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Lake Buchanan Fishing Report & Water Level
Lake Buchanan is at 1,018.37 ft above mean sea level and 95.8% full as of Oct 20, 2026 (TWDB daily average). That is 1.63 ft below the 1020.0 ft conservation pool.
Lake Buchanan water level today & trend
The lake is near its conservation pool (full) level.
| Level (daily avg.) | 1,018.37 ft msl (Oct 20, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Conservation pool | 1,020.0 ft msl |
| Percent full | 95.8% (-0.4 pts in 7 days, +0.9 pts in 1 year) |
| Conservation storage | 830,380 of 866,694 acre-feet |
| Current surface area | 22,122 acres |
| Latest USGS gauge reading | 1,018.37 ft (reservoir elevation (local datum)) at Oct 20, 7:15 AM CDT, USGS 08148000. Instantaneous provisional value; datum can differ slightly from TWDB. |
Percent full from 2025-10-20 (94.9%) to 2026-10-20 (95.8%). Range shown 93.3%–99.9%.
Sources: TWDB Water Data for Texas: Lake Buchanan (CSV), USGS. Provisional data, updated daily.
Lake Buchanan fishing report: recent conditions & what's biting
No recent angler reports yet: submit yours. Reports are reviewed before they're published. We never make up reports.
Seasonal pattern for October (general guide)
Fall transition. Shad migrate into creeks and coves and bass follow them, so moving baits that cover water are often effective. Fall turnover can make fishing inconsistent for a short time on deeper lakes. Schooling fish appear in open water.
This describes typical October patterns on Texas reservoirs. It is not an observed report for Lake Buchanan. Water temperature, lake level (currently -0.14 ft this week) and weather move fish more than the calendar does.
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Best baits & techniques for Lake Buchanan bass fishing
General, proven approaches for the species TPWD lists in Lake Buchanan. These are not lake-specific hot baits.
- Largemouth bass
- Texas-rigged soft plastics (worms, creature baits), jigs, spinnerbaits and bladed jigs, crankbaits (squarebills shallow, deep divers on ledges), lipless crankbaits, and topwaters in low light. Florida-strain trophies are often caught on big worms, jigs and swimbaits.
- Striped & hybrid striped bass
- Live shad, slabs/jigging spoons, swimbaits and topwaters when fish are schooling. Watch for gulls and surface activity, and use electronics to find schools in open water.
- White bass
- Small slabs, jigs, inline spinners and small crankbaits. Look for schools chasing shad, and spring spawning runs in the tributaries.
- Catfish
- Cut bait and live bait for blue and flathead catfish, prepared/stink baits and worms for channel catfish. Drift-fishing and baited holes are both popular.
Comparing gear? See our baitcasting reel and bass rod spec comparisons.
Fish species in Lake Buchanan
- Largemouth bass
- White bass
- Striped Bass
- Catfish
| Location | On the Colorado River in Burnet County and Llano counties, west of the town of Burnet |
|---|---|
| Surface area (at full pool) | 22,211 acres |
| Maximum depth | 132 feet |
| Impounded | 1937 |
| Typical fluctuation | Considerable |
| Normal water clarity | Clear at the dam; gradually becomes more turbid as you move upstream |
| Controlling authority | Lower Colorado River Authority |
Species and lake facts from TPWD: Fishing Lake Buchanan (retrieved Oct 20, 2026). Bag and size limits can be lake-specific; check the TPWD Outdoor Annual.
Lake Buchanan boat ramps & public access
Status: check before you go. We don't track ramp closures. Ramps can close for low or high water, construction or flood damage, and the lake is -1.6 ft vs. conservation pool today. Confirm with the operator (Lower Colorado River Authority).
