Mill Creek Reservoir

Quick Links: Fishing Regulations | Angling Opportunities | Cover & Structure | Tips & Tactics

Lake Characteristics

Location: On Mill Creek, a tributary of the Sabine River, on Arnold Paul Road off Texas 243 in Canton, Van Zandt County
Surface area: 237 acres
Maximum depth: 25 feet
Impounded: 1976

Water Conditions

Fluctuation: Moderate, 2-4 feet
Normal Clarity: Stained

Reservoir Controlling Authority

City of Canton
PO Box 245
Canton, Texas 75103
(903) 567-2826

Aquatic Vegetation

Aquatic vegetation in Mill Creek Reservoir has recently been limited. Emergent species predominate, but submerged types such as coontail and bushy pondweed are scarce. The invasive aquatic species alligatorweed does provide some additional cover. Hydrilla is found in limited amounts.

Predominant Fish Species

• Largemouth bass
• Black & white crappie

Lake Records
Stocking History
Latest Survey Report

Fishing Regulations

This reservoir has special regulations on some fishes. See bag and size limits for this lake.

Angling Opportunities

Largemouth bass is the most popular sportfish and this reservoir has has produced trophy fish in the past. The quality of the crappie fishery is sporadic but occasionally good. Blue and channel catfish have been stocked, but are generally uncommon.

Species	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
Largemouth Bass
Catfish
Crappie

Fishing Cover/Structure

Flooded timber provides limited cover. Overhanging brush and emergent vegetation along the shore provide most of the available fish habitat in the reservoir. In November 2015, TPWD staff installed PVC fish habitat structures at three sites at a minimum water depth of 15 feet.

Use the Habitat Structure Viewer for an interactive map of fish habitat structures and downloadable GPS coordinates.

Tips & Tactics

Largemouth bass in the spring can be caught shallow along shorelines with overhanging brush and reeds with soft-plastics, jigs, and creature baits. In the summer, as bass move to deeper water, Carolina-rigged soft-plastics presented close to the bottom can be productive. Crappie can be found in the shallows spawning in the early spring. During the rest of the year, crappie will shadow schools of shad in the main lake. Using sonar to locate brush piles and/or schools of shad will often lead you to nearby crappie. Try using small hand-tied jigs and minnows for crappie.