Fishing & Boating
Week of April 2, 2025
Buchanan
EXCELLENT. Water slight stain; 67 degrees; 19.52 feet below pool. Fishing has been hot! The threadfin shad spawn has begun and 30 minutes before daylight to one hour after daylight. Most shorelines around the lake will have stripers, whites, and every other fish that feed on threadfin shad and are ready to eat. Topwaters, rattle traps, swimbaits and just about anything you want to throw they will eat. Quick limits of stripers are excellent on live shad, but trolling and jigging are working well also. Focus fishing efforts in 1-50 feet of water. Be aware the lake has reached the level where the submerged trees are starting to show and many others not far below the surface. Report by Travis Holland, TH Fishing. Shad are spawning along wind blown shorelines and main lake points. Striped bass and hybrid bass are great on live bait in 14-30 feet of water on main lake points and humps. White bass are also hitting jigging spoons, or trolling crankbaits on the north end and midlake. Catfish are in 20-30 feet of water. Report by Captain Aaron Dick, One Up Fishing Guide Service. Rain in the forecast could improve the catfish bite. Crappie are good in 7-15 feet with chartreuse jigs. Crappie pattern is consistent with fish in all stages of the spawn. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Bass are very good on points with crankbaits, topwater lures, or dragging a Carolina rigged fluke. Shad are spawning in 2-5 feet of water up the river. Bass can be caught along the rocks in these areas with chatterbaits or crankbaits. Stripers, hybrids and white bass are in 2-8 feet of water on rocky points hitting topwaters and small swimbaits. Crappie are on brush piles in 12-18 feet of water with minnows. Report by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
EXCELLENT. Water slight stain; 67 degrees; 19.52 feet below pool. Fishing has been hot! The threadfin shad spawn has begun and 30 minutes before daylight to one hour after daylight. Most shorelines around the lake will have stripers, whites, and every other fish that feed on threadfin shad and are ready to eat. Topwaters, rattle traps, swimbaits and just about anything you want to throw they will eat. Quick limits of stripers are excellent on live shad, but trolling and jigging are working well also. Focus fishing efforts in 1-50 feet of water. Be aware the lake has reached the level where the submerged trees are starting to show and many others not far below the surface. Report by Travis Holland, TH Fishing. Shad are spawning along wind blown shorelines and main lake points. Striped bass and hybrid bass are great on live bait in 14-30 feet of water on main lake points and humps. White bass are also hitting jigging spoons, or trolling crankbaits on the north end and midlake. Catfish are in 20-30 feet of water. Report by Captain Aaron Dick, One Up Fishing Guide Service. Rain in the forecast could improve the catfish bite. Crappie are good in 7-15 feet with chartreuse jigs. Crappie pattern is consistent with fish in all stages of the spawn. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Bass are very good on points with crankbaits, topwater lures, or dragging a Carolina rigged fluke. Shad are spawning in 2-5 feet of water up the river. Bass can be caught along the rocks in these areas with chatterbaits or crankbaits. Stripers, hybrids and white bass are in 2-8 feet of water on rocky points hitting topwaters and small swimbaits. Crappie are on brush piles in 12-18 feet of water with minnows. Report by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
Inks Lake
GREAT: Water normal stain; 63 degrees; 0.75 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady. Bass are great skipping baits under every dock, or working around the edges with moving baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits in shad colors. Flipping into spawning beds with craws, creature baits or swimbaits in perch color are catching the bedfish. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.
GREAT: Water normal stain; 63 degrees; 0.75 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady. Bass are great skipping baits under every dock, or working around the edges with moving baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits in shad colors. Flipping into spawning beds with craws, creature baits or swimbaits in perch color are catching the bedfish. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.
LBJ
GOOD. Water stained; 67 degrees; 0.25 feet below pool. Crappie are in 10-15 feet of water on brush with chartreuse jigs. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Many bass are on or around beds with this first wave of spawn. Throwing soft plastics and jigs are catching some. A frog or shallow crankbaits will catch a bunch around rocks, bulkheads and docks. Skipping a fluke or Texas-rigged plastics to the backs of docks are getting some nice fish. Any watermelon or green pumpkin colors are working. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. Bass are very good around grass with crankbaits and flukes, or on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water with Texas rig and a crankbait. Bass are still spawning in the canals, with many bedding fish for anglers that want to sight fish. White bass are good on main lake points with jigging spoons on the lower end. Report by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
GOOD. Water stained; 67 degrees; 0.25 feet below pool. Crappie are in 10-15 feet of water on brush with chartreuse jigs. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Many bass are on or around beds with this first wave of spawn. Throwing soft plastics and jigs are catching some. A frog or shallow crankbaits will catch a bunch around rocks, bulkheads and docks. Skipping a fluke or Texas-rigged plastics to the backs of docks are getting some nice fish. Any watermelon or green pumpkin colors are working. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. Bass are very good around grass with crankbaits and flukes, or on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water with Texas rig and a crankbait. Bass are still spawning in the canals, with many bedding fish for anglers that want to sight fish. White bass are good on main lake points with jigging spoons on the lower end. Report by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
Put a Largemouth Bass on your bumper!
Give your vehicle a personal touch — by sporting the largemouth bass conservation license plate!
Give your vehicle a personal touch — by sporting the largemouth bass conservation license plate!
