Fishing The Highland Lakes Area

Texas Hill Country Lakes in the Highlands Lakes area offer tremendous year around fishing opportunities. Each of the lakes has its own personality. If you are fishing for striper, bass, or catfish, you will find what you are looking for. (Photos compliments of TrophyStripers.com.)

Lake Buchanan

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Located on the Colorado River in Burnet County and Llano counties, west of Burnet. Lake Buchanan covers approximately 22,333 acres, the maximum depth is 132 feet. Lake Buchanan”s water level fluctuates considerably.

Lake Buchanan is noted for its excellent striped bass and white bass fishing. White bass and striped bass runs occur in the spring (February-May) with most of the fishing occurring from Beaver Creek up into the Colorado River. The upper end of the lake produces many large white crappie each year. Blue, channel and flathead catfish occur throughout the reservoir.

The area near the dam and the east side of the lake up to the Silver Creek area is rocky. On the west side of the lake from mid-lake up has numerous flat coves that have a lot of flooded brush to fish when the lake is up.

Spring and fall months are best for Largemouth bass anglers. In the lower section of the reservoir where the water remains clear, top water lures, metal flake willow leaf spinner baits and shallow to medium depth crank baits work well along rocky banks. When the reservoir is at full pool or higher, flipping boat docks, flooded willows and lay down logs with jigs and plastic worms can be productive.

February, white bass and striped bass begin their annual spawning run up the Colorado River. Anglers should concentrate their efforts from Beaver Creek into the Colorado. Recommended lures for white bass include twister tail jigs, small hair jigs, small crank baits, and small top waters. In addition live bait fishing with minnows is also recommended.

For stripers, live shad fished with a Carolina rig type set up on the bottom on humps and along drop offs is recommend. .

Catfish anglers can find channel, blue, and flathead catfish throughout the lake. Stinkbaits and cutbaits are recommended for the blues and channel cats. Large flathead catfish will respond better on live bait.

Inks Lake

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Located on the Colorado River in Burnet County, west of the town of Burnet. Inks is the smallest of the Highland Lakes covering a Surface area or 831 acres. The maximum depth is approximately 60 feet.

The lake level fluctuates approximately 1 foot annually. Predominant Fish Species include Largemouth bass, White Bass, Crappie, Catfish and Sunfish.

Inks Lake is noted for its picturesque scenery, but fishing can be good as well.

Along the shoreline there are numerous rock piles, ledges, and chunk rock banks. Several private boat docks along the west side of the lake, hold fish year-round.

In February, white bass begin congregating in the upper end of the lake as the urge to spawn takes over. Recommended lures for white bass include using twister tail jigs, small hair jigs, small crank baits, and small top waters. Live bait fishing with minnows is also recommended, and usually catches crappie simultaneously. Catfish anglers can find channel, blue, and flathead catfish throughout the lake. Stinkbaits and cutbaits are recommended for the blues and channel cats. Large flathead catfish will respond better on live bait.

Lake LBJ

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Located on the Colorado River in Burnet County, near the towns of Marble Falls, Kingsland, and Granite Shoals. Lake LBJ covers a surface ares of approximately 6,534 square feet. The maximum depth is 90 feet.

The lake level fluctuates approximately 2 feet annually. Fish Species include Largemouth bass, White bass, Crappie, and Catfish.

The Lake LBJ shoreline is highly developed. There are several creeks which wind back off the main lake with shallow vegative cover. In addition on the main body of the lake there are many submerged brush piles which provide excellent angling opportunities.

In the spring and fall months the largemouth bass anglers have their best success. The largemouth bass are noted for staying shallow regardless of the time of the year. In February and March the many canals quickly warm, bringing in bass preparing for the spawn. In February the white bass begin their annual spawning run up the Llano and Colorado River arms.

Crappie fishing is good on Lake LBJ, especially around the docks. Catfish anglers can find blue, flathead, and channel cats.

Lake Marble Falls

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Located on the Colorado River in Burnet and Llano Counties, near the town of Marble Falls. Lake Marble Falls is downstream from Lake LBJ, and upstream from Lake Travis. Lake Marble Falls covers a surface area of 611 acres. The maximum depth is 60 feet.

Lake level fluctuation is minimal. Fish species include Largemouth bass, catfish and sunfish.

Lake Marble Falls is a narrow lake, shorelines are typically steep. Cover is limited.

Around the many boat houses and docks anglers have their best success fishing for largemouth bass. The upper section of the lake is shallow, and boulder laden, if you dare in the spring you can fish for white bass on this part of the lake.

Lake Travis

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Located on the Colorado River northwest of Austin in Travis and Burnet counties. Lake Travis covers a surface area of 18,622 acres. The maximum depth is 190 feet. The maximum depth is approximately 190 feet.

The pool fluctuation of Lake Travis is high, 10-20 feet! The predominant species of fish include largemouth bass, guadalupe bass, white bass, striped bass, catfish, and sunfish.

Lake is noted for its largemouth bass population, although they tend to run small. In the spring (February-May) the white bass run. Angeling for the white bass is best in the major creek arms and in the Pedernales River. Channel, flathead, and Blue catfish occur through-out the lake.

Lake Travis” rocky banks, steep cliffs, and clear water are typical of a highland reservoir. In the lower end of the reservoir marinas, boat docks and rock piles provide cover for game fish. When the water is high the flooded vegetation that lines the banks is a great area for largemouth bass. The large creeks that enter the lake hold game fish year round.

The spring months are best for fishing for largemouth bass. During the winter months night fishing for white and striped bass, around the lighted boat docks on the lower end of the lake is popular. Channel, flathead, and blue catfish are found throughout the reservoir.