Stillhouse Hollow Bass Fishing Guide
Stillhouse Hollow (fishing really good this year)
Stillhouse Hollow is one of the best numbers bass lakes near Austin - a grass lake (about an hour north) where anyone can catch plenty in spring and summer, and the fish school up for a great topwater bite. It's also one of the rare Central Texas lakes with smallmouth, so there's a shot at a big smallie.
Why: If you like grass, this is your lake - that's where the quality fish live.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Grass / Hydrilla Fishing technique · Ribbon-Tail Worm guide · What to throw on Stillhouse Hollow
Verified Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 11, 2026
Stillhouse has been, by far, one of the most productive lakes in the area over the last 26 years. It's about an hour north of Austin, but worth the drive. If you like grass, this is your lake - that's where the quality fish live. There are rocky areas that produce good fish too, just usually not the same quality the grass gives up. It's also one of the rare Central Texas lakes with a small smallmouth population, so there's a chance at a big smallie - the biggest from my boat being 6 pounds.
Stillhouse Hollow at a glance
- Lake type
- Corps
- Impounds
- Lampasas River
- Managed by
- USACE
- Impounded
- 1968
- Surface area
- 6,429 acres
- Max depth
- 107 ft
- Water level
- Moderate
- Lake record (LM)
- 13.00 lbs — Junior lake record 10.75 lbs; rare Central Texas smallmouth here - Bryan's biggest from the boat was 6 lbs
- Best for
- Numbers, Smallmouth, Grass, Schooling
Today: Fri Aug 07, 2026
Sunrise: 6:51 am · Safe light: 30 minutes before sunrise
Lake info: TPWD lake page · Stillhouse Hollow water level
What you'll catch on Stillhouse Hollow
Largemouth bass are the main event, and Stillhouse produces them in numbers - in spring and summer anyone can catch plenty around the right grass. There's a small but real shot at a smallmouth bass, which you won't find on most lakes around here. The fish also school up well at times, and some of those deeper schools are white bass. I release the bass; white bass make fine table fare.
Seasonal patterns on Stillhouse Hollow
Spring
The grass comes alive and so does the bite. Bass set up around the right grass and school up at times, making for a great topwater and moving-bait bite. One of the most productive windows of the year.
Summer
Plenty of bass around the grass, with strong schooling. This is tournament season - it often takes three bass over 20 pounds to win the weekly night events, which tells you what the lake's capable of.
Fall
As it cools, bass and white bass follow shad, keeping that reaction-bait and topwater bite going around the grass edges and points.
Winter
The bite slides toward the rocky areas and deeper structure. Fewer fish, but a slow, deliberate approach can turn up some quality.
What works on Stillhouse Hollow, season by season
The baits Bryan leans on through the year on Stillhouse Hollow, dialed in from guiding it season after season.
| Season | What produces |
|---|---|
| Spring | Grass / Hydrilla, Walking Topwater (Spook), Frog, Fluke / Soft Jerkbait, Swimbait |
| Summer | Grass / Hydrilla, Frog, Swim Jig, Walking Topwater (Spook), Swimbait |
| Fall | Walking Topwater (Spook), Crankbait, Fluke / Soft Jerkbait, Swim Jig, Swimbait |
| Winter | Drop Shot, Shaky Head, Craw / Craw Trailer, Ribbon-Tail Worm, Swimbait |
How we fish it
On Stillhouse it's all about the grass - that's where the better fish live, and we target it with the baits that draw them out. When the fish school up, a topwater or moving bait can be a blast, and we keep a rod ready for the smallmouth and white bass that make this lake a little different. Plenty of rock to work too when the grass bite slows.
From Bryan's logbook
Based on Bryan Cotter's on-the-water observations.
Stillhouse is one of the rare Central Texas lakes with a smallmouth population, so there's a real chance at a big smallie - the biggest from my boat was 6 pounds.
Stillhouse Hollow fishing FAQs
When is the best time to bass fish Stillhouse Hollow?
Spring and summer are excellent - anyone can catch plenty of bass around the right grass, and the fish school up well at times for a great topwater and moving-bait bite. It's been one of the most productive lakes in the area over the last 26 years.
Is Stillhouse Hollow good for numbers?
It's one of the best numbers lakes around. In the warmer months you can catch plenty of bass in the grass, and the weekly night tournaments often take three bass totalling over 20 pounds to win.
Are there smallmouth bass in Stillhouse Hollow?
Yes - there's a small smallmouth population, which is rare for Central Texas, so there's a real chance at a big smallie. My biggest from the boat was 6 pounds.
Is Stillhouse Hollow good for kids or beginners?
The high catch rate makes it a lot of fun for kids and first-timers once you're there. The only catch is the hour drive from Austin - if you'd rather stay close to town, Lake Travis is my go-to for families. But if you don't mind the drive, Stillhouse keeps everybody bending rods.
What are the best lures for Stillhouse Hollow?
Since it's a grass lake, I focus on baits that fish the grass - Texas-rigged worms and craws, weightless flukes, frogs over the mats, and topwater or a swim jig when the fish are schooling.
How far is Stillhouse Hollow from Austin?
It's about an hour north of Austin - a bit of a drive, but well worth it for how productive this lake is.
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.
How deep is Stillhouse Hollow?
Stillhouse Hollow has a maximum depth of about 107 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 Stillhouse Hollow?
Stillhouse Hollow covers roughly 6,429 acres at full pool, impounding the Lampasas River. Knowing which water actually holds fish is most of the battle - that's where a guide saves you time.
Best for
Anglers who want numbers and an active grass bite, anyone hoping to catch a rare Central Texas smallmouth, and folks who don't mind a short drive north for one of the most productive lakes around.
Explore the knowledge base
What you can catch here
The bass and gamefish Stillhouse Hollow holds.
Anglers drive in from
Central Texas towns within an easy drive of Stillhouse Hollow.
Round Rock (50 min) · Georgetown (35 min) · Temple (20 min) · Belton (15 min) · Killeen (20 min) · Waco (45 min)
How I fish it
The techniques that produce on Stillhouse Hollow.
Grass / Hydrilla Fishing, Texas Rig, Frog Fishing, Walking Topwater, Finesse Fishing, Drop Shot — best lures for Stillhouse Hollow
Lures that produce here
The baits I lean on at Stillhouse Hollow.
Ribbon-Tail Worm · Craw / Craw Trailer · Fluke / Soft Jerkbait · Hollow-Body Frog · Walking Topwater (Spook) · Swim Jig
Related guides & articles
In-depth reads for fishing Stillhouse Hollow.
Compare this lake
See how Stillhouse Hollow stacks up against other lakes.
Best time to fish
Best months on Stillhouse Hollow: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul.
Part of Central Texas bass fishing
Stillhouse Hollow is one of 16 lakes I guide across the region.