Fishing Lake Granbury

Lake Granbury's Fishery Identity

Lake Granbury has been recognized as an outstanding fishery by Texas Parks and Wildlife for decades, with particular strength in striped bass and white bass populations supplemented by solid largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish fishing. The lake's Brazos River origin creates the current-influenced channel habitat that stripers and white bass favor, and the variety of cove structure, submerged timber remnants in some areas, and main-lake open water provides the habitat diversity that supports a productive multi-species fishery. The below-dam tailwater on the Brazos River below DeCordova Bend Dam is a bonus fishery that residents and visitors often overlook.

Striped Bass

Striped bass are the signature species for many Lake Granbury anglers. They are present year-round in the main lake channel and are most accessible in cooler months when they concentrate in the water column and are more catchable with vertical jigging techniques. The main river channel running west to east through the lake is the primary striper habitat — fish hold at varying depths depending on season, water temperature, and forage availability. Electronics are essentially required for consistent striper success, as the schools suspend at depth that varies with season.

Spring and fall transitions see stripers more active near the surface and more catchable on topwater lures and trolled swimbaits. Summer stripers are deep — typically 20 to 40 feet — during peak heat. Winter striper fishing can be excellent for anglers willing to fish in cold conditions; fish school tightly and vertical jigging near the channel bottom produces well. BRA has historically stocked stripers in Lake Granbury as part of its fisheries enhancement program, supporting population maintenance. Standard TPWD size and bag limits apply — verify current regulations at tpwd.texas.gov before fishing as regulations are reviewed periodically.

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass fishing is best in spring (pre-spawn and spawn, typically February through April) when fish move into the shallower cove areas and warm-water margins. The northern cove arms, the back-lake areas near the western arm, and any remaining structure in the shallower areas hold spawning bass in March and April. Tournament fishing on Lake Granbury tends to concentrate in spring as a result — the bass are accessible and catchable. Summer bass fishing moves deeper and becomes more of a structure-and-electronics game. Fall produces a secondary feeding period before winter. TPWD maintains a 14-inch minimum length and 5-fish daily bag limit for largemouth bass as the statewide baseline; check for any Lake Granbury-specific regulation overlays.

White Bass

White bass provide the most accessible schooling action on Lake Granbury. They run toward the main lake's western reaches and the inlet areas in spring for spawning, creating concentrated fishing during March and April that surface-lure and jig anglers can target without sophisticated electronics. In fall, white bass school up in the main lake body during feeding periods that are visible as surface activity — birds working over the water, shad scattered near the surface, bass busting through the surface. This action can be frenetic when it occurs and is accessible to bank and boat anglers alike. White bass are among the best eating fish in the lake.

Catfish

Blue catfish and channel catfish are year-round reliable targets on Lake Granbury. The main channel, submerged structure areas, and deeper cove transitions all hold catfish throughout the year. Night fishing from boats anchored over channel edges produces well for blue catfish specifically. Cut shad remains the dominant bait for serious catfish anglers on this lake; punch bait and stink bait work for channel cats in the shallower areas. The tailwater below DeCordova Bend Dam is particularly productive for large blue catfish — the current and dissolved oxygen levels below the dam create prime catfish habitat, and access is available on foot from DeCordova Bend Park.

Crappie

Crappie fishing on Lake Granbury is productive during the spring spawn when fish move to shoreline structure, dock pilings, bridge pilings, and submerged timber in 4 to 12 feet of water. The 10-inch minimum length and 25-fish bag limit applies (combined black and white crappie). Fall also brings good crappie activity as water temperatures cool. Small jigs in chartreuse and white are the standard Lake Granbury crappie presentation. Live minnows on slip-float rigs work in the deeper winter patterns when fish hold tighter to structure.

The Tailwater Fishery Below the Dam

The Brazos River below DeCordova Bend Dam supports an underutilized and excellent fishing opportunity. Access is from DeCordova Bend Park — visitors park near the gate and walk along the chain-link fence about one-third of a mile to the fishing area below the restricted zone. BRA cautions this is a steep drop to the fishing area and to heed all warning signs and flashing lights, which indicate when water releases are occurring. When releases occur, the river stage rises quickly — get off the water immediately when the warning lights activate.

In stable release conditions (not during active large gate openings), the tailwater below the dam produces striped bass, largemouth bass, large blue catfish, and other species that concentrate in the current-oxygenated water below the dam. This is a significantly different fishing environment from the reservoir above — current-adapted tactics and terminal rigging work better than typical still-water approaches. Check BRA's website for current release status before planning a tailwater trip.

Fishing License and Access

Texas fishing license required for all anglers 17 and older. The All-Water Fishing Package is the most complete option for residents planning to fish multiple waterbodies. Licenses at tpwd.texas.gov or the Texas Hunt & Fish mobile app. BRA's five park areas provide pier fishing access at no charge (standard park entrance may apply at some parks). Waterfowl hunting in designated BRA blind sites during season is by lottery drawing held each August — sign up through BRA's waterfowl hunting program on brazos.org.