Lake
Buchanan
23,200-acre Lower Colorado River Authority impoundment,
the highest and broadest in series of six Highland Lakes.
Water sports and fishing are superb with generous space
for boating, skiing, sailing. Innumerable beaches, docks,
marinas, and leisure home developments at lakeside. Public
and commercial camps, boat ramps.
Lake's
record fish include Guadalupe bass, 2.25 lbs.; white bass,
3.06 lbs.; striped bass, 27.8 lbs. Many water-related
festivals staged on lake during summer months. At Lake
Buchanan community on Texas 29; also accessible from Llano
and Burnet.
There
are five good boat ramps, four on the east side and one
on the west side of the lake. The first ramp is on the
east side of the dam off Texas Highway 29. Look for the
brown sign (HWY 690) that points the way to the ramp.
Burnet County Park, off FM 2341 at mid-lake, has recently
built a new concrete two-lane ramp. This ramp is usually
open during periods of low water. It is susceptible to
a northwest wind, so watch the weather if you launch here.
A concrete ramp, well protected from the wind, is located
at Thunderbird Lodge off FM 2341 at (512) 756-4878. This
private facility charges $5.00 to launch. Llano County
Park, on the west side, offers a free ramp off FM 261.
This ramp is well protected from the wind. Unimproved
boat ramps are available at Cedar Point Recreation Area
and at Colorado Bend State Park (915) 628-3240.
Colorado
Bend offers access for anglers wishing to wade fish for
white bass in the upper reaches of the river above Lake
Buchanan during the spring spawning run. Camping is available
at Colorado Bend, Canyon of the Eagles, and also at Inks
Lake State Park, just a short drive from Lake Buchanan.
This is a popular park, so it's a good idea to make reservations
well in advance. Many private facilities on Buchanan offer
camping, fishing piers, and docks. For details, check
the Buchanan/Inks Chamber of Commerce website.
