Lake Whitney

Lake Whitney is one of the prettiest lakes in Texas. This, combined with excellent public access and good fishing for many species, makes it a popular destination. It offers top-notch angling for striped bass and white bass, along with unique and diverse opportunities for smallmouth bass and trophy blue catfish. Texas anglers who have not fished Whitney are missing out on a great experience.

FISHING COVER/STRUCTURE The long winding lake offers a variety of shoreline cover from gently sloping blackland banks with abundant cedar and hardwood timber, to majestic limestone bluffs and rock points.

FISHING TIPS AND TACTICS Lake Whitney provides some of the best striped bass fishing in the state, with March through May being the best months. Bank anglers are most successful fishing below sand or gravel bars on the Nolan and Brazos Rivers above the reservoir. In the main lake, anglers fish on windswept sandy beaches using shad or inland silverside ("ghost minnows") for bait. Boat anglers find stripers in the open reservoir feeding on large schools of shad or near submerged brush or timber. Topwater lures, jugs, and live bait are all effective at this time of year. From June through September, the lake is stratified, with little oxygen and cooler temperatures below 20 to 30 feet. Stripers seek out the coolest water they can find with tolerable oxygen levels. Trolling or drift fishing using large diving baits, jigs, or live bait may catch these suspended fish. Most summer catches are made in the middle and lower portions of the reservoir. In October and November, stripers inhabit all depths. They are frequently found along river channels in deep water, and occasionally feeding at the surface. From December through March, troll river and creek channels using large jigs and other artificial baits. Many wintertime catches are made fishing off the bottom with live bait, slabs, or jigs.

White bass migrate up the Brazos and Nolan rivers to spawn from March through May. Best catches are made below sand and gravel bars and along sandy shorelines. Anglers use a wide variety of baits including minnows, jigs, slabs, and spoons. White bass fishing is productive in the main reservoir from April through November. Concentrations are most commonly found near sandy beaches, on roadbeds, and near submerged timber in shallow water. Large schools frequently surface in open water while feeding on schools of shad. Anglers can find them by using sonar or observing gulls that feed on shad. Most activity occurs in early morning and late afternoon. Tail spinners, spoons, and small jigs are good bait choices.

Spring is the best time to catch quality size largemouth bass. From March through May, fish are in shallow water 2 to 15 feet deep. At this time of year, bass are caught along shorelines and in coves on spinner baits, topwater baits, plastic worms, and crank baits. Anglers are most successful in areas with flooded terrestrial vegetation, submerged brush or logs, or inundated willows. From June through August, largemouths are usually found at depths of 10 to 20 feet in the clearest parts of the reservoir. However, some may remain at shallow depths during the day in the murky "off-colored" water. Productive baits include plastic worms and deep-diving crank baits. In September and October, bass may be caught near the surface or in water less than 10 feet deep. From December through February, anglers should concentrate on depths of 15 to 30 feet, using plastic worms, jigs, and deep-diving crank baits. Smallmouth bass fishing can be excellent, especially in the middle and lower portions of the reservoir where the water is clearer and rocky habitat predominates. From early March through May, smallmouths concentrate in rocky coves and the backs of creeks. From June through August, they remain in or near deep water and night fishing is best. Fishing heats up as the water cools from October through December. Medium-sized crawfish-colored crank baits, sassy shad, and Carolina rigs seem to produce the best results.

Crappie fishing is best during the March-April spawning period when fish are concentrated in water 3 to 15 feet deep near submerged brush and timber. From May through September, crappie are commonly caught near submerged timber, bridge pylons, or submerged boulders in water exceeding 10 feet in depth. The middle and upper ends of the reservoir are best. Medium-sized minnows and small marabou or tube jigs are good choices. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish are all present in Lake Whitney. All three species can be caught year-round, but fishing is best from April through June, when catfish are spawning. Most spawning occurs in shallow coves or along cut banks in submerged timber or sparse, large rock, with adjacent deep water. Channels and blues can be caught in warmer weather by drift fishing across shallow main lake flats with cut shad, shrimp, worms, or commercial dough or dip baits. Anglers can improve their success by "chumming" likely spots with grain that has been soaked in water for a week or two. Many anglers fish for trophy blues from December through March. Best areas are near channels and submerged brush or rock. Fish over 40 pounds are possible, and often caught on live shad. Flatheads also generally prefer live bait, but very fresh cut bait can be used. Flathead anglers should target areas with timber and brush piles along cut banks at night. Trotlining is a popular and effective method for catching all three species, and is generally more productive in the upper parts of the lake. Anglers can enjoy limited success with sunfish during April and May by fishing spawning beds in shallow coves with sandy bottoms with crickets, mealworms, or garden worms.

