Lake Sam Rayburn is the biggest lake in Texas and offers some of the finest fishing in Texas and definitely within East Texas offering several varieties of Bass, Catfish, Crappie and many other game fish. Lake Sam Rayburn offers many marinas and campgrounds for the outdoorsman and is a growing destination for those seeking retirement. Land values around this lake are still low and the communities are warm and inviting. If are not wanting to put down any roots, but would like to stay a bit at a nice campground, try Hanks Creek Park which is located between Zavalla and Huntington Texas. If you want a nice marina, try Powell Park, Shirley Creek, or Twin Dikes or any other fine bait, tackle, and food places on the lake. The lake covers approximitely 114,400 acres and was created by erecting a dam on the Angelina River. The lake is named after Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn who is regarded as one of the best Speakers of the House in history. Sam Rayburn, the man, was an ardent supporter of soil and water conservation. This lake acts not only as a recreational hotspot but also provides hydroelectric power from its dam and is a water conservation project created by The United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1956.  Cities near and on this lake include, Lufkin, Huntington, Zavalla, Etoile, Pineland, Broaddus, Woden and many other small communities.  The lake is approximately 3 1/2 hours from Dallas and right at 2 1/2 hours from Houston, perfectly located in the Heart of East Texas.