Lake O.H. Ivie Bass Fishing Guide
Lake O.H. Ivie (fishing is good right now - any cast could be a giant)
Lake O.H. Ivie is one of Texas's premier trophy bass lakes - a West Texas ShareLunker factory (lake record 17.06 lbs) where any cast could be the fish of a lifetime. Winter and early-spring pre-spawn are peak giant season. It's a dedicated multi-day trophy hunt with a 2-day minimum, launching from Elm Creek Marina.
Why: On O.H. Ivie, any cast could be a giant.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Swimbait Fishing technique · Glide Bait guide · What to throw on Lake O.H. Ivie
Verified Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 11, 2026
Lake O.H. Ivie can be one of the most exciting lakes around, with absolute giant bass caught here yearly. A few years ago, it produced the most big bass entered into the Texas ShareLunker program, and every year it puts out some giants - plus some nice smallmouth as well. This is a trophy lake, so there's a 2-day minimum to fish it with me. We almost always go out of Elm Creek Marina, a great place to eat before or after your trip and to grab tackle and baits you won't find anywhere else - and it's where the big fish get weighed on a certified scale.
Lake O.H. Ivie at a glance
- Lake type
- Reservoir
- Impounds
- Colorado & Concho Rivers
- Managed by
- CRMWD
- Impounded
- 1990
- Surface area
- 19,149 acres
- Max depth
- 119 ft
- Water level
- Highly Fluctuating
- Lake record (LM)
- 17.06 lbs — Junior lake record 14.52 lbs; lake smallmouth record 6.25 lbs; recorded largemouth-smallmouth hybrid 11.07 lbs
- Best for
- Trophy, Sharelunker, Destination, Personal Best
Where we meet: Elm Creek Marina — Lake O.H. Ivie, Voss, TX
Today: Fri Aug 07, 2026
Sunrise: 6:59 am · Safe light: 30 minutes before sunrise
Lake info: TPWD lake page
What you'll catch on Lake O.H. Ivie
Giant largemouth bass are the entire point of this trip - this is a genuine fish-of-a-lifetime lake. There are some nice smallmouth here too, and the lake even has a recorded largemouth-smallmouth hybrid over 11 pounds. Other species are around, but I almost always have you targeting big largemouth. I release the bass.
Seasonal patterns on Lake O.H. Ivie
Spring
Big females move up to spawn, offering a shot at the largest bass of your life around the right cover and structure.
Summer
The lake stays capable of giants year-round; we follow the fish to where they're setting up and keep you on the best big-bite water.
Fall
Bass set up on structure and feed ahead of winter - the giant potential holds up on the right water.
Winter
The cold-water and pre-spawn months are when O.H. Ivie produces its biggest fish - the ShareLunker-class giants that put this lake on the map.
What works on Lake O.H. Ivie, season by season
The baits Bryan leans on through the year on Lake O.H. Ivie, dialed in from guiding it season after season.
| Season | What produces |
|---|---|
| Spring | Swimbait, Football Jig, Offshore / Ledge, Glide Bait |
| Summer | Football Jig, Offshore / Ledge, Swimbait, Glide Bait |
| Fall | Swimbait, Football Jig, Offshore / Ledge, Glide Bait |
| Winter | Football Jig, Swimbait, Offshore / Ledge, Glide Bait |
How we fish it
O.H. Ivie is a pure trophy hunt - we put in the time on the right water for the chance at a true giant, the kind of fish that gets weighed on Elm Creek's certified scale. With the 2-day minimum, we've got time to do it right.
From Bryan's logbook
Based on Bryan Cotter's on-the-water observations.
On O.H. Ivie, any cast could be a giant. A few years ago it produced the most big bass entered into the Texas ShareLunker program, and every year it puts out some giants.
Lake O.H. Ivie fishing FAQs
Is Lake O.H. Ivie a good trophy bass lake?
It's one of the most exciting lakes around - absolute giant bass are caught here every year, and a few years ago it produced the most big bass entered into the Texas ShareLunker program. On O.H. Ivie, any cast could be a giant.
Is there a minimum trip length for Lake O.H. Ivie?
Yes - because it's a trophy lake and a haul from Central Texas, there's a 2-day minimum to fish here with me.
When is the best time to catch a trophy bass on Lake O.H. Ivie?
The winter and early-spring pre-spawn months are when O.H. Ivie produces its biggest fish - the ShareLunker-class giants that put this lake on the map. Big females move up to spawn in spring, offering a shot at the largest bass of your life. That said, the lake stays capable of giants year-round.
Where do you launch on Lake O.H. Ivie?
We almost always go out of Elm Creek Marina. It's a great place to eat before or after your trip, stock up on tackle and baits you won't find elsewhere, and where the big fish are weighed on a certified scale.
What can you catch on Lake O.H. Ivie?
Giant largemouth are the main target, plus some nice smallmouth - the lake even has a recorded largemouth-smallmouth hybrid over 11 pounds. There are other species too, but I almost always target big largemouth here.
Do I need my own boat or gear?
No. All rods, reels and tackle are provided. Just bring a valid Texas fishing license (17+), sunglasses, a hat, and food and drinks.
Where is Lake O.H. Ivie and how far is it from Central Texas?
It's a West Texas trophy destination and a haul from Central Texas - that's exactly why there's a 2-day minimum on this one, so we've got time to do it right and maximize your shot at the fish of a lifetime rather than burning the trip on driving.
How deep is Lake O.H. Ivie?
Lake O.H. Ivie has a maximum depth of about 119 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 O.H. Ivie?
Lake O.H. Ivie covers roughly 19,149 acres at full pool, impounding the Colorado & Concho Rivers. Its level can swing a good bit with the seasons and rainfall, which shifts where the fish set up.
Best for
Serious trophy hunters chasing a personal-best or a ShareLunker-class largemouth on a dedicated multi-day West Texas trip.
Explore the knowledge base
How I fish it
The techniques that produce on Lake O.H. Ivie.
Swimbait Fishing, Football Jig, Offshore / Ledge Fishing — best lures for Lake O.H. Ivie
Best time to fish
Best months on Lake O.H. Ivie: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar.
Part of Central Texas bass fishing
Lake O.H. Ivie is one of 16 lakes I guide across the region.