- Sport your passion for Texas fishing: Let everyone know you're a dedicated angler with this unique plate design.
- Support quality bass fishing for only $30/year*: $22 goes directly towards Texas fisheries management and research programs.
- Deck out your ride: This plate looks great on your car, truck, motorcycle, boat trailer, travel trailer, or RV.
- Don't wait until your registration renewal: The cost will be pro-rated so you can get your plate now.
Inks Lake March 10, 2024:
Hamilton Creek Park Lake Burnet 1000 1/22/2025
L.B.J. State Park Fredericksburg 533 1/3/2025
Lady Bird (Municipal Park) Fredericksburg 570 1/12/2025
Llano River (Castell downstream) Llano 2,400 12/3/2024
Llano River at FM 2389 Mason 3,478 12/7/2024 & 1/15/2025
Mill Creek Park San Saba 500 12/3/2023*
* last reported
L.B.J. State Park Fredericksburg 533 1/3/2025
Lady Bird (Municipal Park) Fredericksburg 570 1/12/2025
Llano River (Castell downstream) Llano 2,400 12/3/2024
Llano River at FM 2389 Mason 3,478 12/7/2024 & 1/15/2025
Mill Creek Park San Saba 500 12/3/2023*
* last reported
Fish a White Bass Run!
Spring means white bass are on the run, typically February through May. The northern end and up-river of Lake Buchanan is one of the tried and true areas where you'll find spring white bass in Central Texas.
The Colorado River above the lake has one of the strongest white bass runs in Central Texas. For wade or bank fishing Colorado Bend State Park, near the town of Bend, is a great place to try your luck when water conditions are right. This portion of the Colorado River is popular with fly anglers. The area from Silver Creek (also called Beaver Creek) to the town of Tow is an excellent choice from winter to late spring. Lake Buchanan has lots of main lake structure to try during the summer months.
Spring means white bass are on the run, typically February through May. The northern end and up-river of Lake Buchanan is one of the tried and true areas where you'll find spring white bass in Central Texas.
The Colorado River above the lake has one of the strongest white bass runs in Central Texas. For wade or bank fishing Colorado Bend State Park, near the town of Bend, is a great place to try your luck when water conditions are right. This portion of the Colorado River is popular with fly anglers. The area from Silver Creek (also called Beaver Creek) to the town of Tow is an excellent choice from winter to late spring. Lake Buchanan has lots of main lake structure to try during the summer months.
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New hunting and fishing licenses for the 2025-26 seasons are now available for purchase! These new licenses will be valid from the date of purchase through Aug. 31, 2026. All current annual licenses, except the Year-from-Purchase All-Water Package, will expire Aug. 31, 2025.
GET YOURS LICENSE NOW
Purchase a license for the new season today and get ready for a year of fishing and hunting!
You can also visit one of our license retailers to purchase your license.
Have questions about licenses? We've got answers on our frequently asked questions page.
The best value: The most popular license package – the Super Combo License Package – will save you up to $18. It includes a Resident Hunting License, a Resident Fishing License and 5 state stamp endorsements for just $68/year ($32 for seniors). Digital license and tag options are available to Texas residents. Available online only.
Local License Retailers:
BUCHANAN DAM J & S FOOD MART EXXON (512) 793-2040 2045 RANCH ROAD 261 78609
BLUFFTON BLUFFTON STORE (325) 379-9837 11635 RANCH RD 2241 78607
TOW J & S QUICK STOP (325) 379-1482 110 FRAZIER ST 78672
KINGSLAND ACE HOME IMPROVEMENT (325) 388-4526 2607 HIGHWAY 1431, 78639
KINGSLAND HEB #587 (325) 388-4601 215 RANCH ROAD 2900 78639
BURNET BEST STOP #4 (512) 756-6900 2751 W STATE HWY 29 STE A 78611
BURNET HEB #433 (512) 756-6188 105 S BOUNDARY ST 78611
BURNET INKS LAKE SP (512) 793-2223 3630 PARK RD 4 WEST 78611
BURNET RED TOP BAIT SHOP INC (512) 756-4606 3751 W HIGHWAY 29 78611
BURNET LONGHORN GROCERY STORE(737) 210-845910241 W STATE HIGHWAY 29 78611
BUCHANAN DAM J & S FOOD MART EXXON (512) 793-2040 2045 RANCH ROAD 261 78609
BLUFFTON BLUFFTON STORE (325) 379-9837 11635 RANCH RD 2241 78607
TOW J & S QUICK STOP (325) 379-1482 110 FRAZIER ST 78672
KINGSLAND ACE HOME IMPROVEMENT (325) 388-4526 2607 HIGHWAY 1431, 78639
KINGSLAND HEB #587 (325) 388-4601 215 RANCH ROAD 2900 78639
BURNET BEST STOP #4 (512) 756-6900 2751 W STATE HWY 29 STE A 78611
BURNET HEB #433 (512) 756-6188 105 S BOUNDARY ST 78611
BURNET INKS LAKE SP (512) 793-2223 3630 PARK RD 4 WEST 78611
BURNET RED TOP BAIT SHOP INC (512) 756-4606 3751 W HIGHWAY 29 78611
BURNET LONGHORN GROCERY STORE(737) 210-845910241 W STATE HIGHWAY 29 78611
A list of hunting lease options is available on the Llano Chamber website. Click on HUNTING on their homepage.
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