AREA LAKES

There are a number of popular West Texas lakes within the Lubbock region (within 225 miles). Following is a general description of each lake and the services and recreational opportunities each provides.

For more information concerning any Texas waterway or fee and license qualifications, consult the 1997-98 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual (available at most sporting goods stores), or contact the Lubbock offices of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (806) 741-0306 or log on to www.tpwd.state.tx.us for in-depth information on Texas parks.

AREA LAKES & RESERVOIRS

South Plains Region

Buffalo Springs Lake: Approximately five miles from Lubbock. Take East 50th Street and exit FM 835. The lake includes seven miles of shoreline as well as 225 surface acres of water. Buffalo Springs offers fishing, boating, two boat ramps, skiing, two beach areas, water slides, picnic areas, camping areas and nature trails. Camping, rental party houses and recreational vehicle hookups are available. For more information, call the lake office at (806) 747-3353.

Lake Alan Henry: Approximately 60 miles from Lubbock. Take US 84 south to near Justiceburg, turn east and follow FM 2458 to the lake. It presently includes 2,880 surface acres and more than 56 miles of shoreline. The lake offers fishing, boating, skiing and primitive camping. For more information, call the lake office at (806) 629-4259.

White River Lake: Approximately 60 miles from Lubbock. Take Texas 114 east to Crosbyton, then south on FM 651 to FM 2794. The lake includes 1,400 surface acres and offers a newly renovated marina, fishing, boating, skiing, an indoor fishing barge, beaches and camping areas. For more information, call the marina at (806) 263-4244.

Panhandle Region

Lake Meredith: Approximately 150 miles from Lubbock. Take I-27 to Amarillo then take Loop 335 north to Texas 136 north. The lake has 16,505 surface acres and is part of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. Meredith offers fishing, skiing, picnicking and camping at no cost. The walleye fishing at the lake is probably the best in the state. The state record for the largest walleye and smallmouth bass was set at the lake. Several guide services are available. For more information about the Lake Meredith Recreation Area, call (806) 857-3151.

Greenbelt Reservoir: Approximately 170 miles from Lubbock. Take I-27 north to Tulia, Texas 86 to Texas 256 east to Texas 70, north to just past Clarendon. The lake includes 2,600 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, skiing, picnicking and camping. Camping and utilities are available. For more information, call (806) 874-3650.

Lake McClellan: Approximately 185 miles from Lubbock. Take I-27 north to Amarillo, then I-40 east to FM 2477 (Exit 128). The lake includes 346 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, motorcycle riding and camping with RV hookups. Personal watercraft are not allowed on weekends and holidays. Lake McClellan has about 10 miles of dirt-bike trails available for riding. For more information, call (806) 779-2092.

Mackenzie Reservoir: Approximately 100 miles from Lubbock. Take I-27 north to Tulia, and then Texas 86 east to Texas 207 north. The lake includes 910 surface acres and over 6 miles of shoreline. Mackenzie also offers fishing, boating, skiing, beaches, ATV park and camping. RV hookups are available. For more information, call the marina at (806) 633-4335.

Northwest Region

Baylor Lake/Lake Childress: Approximately 140 miles from Lubbock. Take US 82 east to Guthrie, US 83 north to Childress and then west on US 287. Only two miles separate the small 280-acre lake from the larger 700-acre lake. Both offer fishing, boating and camping. No water skiing is allowed. One permit is good for both lakes. Lake Baylor provides an excellent trophy black bass fishery with the lake record standing at more than 14 pounds. For more information, call the bait house at (940) 937-2102.

Lake Kemp: Approximately 200 miles from Lubbock. Take US 82 east through Guthrie to Seymour, then north on FM 2582 to the Seymour-side gate; or nine more miles on US 82, then north on US 183-283 to the Vernon-side entrances. Lake Kemp includes 16,540 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, skiing and camping. There are public boat ramps at each of the three gates. Lake Kemp is one of the premier trophy striper fisheries in the state. For more information, contact the Flippen Creek gate entrance at (817) 357-2264.

Miller's Creek Reservoir: Approximately 200 miles from Lubbock. Take US 82 east through Guthrie to Texas 222, then east on 222 through Munday to FM 266, then north to FM 1608, and east to the lake. Miller's Creek includes 2,350 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, skiing and primitive camping.

Lake Stamford: Approximately 140 miles from Lubbock. Take US 82 east to Guthrie, then US 83 south to Aspermont, then US 380 east to Haskell, then US 277 south and FM 618 east to the lake. Stamford includes 4,690 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, skiing and swimming. There are two marinas and two boat ramps. For more information, call (915) 773-2095.

Southwest Region

Lake J.B. Thomas: Approximately 100 miles from Lubbock. Take U.S. 84 south through Snyder to Texas 350, then south on 350 through Ira to FM 1606, and then west to the lake. The lake offers fishing, boating and camping. Even though there is no marina on the lake there are several maintained boat ramps. For more information, call the lake ranger at (915) 573-3015.

Lake Colorado City: Approximately 125 miles from Lubbock. The lake includes 1,600 surface acres along with more than five miles of shoreline. Lake Colorado City offers fishing, boating, skiing, camping and a 500-acre state park. Eleven new mini-cabins will be available July 1 for $45 per night. For more information, contact the state park at (915) 728-3931.

Champion Creek Reservoir: Approximately 140 miles from Lubbock. Take US 84 south through Snyder to Texas 208, then south on 208 through Colorado City to the lake. Champion Creek includes 1,400 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, skiing and camping. Champion Creek is a real ''sleeper lake'' and offers some of the best black bass fishing in our region. For more information, call (806) 655-2904

Lake Sweetwater: Approximately 140 miles from Lubbock. Take US 84 south to Roscoe, then east on I-20 through Sweetwater to FM 1856, and then south to the lake (Exit 249). Lake Sweetwater includes 800 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, camping and golf. For more information, contact the marina at (915) 235-4648.

E.V. Spence Reservoir: Approximately 170 miles from Lubbock. Take US 87 south through Big Spring to Sterling City, and then Texas 158 east. Spence includes 14,950 surface acres and more than 130 miles of shoreline. The lake offers fishing, boating, skiing and overnight camping. There also are two boat ramps and two marinas. For more information, call the marinas at (915) 453-2982 or (915) 453-2801.

O.H. Ivie Reservoir: Approximately 225 miles from Lubbock. Take US 84 to Sweetwater, then exit on Texas 277 south to Bronte, then exit Texas 158 to Ballinger, and then exit US 83 to Ray Stoker Road. Ivie includes 19,600 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, skiing and camping. Lake Ivie is one of the premier black bass fishing lakes in the country and provides excellent fishing. The lake has three parks (Concho, Kennedy and Pageant) and RV hookups are available. For more information, contact Concho Park at (915) 357-4466.

Oak Creek Reservoir: Approximately 150 miles from Lubbock. Take US 84 to Sweetwater and then exit on Texas 70 south to the lake entrance. Oak Creek offers fishing, boating, swimming and camping.