Lubbock area lakes and fishing opportunities

Presented below is a list of some of the more popular West Texas lakes within the Lubbock region (within 225 miles). A general description as well as a list of services and recreational opportunities offered by each lake is also provided.

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.

AREA LAKES &
RESERVOIRS> South Plains Region

Buffalo Springs Lake: Approximately 5 miles from Lubbock. Take East 50th Street and exit FM 835. The lake includes 7 miles of shoreline as well as 225 surface acres of water. Buffalo Springs offers fishing, boating, skiing, two beach areas, water slides, picnic areas, camping areas and nature trails. For more information call the lake office at (806) 747-3353.

Lake Alan Henry: Approximately 60 miles from Lubbock. Take US 84 south through Justiceburg and exit FM 2458, then east on 3519 to the lake. Alan Henry presently includes 2,880 surface acres and over 20 miles of shoreline. The lake offers fishing, boating, skiing and primitive camping. White River Lake: Approximately 60 miles from Lubbock. Take 114 east to Crosbyton, then south on FM 651 to FM 2794. The lake includes 1,400 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, skiing, 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 north to Amarillo, and then go north on Texas 136. The lake includes 16,505 surface acres and is part of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. Meredith presently offers fishing skiing, picnicking and camping at no cost. The walleye fishing at the lake is probably the best in the state, and 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 and 256 east to Texas 70, north to 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. The lake includes 346 surface acres and offers fishing, boating, skiing, motorcycle riding and camping with RV hookups. Jet Skis are not allowed on weekends and holidays. Lake McClellan has 500 acres set aside for dirt-bike riding. For more information call (806) 779-2590.

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) 633-4420.

Northwest Region

Baylor Lake/Lake Childress: Approximately 140 miles from Lubbock. Take US 82 east to Guthrie, then US 83 north to Childress, and then west on US 287. Only 2 miles separates the small 500 acre sister lakes. Both lakes 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 over 14 pounds..

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 9 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 gate and one marina. Lake Kemp is one of the premier trophy striper fisheries in the state. For more information contact the Flippen gate entrance at (817) 357-2214.

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 finally 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 over 5 miles of shoreline. Lake Colorado City offers fishing, boating, skiing, camping and a 500-acre state park. 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.

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. Lake Sweetwater includes 800 surface acres and offers fishing, boating and camping. 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 over 130 miles of shoreline. The lake offers fishing, boating, skiing and overnight camping. There are also two boat ramps and two marinas. For more information call the marinas at (915) 453-2982, (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 two parks (Concho and Kennedy) 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.