Cooper Lake

White bass and hybrid striped bass provide excellent fisheries especially in the lake's open water areas. Because hybrid striped bass do not reproduce, they are stocked annually by TPWD to maintain the fishery. Crappie fishing, in general, is fair in the lake's abundant standing timber. Crappie fishing in the early spring can be quite good along retaining walls and structural pilings when the fish are spawning.

Flooded timber is found in most of the creeks, along the shoreline and in the upper half of Jim Chapman Lake. Access to the west half of the lake is through boat lanes, sedimentation lines and openings in the timber. The main river channel is a popular area for spring fishing.

In summer and early fall, schooling white bass and hybrid striped bass concentrate around main-lake points and humps. Topwater baits, jigging spoons, grubs, and lipless crankbaits are all popular. Sassy shad baits slow-rolled along the bottom and slab and flutter-spoons worked close to the bottom can generate both white bass and hybrid strikes. Other techniques for hybrids include trolling with in-line spinners and crankbaits and vertically jigging bucktail jigs. Live bait presentations for both hybrid and white bass are popular at all times of the year.

All species at Cooper Lake are managed under standard Texas statewide regulations.