WRL Bass Record & The Roots of Lakewood
If you spend enough time at White Rock Lake then you understand it’s more than a Dallas landmark. For some it’s a running trail, for others it’s weekend kayaking or cycling. For us, it was always about fishing.
Tyler Thomas and I had already logged years together as friends and fishing partners long before that particular morning. We’d fished in the heat at Middle Creek Ranch in Blanco County. In rain at Camp Mabry in Austin. And in plenty of wind in Bosque County. But that day on White Rock Lake stands out.
It was brutally cold. The kind of North Texas cold that doesn’t just sit in the air, it drives straight through you. The wind marched across the main lake without mercy, rolling heavy swells that made any thought of holding position out there unrealistic; especially in the SS Inflatable FishHunter. We launched with a plan to fish open water, but the lake had other intentions.
If you were writing home about it, you might have said morale was steady but tested. Hands numb. Faces stung raw. The main lake unyielding. We were forced to abandon the campaign and retreat into the creeks, where the banks offered some protection from the wind. There was no talk of quitting, just quiet resolve to adjust and press on.
That adjustment paid off.
In the calmer water of the creeks, we found what we were looking for. What followed was one of those moments every angler hopes for, a fish that didn’t just make the day worthwhile, but etched itself into the story of White Rock Lake fishing. The bass that came over the side of the boat that morning would go on to be recognized as a record bass from White Rock Lake, a rare feat anywhere, let alone in the heart of Dallas.
The Lakewood Jewel | White Rock Lake
White Rock Lake has long been one of the most unique urban fisheries in Texas. When people search for “White Rock Lake fishing” or “record bass Dallas,” they’re often surprised to learn just how productive this lake can be. Beneath the skyline and bike trails is a legitimate bass fishery with a long history of turning out impressive fish.
But fishing is only part of what makes this area special.
White Rock Lake recreation is woven into daily life here. Sunrise runs around the 9-mile trail. Crew teams cutting across still water in the evenings. Families posted up along the shoreline. It’s one of the primary reasons Lakewood real estate remains some of the most desirable in Dallas. Living near White Rock Lake means access to nature, to space, and to something that doesn’t feel like the middle of a major city.
Full Circle with TT Ranch Group
Today, Tyler is the founder of TT Ranch Group, and I have the privilege of working alongside him. Our history didn’t begin in a boardroom it began years ago in bass boats, on cold mornings like that one, learning how to read water, adjust to conditions, stay steady when things don’t go according to plan, and just be boys outside.
White Rock Lake has a way of shaping people who spend time on it. It rewards patience, adaptability, and persistence; whether you’re chasing a record bass or helping someone find the right property.
For me, that frigid morning wasn’t about “coming full circle.” It was simply one chapter in a much longer story, one that started on the water and continues today across land, ranches, and properties throughout Texas.
Every time I drive past White Rock Lake, I’m reminded that some of the best lessons and best memories…are earned when the conditions are at their worst.
In closing, you all may want to know what the unofficial White Rock Lake largemouth bass record weighed in at….11.4 lbs caught in 2010. Unofficial since we let her live another day and released her. The official White Rock Lake bass record is 8.41 lbs caught in 1996.
Travis Stein
Travis@ttranchgroup.com
214.534.6406
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
3131 Turtle Creek Blvd 4th Floor
Dallas, TX 75219
Ranch & Land Real Estate
Leave a Reply