Lake Bob Sandlin is located in Camp, Franklin, Titus, and Wood Counties in northeast Texas. It covers an area of 9,004 acres with 75 miles of shoreline with a maximum depth of 65 feet. To create Lake Bob Sandlin for water supply purposes and to attract industry, Titus County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1 formed in 1966 and the Texas Utilities Electric Company joined in the project in 1973. Construction on its Ft. Sherman dam began in 1974, and it impounded in 1977. The Cypress Creek channel, aka Cyprus Bayou, that feeds Lake Bob Sam flows through the middle of it. It is nestled in a rural area about five miles south of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, and an easy 50 miles slightly northeast of Dallas.

History of Lake Bob Sandlin

Bob Sandlin was president of the Titus County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1 which operates Lake Bob Sandlin today.

The modern history of the area in and around Lake Bob Sandlin predates the Civil War. The Republic of Texas established Ft. Sherman to protect settlers in the late 1830s and named after Lieutenant Colonel. Sidney Sherman, a commander at the battle of San Jacinto. This ten-foot high wooden stockade no longer exists, but its cemetery remains at the Bob Sandlin State Park operated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

The Cyprus River Basin, one of the smallest major river basins in Texas, supported the Caddo Indians for centuries. The French and Spanish were the first European explorers to map out and trap in the region. Later the Alabama, Cherokee, Choctaw, and Coushatta immigrants from the southeastern U.S. lived there.,

Between the Republic of Texas era and when the railroads came into east Texas, Cyprus Creek saw its fair share of steamboat traffic. After the Civil War, steamboat traffic increases with farmers and ranchers as far away as Dallas loading their goods bound for Shreveport and New Orleans, Louisiana. By 1860, American settlers used the rich land for farming and ranching.,,,

Fishing on Bob Sandlin

Angler’s find good fishing for largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill and redear sunfish. Lake Bob Sandlin has about 3% aquatic vegetation on the surface with the dominant species being hydrilla, inundated timber and aquatic vegetation, and two to four-foot visibility. Other less predominant fish species include spotted and white bass, smallmouth buffalo, bowfin, and warmouth. The TPWD also stocks Lake Bob Sandlin with rainbow trout. When fishing from the shore or a pier, you do not need a fishing license at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park. which also has two stocked ponds. Trout Pond and Brim Pond are stocked with largemouth bass, catfish and crappie, plus the park loans fishing poles. Hire a pro on our Lake Bob Sandlin Fishing Guides page. 

Boating on Lake Bob Sandlin

Lake Bob Sandlin is shallow in many areas. Boaters, personal watercraft enthusiasts, and water-skiers are cautioned to watch out for stumps. This lake presents a great opportunity for kayaking and canoeing and there are great coves for wet biking on smooth as glass surface water. The natural surroundings are breathtaking along with the sunrises and sunsets, plus the fall foliage is pure eye candy. There are a couple of boat dealers with mechanic services, and several places to rent boats and kayaks. Get started on our Lake Bob Sandlin Marinas page. 

Rental Cabins and Vacation Homes

When you need a quiet getaway surrounded by natural beauty, Lake Bob Sandlin fills the bill with family fun activities and a party cove to boot. Lake Bob Sandlin State Park offers cabins and and screened shelters. Barefoot Bay RV Resort & Marina rents four different sized cabins with all the features of a hotel. You will find these great places to stay on the waterfront. There are quite a few private rental homes available from cozy cottages to 5 bedroom homes, but book your rental in advance. The Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards near Pittsburg rents cottages. Check out these listings to find your perfect vacation on our Lake Bob Sandlin Cabins page. 

Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Some real estate is available. Lake Bob Sandlin is located in a small market, but homes are expensive. Pittsburg ISD and Mt. Pleasant ISD offer the only schools. This is a wonderful area for a vacation home, second home, or forever home if you love the quiet of beautiful pine trees and all the nature that the East Texas Piney Woods has to offer, but this is not an area for people who need the hustle and bustle of the city and its nightlife. Explore real estate listings on our Lake Bob Sandlin Homes For Sale page. 

Camping at Lake Bob Sandlin

Choose from 75 tent sites at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, or check out Barefoot Bay RV Resort & Marina’s park for tent camping year round with or without water and electric plus bathrooms and a dog park. The marina and state park also have RV campsites with all the amenities and bathrooms. Plan your camping adventure starting on our Lake Bob Sandlin Camping and RV Parks page. 

Things To Do At Bob Sandlin

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife, offers camping, hiking, mountain biking, geocaching, and fishing from their pier, shore, or two stocked ponds. Barefoot Bay RV Resort & Marina rents bicycles, kayaks, paddleboats, and paddle boards, has a game and rec room, nature trails, a horseshoe pit, volleyball court, pool tables, and a clubhouse with a big screen TV. There are restaurants in Pittsburg and Mt. Pleasant, and the Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards near Pittsburg. The Walmart in Mt. Pleasant is not too far away if you need supplies. Visitors to Pittsburg can see its two Rural North Texas Heritage Museums and quaint town square.  

Lake Bob Sandlin Weather

The counties around Lake Bob Sandlin see an average of 48 inches of rain and two inches of snow per year with about 214 sunny days. April, May, and October are the most comfortable months. January’s low is 32 degrees and July’s high is 93 degrees. Stay up to date on the forecast on our Lake Bob Sandlin Weather page.

Flora and Fauna

The Piney Woods and Blackland Prairie ecoregions meet at Lake Bob Sandlin, known as the Post Oak Savannah transition area. Different species of dogwood, hickory, maple, oak, pine, redbud, and sweet gum trees put on a breathtaking fall foliage show. Bird watchers have reported 95 species of birds in the Lake Bob Sandlin area with 52 found at Barefoot Bay RV Resort & Marina in two hours. People see more raccoons than anything, but there are also coyotes, deer, feral hogs, foxes, and the rare bobcat.