Thinking about taking the family camping on Sam Rayburn towards the end of March. I've never been there. I'm looking for a place to tent camp with good fishing nearby without having to run the entire lake. I'm also thinking a somewhat protected area of the lake in case it gets windy. I like to leave my boat in the water if I can get a campsite that accommodates that. Any suggestions on what campgrounds? Any giant tournaments to avoid? I mainly bass fish but might try crappie or catfish to get my 4 yr old son on some fish.

Powel Park. They have covered boat slips you can rent by the day, with a gas pump on the water, store, and restaurant on site. Good tent camping sites. There may be some camp sites close enough to the water to beach your boat, but I'm not sure as I've always use boat stalls. There are protected areas around Powell that you can get in and good bass fishing in the area. Not sure about the crappie or catfish though.

Jackson Hill also has tent camp sites and some that you can beach your boat at. Also good fishing and protected areas depending on the wind direction.

Any time in March is tournament season, but should not be any going out of Powell Park. Jackson Hill is a popular tournament launch site and I would check with them to make sure there's not one going out of there the time you are planning for. Go during the week days to avoid the tournament crowd.

I would second this, Powell Park is a beautiful place not to mention the toys for the kids ... if they are out in march?

If the wind is up you can run over to Five fingers and launch for free.

Good advice

Mill creek.

Thanks I'll give Powell a call. I'm sure there will some tournaments on the weekends just so long as there isn't anything huge going on. I'll check out Mill Creek too.

I second Mill creek. You can get a site on the water. I can't speak for the fishing.

We always used Powell when camping. The only issue we ever had was when a big northern blew in a couple times. If your camping in one area there's not anything to block that big north wind. Other than that it's got a ton of fishing around it and you can get out of any wind with a nearby launch

Rayburn Park is nice and off the beaten path. Good fishing close by!

San Augustine park is another option. I stayed at an on the water campsite with electricity.