the other hand, the submerged vegetation could eventually provide habitat and cover for fish once the lake settles down, but for now, you'll have to deal with the smell. 

A Lake That Was Once Completely Dry

One of the most remarkable parts of the trip was seeing 75 Acre lake. During our previous visit there was absolutely no water in it. It was bone dry. Now, after the recent rains and flooding, water has returned. It's still shallow and muddy, and we weren't convinced there were any fish at all in it yet. Since the lake had been completely dry, it was unclear where the fish would have come from. We don't know if it just collected rain water, or water flowed in from another part of the park. But there were signs of life: plenty of birds. Cranes were visible around the trees, and cranes tend to find fish when they're available. Concrete structures installed as bass habitat are almost underwater again, too.

The Road to Recovery

The trip wasn't about catching fish, and we didn't catch any, but that wasn't the point. We wanted to see how much the lake had recovered after the flooding, and the answer was encouraging. Just weeks earlier, parts of this lake had been completely dry. Now, water has returned to long-dry areas, boats can once again access parts of the lake, and the shoreline is becoming a shoreline again instead of a dry lakebed.

It's still going to take time. The water needs to settle, the massive amount of dead vegetation needs to break down, and the lake needs time to stabilize. But compared with what we saw previously, the change is dramatic. The water level is finally approaching what could be considered a healthy level. That doesn't necessarily mean the fishing will immediately be good, it may take a few more weeks for the ecosystem to settle into its new conditions. But if the water continues to hold, the outlook is much better than before. And that means we'll probably be back.

Next time, we're hoping there will be more than just water waiting for us.