Lake Buchanan

Texas · Llano

21,983 acres mapped (USGS NHD)
200.3 km shoreline
County: Llano
Shoreline outline: USGS NHD
Texas fishing regulations (TPWD)

The pin marks the middle of the water, for directions. The shoreline on the map comes from USGS NHD.

Photos

Lake Buchanan (Texas) 29 Oct 2011 — Photo: NASA Earth Observatory; Allen, Jesse; Simmon, Robert via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Overview

Lake Buchanan is a 22,211-acre reservoir on the Colorado River in Burnet and Llano counties, west of Burnet, controlled by LCRA.

Fishing

TPWD notes excellent striped and white bass fishing. Striped bass don't reproduce here and are stocked by TPWD. The lake has under-rated largemouth and Guadalupe bass, low-density white crappie (many large ones in the upper end), and blue catfish dominating a blue/channel/flathead fishery.

Species

Striped bass, white bass, largemouth and Guadalupe bass, crappie, catfish, sunfish.

Techniques

Stripers: Carolina-rigged live shad on humps and drop-offs, topwaters in late spring and fall, downrigged white or yellow bucktails just above the thermocline (usually 20-30 ft) in summer. Watch for birds working shad schools. Bass: topwaters, spinnerbaits and crankbaits on rocky banks; flip docks and willows at full pool.

Seasons

White and striped bass run up the Colorado River from February to May. Bass are best in spring and fall.

Hotspots

Beaver Creek up into the Colorado River for the spring run; rocky east side from the dam to Silver Creek; flooded brush in west-side coves at high water; TPWD and Lake Buchanan Conservation Corporation habitat structures.

Regulations

Statewide regulations apply. Bowfishers are subject to special LCRA regulations. Check current TPWD bag and length limits before you fish (https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/buchanan/).

Licensing

Texas requires a fishing license with a freshwater endorsement to fish public fresh water. Residents and non-residents under 17 are exempt (TPWD Outdoor Annual: tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/).

Water facts

22,211 acres; max depth 132 ft; impounded 1937; conservation pool 1,020.35 ft msl; fluctuates considerably; clear at the dam, more turbid upstream.

Safety & advisories

TPWD boater advisory: zebra mussels have invaded this reservoir. Clean, drain and dry boats, trailers, livewells and bait buckets before moving to another water; draining is required by law and possessing or transporting zebra mussels is illegal.

Nearby waters

Inks Lake · 10.4 km (TX)
Lake Lyndon B Johnson · 29.7 km (TX)