Lake Buchanan Bass Fishing Guide
Lake Buchanan (almost always fishes good - white bass and the occasional striper here too)
Lake Buchanan is Central Texas's best winter bass lake and a genuine trophy fishery - over 22,000 acres of rock, timber and points where it usually takes 20+ lbs to win a tournament. Largemouth are the target; white bass and the occasional striper are a bonus. Bryan's pick when other lakes slow down.
Why: Buchanan is my favorite lake in Central Texas, and if you're after a quality fish, it's where I'd send you.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Football Jig technique · Football Jig guide · What to throw on Lake Buchanan
Verified Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 11, 2026
Lake Buchanan is my favorite lake in Central Texas, and if you're after a quality fish, it's where I'd send you. It's big water with all the right cover, it fishes shallow, and it's about as good a winter lake as we have - when a lot of the area slows down, Buchanan is just getting good. You'll also run into white bass, and there's the occasional striper for a bonus fish - but largemouth are what we're after.
Lake Buchanan at a glance
- Lake type
- Highland
- Impounds
- Colorado River
- Managed by
- LCRA
- Impounded
- 1937
- Surface area
- 22,211 acres
- Max depth
- 132 ft
- Water level
- Highly Fluctuating
- Lake record (LM)
- 11.73 lbs — Junior lake record 11.50 lbs; a Texas Hawgs client caught an 11.75 lb bass on 3/24/2018 that beat the lake record
- Primary forage
- Threadfin Shad, Gizzard Shad
- Best for
- Trophy, Winter, Big Water
Where we meet: North end (Burnet) — 11710 Ranch Road 2341, Burnet, TX 78611
South end (Buchanan Dam) — 3758 Ranch Road 261, Buchanan Dam, TX 78609
Today: Fri Aug 07, 2026
Sunrise: 6:55 am · Safe light: 30 minutes before sunrise
Lake info: TPWD lake page · Lake Buchanan water level
What you'll catch on Lake Buchanan
This is a quality largemouth lake first and foremost - it almost always takes over 20 pounds to win a tournament here, and I've put clients on some of the biggest bass in the lake, including one that beat the lake record. Beyond the largemouth there's a healthy white bass population and the occasional striper, so a hard-pulling bonus fish is always possible - though largemouth are what I target. I release the bass; if you want some for the table, we can keep white bass.
Watch: Lake Buchanan on the water
Seasonal patterns on Lake Buchanan
Spring
Bass move shallow to spawn around the rock, trees and flats - a great time to flip the hardwoods with a worm or craw for a lot of bites. The white bass also run up the river arms for fast numbers.
Summer
Fish early for largemouth on topwater and reaction baits, then slide to the deeper rock, points and ledges with jigs and deep cranks as it heats up. Pick up white bass and the occasional striper as a bonus.
Fall
Bass follow shad into the creeks and coves as it cools - run-and-gun with crankbaits, swimbaits and topwater when you find them schooling.
Winter
The headliner. While other lakes get tough, the quality bite here stays strong - my top pick in the cold months for a real shot at a big one. Work the rock and cover slow and deliberate; a jig or craw worm crawled along the rock is hard to beat. When you think you're slow enough, slow down more.
What works on Lake Buchanan, season by season
The baits Bryan leans on through the year on Lake Buchanan, dialed in from guiding it season after season.
| Season | What produces |
|---|---|
| Spring | Football Jig, Crankbait, Trap, Swimbait, Frog |
| Summer | Football Jig, Deep-Diving Crankbait, Swimbait, Frog |
| Fall | Crankbait, Spinnerbait, Trap, Swimbait, Football Jig |
| Winter | Football Jig, Crankbait, Trap, Swimbait |
How we fish it
Buchanan sets up beautifully for big fish. We usually start on the rock, since that's where the quality lives, and adjust to trees, points and ledges as the day and season dictate. The one constant is patience - I slow everything down for the bigger bites.
From Bryan's logbook
Based on Bryan Cotter's on-the-water observations.
The number one thing I look for on Buchanan is rock - the largemouth love it, partly because it lets them tuck away from the striper, and the best rock holds the best fish. In cold water, when you think you're fishing slow enough, slow down more; that's how the giants come.
Lake Buchanan fishing FAQs
When is the best time to bass fish Lake Buchanan?
Buchanan is one of the best lakes in Central Texas in winter, which is my favorite time to fish it for a big bite. It fishes well much of the year, but the cold-water months are when this lake really shines for quality bass.
Is Lake Buchanan a good lake for big bass?
It's a genuine trophy lake - it almost always takes over 20 pounds to win a tournament here. I've put clients on some of the biggest bass in the lake, including one that beat the lake record.
What else can you catch on Lake Buchanan?
White bass are the main bonus here - they school up well and make good table fare. There are striper in the lake too, so an occasional hard-pulling fish is always possible while we're bass fishing, but largemouth are what I guide for.
Do I really need a guide on a lake this big?
Buchanan is over 22,000 acres, so knowing where to start is most of the battle - that's a big part of what you're paying a guide for. I know which rock, trees and points are holding fish in a given season, so instead of burning a day searching, we spend it fishing the right water.
Do I need my own boat or gear?
No. All rods, reels and tackle are provided. Just bring a valid Texas fishing license (required at 17+), sunglasses, a hat, and food and drinks.
Where do we meet to launch on Lake Buchanan?
On the north end at 11710 Ranch Road 2341, Burnet, or the south end at 3758 Ranch Road 261, Buchanan Dam, depending on conditions. I'll confirm when you book.
Do you target striper on Lake Buchanan?
No - I'm a largemouth guide first and foremost, so striper aren't something I set out to target. Buchanan does have them, and while we're bass fishing you might hook the occasional striper or a white bass as a bonus. If a dedicated striper trip is what you're really after, a striper-specific guide would be the better call.
How deep is Lake Buchanan?
Lake Buchanan has a maximum depth of about 132 feet near the dam, though most of it is far shallower. For bass that depth is really just a map - I spend most of my time working structure in the upper 5 to 25 feet, and shallower still in spring and fall when the fish move up.
How big is Lake Buchanan?
Lake Buchanan covers roughly 22,211 acres at full pool, impounding the Colorado River. Its level can swing a good bit with the seasons and rainfall, which shifts where the fish set up.
Best for
Anglers chasing a quality or trophy fish, winter trips when other lakes slow down, and anyone who wants big water and a real shot at a quality largemouth.
Explore the knowledge base
Related lakes
Other lakes in the Highland Lakes that fish similarly.
Lake Travis · Lake Austin · Lake LBJ · Inks Lake · Lake Marble Falls
What you can catch here
The bass and gamefish Lake Buchanan holds.
Anglers drive in from
Central Texas towns within an easy drive of Lake Buchanan.
Leander (55 min) · Lago Vista (45 min) · Jonestown (50 min) · Liberty Hill (45 min) · Burnet (15 min) · Marble Falls (25 min) · Kingsland (20 min) · Llano (20 min)
How I fish it
The techniques that produce on Lake Buchanan.
Football Jig, Crankbait Fishing, Swimbait Fishing, Shaky Head, Carolina Rig, Deep Cranking
Lures that produce here
The baits I lean on at Lake Buchanan.
Football Jig · Deep-Diving Crankbait · Swimbait · Straight / Finesse Worm · Fluke / Soft Jerkbait · Craw / Craw Trailer
Compare this lake
See how Lake Buchanan stacks up against other lakes.
Best time to fish
Best months on Lake Buchanan: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar.
Part of Central Texas bass fishing
Lake Buchanan is one of 16 lakes I guide across the region.