This long river-like reservoir winds 40 miles through classic Blackland Prairie habitat and limestone bluffs. Much of the native timber is still standing and additional fish shelter has been provided by gravel shoals and rocky points. The water is generally fairly clear with a maximum depth of 108 feet.

Fishing tips: Locate the bait fish and the stripers won't be very far away. Surfacing activity starts about mid-March and peaks about June. Then trolling the deep flats adjacent to the state park and the island produces limits through September. Free troll deep diving Bomber Long-A's in chrome sides with black or blue backs or downrig hair jigs with 6" twister tail trailers at about 20-25 feet. Fish will surface early mornings and late evenings during the summer months. Look for the three B's: bait, birds, and boats to locate schools of stripers. Twenty of the state's top 50 smallmouth bass have been caught from this lake, the biggest being 7.72 pounds.

This is one of the only lakes in Texas with a naturally reproducing population of striped bass, however, restocking is still necessary due to low production in years when inflow from the Brazos is low. It has become one of the top trophy smallmouth bass lakes in the state. The tailrace supports excellent fishing at times for shoreline anglers.

Fishing Regulations: Channel and blue catfish - 15 per day, all at least 14 inches long. All others same as state-wide. Fishing Guides:

Brazos River Fishing (Guide Service)
Chris Shafer, 106 County Road 1807 Clifton, TX 76634 254-622-3010

Fish Lake Whitney with Bert Brunett, (Striper Fishing Guide)
(254) 694-2450

Striper Specialty Guide Service, striper.htcomp.net LAGUNA PARK, Texas - JOHNNY CAMPBELL, (254) 749-9675

Reel Deal Striper Guide Service 1215 Scenic Dr. Granbury TX 76048 817-279-0387

Get fishing licenses at: AJ's Market downtown Laguna Park ph. 254-622-3629 Cheyne's off Hwy 3118 on Channel Cat Rd. ph. 254-622-3351 Lumps Hwy 219 east by RR tracks ph. 254-675-8000

Lake Whitney State Recreation Area (254/694- 3793) is located on Farm Road 1244 thirty-five miles north of Waco and four miles southwest of Whitney in western Hill County. This 1,315-acre recreation area is on the southeast shoreline of Lake Whitney, a reservoir impounded in 1954, the year the park opened. It is in the geologic region called the Grand Prairie and is near the Eastern Cross Timbers.

Adjacent to Lake Whitney State Recreation Area are the inundated ruins of Towash, an early Texas settlement commemorated by a marker in the park. Live oak, post oak, cedar, cottonwood, and hackberry trees can be found in the park, as can skunks, deer, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, armadillos, foxes, and a wide variety of birds. Park facilities include a landing strip, camping grounds, and picnic areas. Recreational activities include hiking, swimming, fishing, bird-watching, and water skiing.

Lake Whitney State Park Activities include camping; hiking; mountain biking; picnicking; boating; fishing; swimming (buoyed area - no life guard on duty); scuba diving; water skiing; nature study; and excellent birding.

J & J RV Park (254) 694-2171

Marinas:

Lake Whitney Marina at Juniper Cove

Uncle Gus' Lodge & Marina Hwy 22 to FM 3118, 254-622-3333 or 254-622-3234

Lakeside Village Resort 265 FM 927, Morgan, TX 76671, 254-775-4444

Boat Rentals:

The Outpost Dick's Canoes P.O. Box 5408, Laguna Park, TX 76644, 254-622-3979

Lake Whitney Wetspot Water Craft Rental Company, 254-694-8871

Arrowhead Resort P.O. Box 1802, Whitney, TX 76692, 254-694-3044, 1-888-412-3044

Cliffview Resort 180 CR 1802, Clifton, TX 76634, 254-622-8897, 1-877-821-6040

Nearby points of interest include Cleburne, Meridian, Dinosaur Valley, and Mother Neff State Parks; The Confederate Museum; Texas Ranger Hall of Fame; and Fossil Rim Exotic Wildlife Ranch.

Texas Mint & Mercantile Cowboy stuff, reproduction Indian regalia, handcrafted cedar beds, forge made steel tools and dícor, cowgirl designs, wild west pillows, antler lamps, and variety of items that truly represent the spirit of the wild west. 118 W. Washington Ave, Whitney, TX 76602 877-839-6468