With the financial support of the Upper Colorado River Authority, construction on the dam to form the reservoir was begun by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1947 and the lake was officially impounded in 1952.

Originally named San Angelo Lake, the reservoir was renamed in 1975 for local U.S.

Fisher Reservoir was established to provide flood control and a secondary drinking water source for San Angelo and the surrounding communities in Tom Green County.

[1] The dam and reservoir are managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which leases 7,677 acres (3,107 ha) of the surrounding shoreline to Texas Parks and Wildlife, for San Angelo State Park.

[2] Due to the severe drought of 2011, the reservoir completely dried up and caused the death of all remaining fish.