The best lures to use on Stillhouse Hollow near Belton, Texas
Stillhouse Hollow has been one of the most productive lakes in the area over the last 26 years. If you like grass, this is your lake - that's where the quality fish live. It's also one of the rare Central Texas lakes with a smallmouth population. These are the lures I lean on here. For the bigger picture, here's my rundown of the best bass fishing lakes near Austin.
Moving baits over the grass
The grass is the whole game on Stillhouse, and the better fish set up in it. A swim jig, chatterbait or spinnerbait worked over and through the grass draws reaction strikes and covers water fast - a great way to find the quality bass this lake grows.
Topwater when they school
The fish school up well here at times, and that's when a topwater is a blast. In spring and summer, watch for surface activity around the grass edges and points and throw right into it. It's some of the most fun fishing of the year.
A small topwater is deadly when the Stillhouse bass school up.
Worms in the grass for numbers
When you just want to catch plenty of bass, a Texas-rigged worm or creature bait around the right grass is tough to beat. In the warmer months anyone can catch numbers doing this - it's why the weekly night tournaments often take three bass over 20 pounds to win.
Finesse for a rare smallmouth
Stillhouse has a small but real smallmouth population - the biggest from my boat was 6 pounds. When they're on the rock, a finesse presentation fished slow is your best shot at a smallie you won't find on most lakes around here.
Work the rock when the grass slows
There are rocky areas that produce good fish too - usually not the same quality the grass gives up, but a slow jig around the rock and deeper structure can turn up a nice one, especially in winter.
It's about an hour north of Austin, but well worth the drive for how productive it is. Let me know if this helps, and if you'd like me to put you on them, book a trip and we'll go.