I'm in Hurst and work a LOT and then I have Church on Sundays so my fishing time is somewhat limited. If I'm going to travel over about 45 minutes then I will take a day off and make a "trip" out of it. Therefore, here are the lakes easy for me to get to in under 45 minutes. And that includes fighting traffic.
They are listed in order of ease of getting to. So, for cats, which ones would you pick, 1st and 2nd?

Arlington
Grapevine
BenBrook
Joe Pool
Lake Worth
Eagle Mountain

These are a 2 hour trip, so I would make a day out of it.

Taw
Fork
Palestine

Your choice for #1 and #2?

I'm more about the catching, and not looking for a trophy. I want to spoil the wife and the child to fishing

David

The second I could help if during the week.

Yes, the second list is in my opinion far superior to the first.

I've only fished a few of the lakes on that list.

On the first list I would suggest grapevine.

On the 2nd, Twok

Just catching or looking to put fish in the freezer?

With the exception of Joe Pool all of the other lakes on the first list are good lakes for catfish. Joe Pool has channel catfish but not a great lake for them.

Arlington is a good channel catfish lake as far as numbers and size both. It's a sleeper that doesn't get talked about much.

The others are good for channels and blues. Lake Worth has a consumption advisory so not a great choice if you're wanting to keep fish.

Mark Joe Pool off your list and all of the others should provide ample fishing opportunity and save you a lot of gas and drive time.

I'm in Bedford and at 5am it takes about 25-30 minutes to get to Lewisville, which is my #1 choice. Ray Bob would be #2 at about an hour drive and #3 is Twak at just under 2 hours.

Thanks everyone. I want to put some fish in the freezer on occassion but that is secondary to just having fun.
Joe Pool and l. Worth are now off the list.