Coffee Mill Lake Feels Tucked into the Grasslands

Ten miles northeast of Bonham, Coffee Mill Reservoir sits inside Caddo National Grasslands. TPWD describes 650 acres edged mostly by natural shoreline, with plants growing both above and below the water.

That cover supports more than one kind of fishing day. TPWD's 2021-22 survey found channel catfish from 15 to 25 inches, largemouth bass up to 22 inches, and crappie up to 13 inches. Those are survey findings, not promises about the next cast, but they explain why the lake has a loyal following.

The campground has one boat ramp, and an access permit is required. Statewide fishing rules apply except that trotlines, throwlines, and juglines are not allowed. It is the sort of place where water, woods, and public land all arrive together.