Thanks to abundant rains, Burleson man has a fish story to tell

This year’s rain has been good for area lakes, which in turn has been good for local fishermen.

Take Jeff Creamer, 49, of Burleson, who spends much of his spare time with a line in the water at Benbrook Lake.

He landed a 10-pound, 2-ounce largemouth bass on April 30.

Creamer doesn’t care that it’s not a record for a largemouth; that belongs to Bill Lynn, who reeled in a 13.66-pound bass from Benbrook in 1988, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

His catch is still the biggest bass he’s ever hauled in.

“It’s not everyday you catch a 10-pound bass,” Creamer said.

Creamer caught the bass using a crappie rig with a 6-pound test line and once it was hooked the bass took off — and he followed.

“I was running down the bank for about 30 yards ... hollerin’ at people to get their lines out of the water,” Creamer said. “They were looking at me like I was crazy.”

Creamer — a fisherman for “about 45 years, I guess” — said he caught the fighter in Rocky Creek.

Rocky Creek Park had been closed for a while because of the ongoing drought, but a steady stream of thunderstorms have dumped enough rain to allow it to be reopened during the day, according to the Corps of Engineers.

So far this year, North Texas has received 15.24 inches of rain, which is 11.31 inches more than this time last year, according to the National Weather Service.

Benbrook Lake is 85.8 percent full, up from 74.9 percent a month ago.

“Benbrook is real good right now,” Creamer said. “It’s a happening place.

“There’s lots of people fishing, and lots of fish.”

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 10:07 AM with the headline "Thanks to abundant rains, Burleson man has a fish story to tell."