The history of Cedar Creek Lake begins with the first hole in the ground, which began in 1961 before the lake was completed in 1965.
The lake is located 15 miles west of the town of Athens between US Highway 175 and Texas Highway 274.
It encompasses 32,623 acres and its maximum depth sits at 53 feet. The lake has a drainage area over 1,000 square miles. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department maintains three islands, totaling 160 acres, as a wildlife management area for aquatic birds. The lake is owned by the Tarrant Regional Water District, and supplies water to Fort Worth and other cities and water districts in Tarrant and Johnson Counties.
Cedar Creek Lake is a fourth water source for Tarrant Regional Water District’s water supply. Its normal system capacity is 322 ft. above sea level. When the lake gets over that point, gates from the spillway are opened, releasing water.
Cedar Creek Reservoir was built on Cedar Creek, a tributary to the Trinity River. The dam is at the south end of the lake in the town of Malakoff. The spillway on the west side of the lake lets water into a canal to the Trinity River, located in Tool. Other major creeks that contribute to the inflow are Caney Creek, Clear Creek and King’s Creek.
The towns on or near Cedar Creek Lake include Kemp, Mabank, Gun Barrel City, Payne Springs, Enchanted Oaks, Eustace, Caney City, Malakoff, Star Harbor, Trinidad, Tool and Seven Points. The spot is a destination for locals, as well as a popular weekend getaway for visitors from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Fishing and boating are two popular activities while on the lake, and there’s no shortage on what you can find with a rod and reel out on the water. The predominant fish species of Cedar Creek Lake are blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass and crappie.
The best fishing areas for largemouth bass are in the southern portion of the lake, where the water is clearer, especially the southern third of the lake in the large coves and inlets on Texas rig worms and top waters. Docks are a main place to catch the large bass. Always use Texas rigged worms, frogs, buzzbaits and crainkbaits. Jigs are a huge plus at the docks. Grass beds can also be found in the southern end producing plenty of largemouth bass, spinner baits and worms.
The lake’s record largemouth bass weighed 14.65 pounds (6.52 kg). Catfish can be found everywhere, with more blues than channels.
Fishing is particularly good in the spring and into summer. Due to the many smaller streams, creeks, and run-offs flowing into the lake, running jug lines in the channels of the many coves using goldfish, shad, and small sunfish makes for very good blue catfish and flathead (yellow) catfish fishing grounds.
Make sure to enjoy all that the lake has to offer this summer. Invite some friends, family and coworkers to bask in the hot Texas sun and have a safe and fun time while at 
Cedar Creek Lake.