BOATER ADVISORY: Zebra mussels have invaded this reservoir! CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY your boat, trailer, livewells/bait buckets, and other gear before traveling to another water body. Draining water is required by law and possession and transport of zebra mussels is illegal. There are five good boat ramps, four on the east side and one on the west side of the lake. Unimproved ramps are available at Cedar Point Recreation Area and at Colorado Bend State Park . Colorado Bend offers access for anglers wishing to wade fish for white bass in the upper reaches of the river above Lake Buchanan during the spring spawning run. Camping is available at Colorado Bend, Canyon of the Eagles, and also at Inks Lake State Park, just a short drive away. Many private facilities on Buchanan offer camping, fishing piers, and docks. For details, check the Buchanan/Inks Chamber of Commerce website.
| Map | Boat ramp / access point & location | Amenities (TPWD) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Buchanan Dam Located at the east side of Buchanan Dam. From Burnet, take Texas 29 to Highway 690 Two-lane concrete ramp; Fee required; Privately operated | restrooms, parking, picnic areas | Check before you go |
| B | Burnet County Park Located off FM 2341 on the east side of the lake about mid-lake. No fee required; Operated by Burnet County | parking, picnic areas | Check before you go |
| C | Thunderbird Lodge Located off FM 2341 on the east side of the lake Concrete ramp, well protected from wind; $20 launch fee; Privately operated (512) 756-4878 | restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, ADA Accessible, courtesy docks, boat gas, picnic areas | Check before you go |
| D | Canyon of the Eagles Located in the upper end of the reservoir. From Burnet take Texas 29 west to FM 2341 and follow it approximately 12 miles until you see the signs for Canyon of the Eagles. Park has no boat ramp, but it does have a fishing pier.; Park entrance fee required; Operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority (800) 977-0081 | restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
| E | Colorado Bend S.P. Located in the river above the reservoir, west of Lampasas and southeast of San Saba. From the intersection of highways 281 and 183 in Lampasas, take FM 580 west 24 miles to Bend and follow signs 4 miles to park entrance. From San Saba, take US 190 about 4 miles to FM 580 and follow signs 13 miles to Bend. The headquarters and main camping are 6 miles past the entrance on the gravel road (unmarked County Road 442). The road is subject to flooding. Unimproved boat ramp, bank access and wade fishing; Park entrance fee required; Operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (915) 628-3240 | restrooms, cleaning stations, parking, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
| F | Cedar Point From Llano take FM 2241 and turn north at Bluffton. Go approximately 4 miles and turn right on FM 3014, then go .3 mile to the main site entrance. From Buchanan Dam take Highway 261 to Bluffton and follow the same directions. Unimproved boat ramp; Operated by Lower Colorado River Authority 1(800) 776-5272 x 3366 | restrooms, parking, camping | Check before you go |
| G | Llano County/Blackrock Park Located in the southwest corner of the lake, well protected from the wind. From Austin, take Texas 71 west to Marble Falls, turn north on US 281 and west on FM 1431. Follow road to FM 261, turn left and continue approximately half a mile to the park entrance on your right. Two-lane concrete ramp, well protected from wind, with parking for up to 17; Ramp is in county park; no fee required; Black Rock Park operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority 1(800) 776-5272 x 3366 | restrooms, parking, picnic areas, camping | Check before you go |
Access list from TPWD: Lake Buchanan public access facilities (map and locations on TPWD; retrieved Oct 20, 2026). Includes some privately owned facilities that may charge fees.
Texas law requires draining all water from your boat and onboard receptacles when leaving or approaching public fresh water (zebra mussel prevention). Clean, drain and dry.
Local guides & marinas at Lake Buchanan
Run a guide service, marina or bait shop on Lake Buchanan? Get listed free.
Lake Buchanan weather forecast
- Today
80°F, Sunny
Wind 0 mph - Tonight
60°F, Mostly Clear
Wind E 0 to 5 mph - Wednesday
82°F, Sunny
Wind 0 mph - Wednesday Night
59°F, Mostly Clear
Wind ENE 0 to 5 mph - Thursday
81°F, Sunny
Wind 0 mph - Thursday Night
59°F, Mostly Clear
Wind SE 0 to 5 mph
National Weather Service point forecast for 30.752, -98.418 (NWS EWX), issued Oct 20, 2:42 AM CDT. Full forecast at weather.gov.
Lake Buchanan FAQ
What is the water level at Lake Buchanan today?
On Oct 20, 2026, Lake Buchanan was at 1018.37 ft above mean sea level and 95.8% full, according to the Texas Water Development Board. That is 1.63 ft below the 1020.0 ft conservation pool.
What fish are in Lake Buchanan?
TPWD lists these predominant species for Lake Buchanan: Largemouth bass, White bass, Striped Bass, Catfish.
Who manages Lake Buchanan?
Lower Colorado River Authority is the controlling authority, according to TPWD.
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