Lake Striker
Lakes in the East Texas Area
In the Piney Woods Section of East Texas, there are over 50 lakes offering a variety of outdoor sports for vacations or weekends.
The Upper East Texas area has a number of other lakes in its immediate vicinity including Lake Palestine and Lake Tyler, providing fishing, swimming, water skiing, houseboats, jet skis, sailing and other outdoor and hiking activities.
Within easy driving distance are lakes such as Toledo Bend Reservoir, Lake Jacksonville, and Lake Striker.
Lake Striker Location and Characteristics
 Lake Striker at sunset |
Lake Striker is located near Reklaw and New Summerfield, 20 miles east of Jacksonville, and 18 miles southwest of Henderson. Its normal pool elevation is 292.93 feet above sea level.
The lake is owned and operated by the Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties Water Control and Improvement District # 1.
It is located on Striker Creek, and has a surface area of 1,863 acres according to Texas Parks & Wildlife. The lake was impounded in 1957. It features a maximum depth of 35 feet, with annual variations of 1-2 feet. The dam is located on the south end of the lake.
Striker Creek originates 6 miles east of New Summerfield in northeastern Cherokee County and flows southeast for 21 miles through Rusk County to its mouth on the East Fork of the Angelina River, 2 miles west of Reklaw, Texas. The creek is dammed in its upper reaches to form Lake Striker.
The drainage area above the dam is 182 square miles, and the local terrain is flat to rolling and surfaced by sandy and clay loams that support water-tolerant hardwoods, conifers, and grasses.
The east shore of the lake is located on CR 4255 between FM 839 and U.S. 79. The west shore is located on FM 3288 and other local roads (see area map below on this page).
The lake derives it name from Striker Town, a Cherokee Indian village in Cherokee County. The townsite is located just west of present-day Lake Striker.
| Shown below is the dam at the south end of Lake Striker |
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 The bounty of a good day of Crappie fishing at Lake Striker |
Lake Striker Fishing
The black bass and channel catfish fisheries are the most popular at the lake. Crappie are also present and provide a fair fishery. Bluegill and redear sunfish are present in high numbers and provide good fishing, especially for youth or inexperienced anglers.
Habitat in in the lake consists of standing timber, boat docks, and lily pads. Game fish are typically found around brush, points, boat docks, and creek channels.
A guide service is available in nearby Reklaw.
Lake Striker Recreation and Uses
Lake Striker provides recreation and outdoor activities for everyone, with boating, houseboating, camping, RVing, canoeing, hiking, biking, and fishing all being popular activities.
 Water sports like kayaking are popular at Lake Striker |
It also offers waterfront and lakeside living for many Texans and visitors, and lodging including RV parks, campgrounds, resorts, cabins, and motels.
Water from the lake is also used for industrial purposes. The District operating the lake sells water for use by Luminant Energy, which operates a power plant on the western shore. The District also provides cooling water for Southern Company's new biomass fired power plant in Sacul.
The District operating the lake leases waterfront and off-water lots which are located in the Lake Striker Shoreline Subdivision.
Lake Striker Resort
The Lake Striker Resort, on the east side of the lake, offers hotel rooms, cabins, camp sites, a RV park, a restaurant and a live entertainment venue.
It also features a marina with boat launch, covered fishing pier, fully-stocked bait house, and a Texas Parks and Wildlife official weigh-in station.
The resort hosts numerous events and groups through the year. Christmas, Fourth of July and other celebrations provide fun and excitement for resort guests and area residents.
It is a great summer vacation destination where friends and family can enjoy fishing, volleyball, boating, swimming, horseshoes and live entertainment. The outdoor stage comes alive for entertainment on Saturday nights during the Summer.
The official address of the resort is 18560 County Road 4256, South Reklaw, Texas 75784.
For more information, visit the website of the Lake Striker Resort or the Lake Striker Resort on Facebook. You can also phone the resort at 903.854.2404
| The Striker Lakeside Restaurant: Catfish, Steaks, Seafood and more! |
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| The marina and boat dock area at the Lake Striker Resort |
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| One of the cabins at Lake Striker Resort |
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Lake Striker Resources
Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties Water Control and Improvement District # 1
Lake Striker Information by Texas Parks and Wildlife
Lake Striker Water Data and Current Capacity
Texas Freshwater Lakes provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife
Lake Striker Water Level: Conservation Pool Elevation is 292.93'
Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey