Fishing in Bosque County, Texas
Public access points, lakes, rivers and shops across Bosque County.
- 25access points
- 1lakes
- 19.6sq mi of water
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Fishing at a glance in Bosque County
Bosque County has 983 square miles of land and 19.6 square miles of surface water in the TPWD Prairies & Lakes region.
Lakes with a TPWD fisheries page here: Meridian State Park Lake.
The TPWD public access layer shows 25 public access points here: 12 on lakes, 13 on rivers and creeks.
Anglers who want current will find most access on North Bosque River and Brazos River. For a town view, see Clifton and Meridian.
Sources for Bosque County: US Census 2024 Gazetteer and the TPWD public water access layer (2021-08-27).
Lakes you can fish in Bosque County
Meridian State Park Lake
50 acres.
Ramps and recordsWhere the public can fish in Bosque County
TPWD access points across Bosque County, and each dot names its water body.
- Lake Whitney11 access points in Bosque County
- North Bosque River9 access points in Bosque County
- Brazos River4 access points in Bosque County
- Meridian State Recreation Area1 access point in Bosque County
Bosque County access list: TPWD public water access layer, checked October 2026.
Bait and tackle stores in Bosque County
- Blackie's Bait Shopbait tackle, Walnut Springs, (254) 797-0181
- Uncle Gus Marina – Boat Repair Shopmarina, Clifton, (254) 622-3333
Bosque County shops: OpenStreetMap contributors, company store lists and TPWD lake pages, retrieved October 2026.
Lakes a short drive from Bosque County
Meridian is the county seat, with 1,396 residents in the 2020 Census.
Drive 4 miles southwest from Meridian to reach Meridian State Park Lake, the closest surveyed lake.
13 lakes with TPWD survey data lie within 50 miles of the county center.
TPWD survey ratings around Bosque County favor largemouth bass (9 lakes), sunfish (8 lakes) and catfish (6 lakes).
USGS reports flow from 3 stream gauges within 22 miles, on Bosque River and Brazos River.
For a state park trip, look at Cedar Hill State Park, Cleburne State Park, Cleburne State Park and Dinosaur Valley State Park.
Count of nearby lakes (50 miles) with a good or excellent TPWD rating, by species, for Bosque County.
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| Species | Weight | Lake | From county | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Blue | 84.13 lb | Lake Waco | 34 miles | 2019 |
| Carp, Grass | 70.12 lb | Lake Waco | 34 miles | 2010 |
| Catfish, Flathead | 62.75 lb | Proctor Lake | 49 miles | 1999 |
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 46.18 lb | Lake Pat Cleburne | 35 miles | 2024 |
| Gar, Hybrid | 39.76 lb | Lake Waco | 34 miles | 2023 |
| Bass, Striped | 39.69 lb | Lake Whitney | 16 miles | 1989 |
| Buffalo, Bigmouth | 39 lb | Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir | 45 miles | 1995 |
| Gar, Longnose | 35 lb | Lake Granbury | 33 miles | 2026 |
| Carp, Common | 31 lb | Proctor Lake | 49 miles | 2011 |
| Drum, Red | 29.5 lb | Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir | 45 miles | 1991 |
All-ages rod and reel lake records from TPWD for lakes within 50 miles of Bosque County.
Stream gauges around Bosque County
Flow in cubic feet per second at gauges near Bosque County.
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| N Bosque Rv Nr Clifton, Tx | 6 cfs, 1.51 ft gage height | Nov 11 12:00 am |
| N Bosque Rv At Valley Mills, Tx | 3 cfs, 4.63 ft gage height | Nov 10 11:30 pm |
| Brazos Rv Nr Aquilla, Tx | 227 cfs, 7.30 ft gage height | Nov 11 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 12:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Stocked trout ponds in Bosque County
| Location | Trout stocked | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Meridian State Park | 2,000 | 1/7/2026 |
Bosque County: TPWD winter trout schedule (2025-2026 season) and Neighborhood Fishin site list.
Bordering water and counties, Bosque County
Lake Whitney
16 miles east of the county midpoint
Aquilla Lake
25 miles east of the county midpoint
Cleburne State Park Lake
25 miles north of the county midpoint
Wheeler Branch Reservoir
26 miles north of the county midpoint
- Somervell County23 miles north
- Hill County30 miles east
- Hamilton County31 miles southwest
- McLennan County35 miles southeast
What to know before fishing Bosque County
How many places can the public fish in Bosque County?
TPWD shows 25 public water access points across Bosque County.
What reservoirs does Bosque County have?
Inside the county lines: Meridian State Park Lake.
Which lake in Bosque County is the biggest?
Meridian State Park Lake tops the list at 50 acres.
What rivers can I reach in Bosque County?
Public river access sits on North Bosque River (9) and Brazos River (4).
Which outside lake is closest to Bosque County?
That would be Lake Whitney, about 16 miles to the east of the center.
Which stores in Bosque County sell bait?
See 2 listings on this page, including Uncle Gus Marina – Boat Repair Shop in Clifton.
Is trout stocked in Bosque County?
TPWD stocked Meridian State Park with rainbow trout in the 2025-2026 season.
What city is the Bosque County seat?
Meridian, which counted 1,396 residents in 2020.
How long a drive is it from Meridian to a lake?
Meridian State Park Lake sits some 4 miles southwest of Meridian.
What bites in lakes near Bosque County?
Inside a 50 mile radius, the strongest ratings are for largemouth bass, sunfish, catfish and white bass.
What record fish have come from near Bosque County?
Lake Whitney holds the mark with a 39.69 pound bass, striped caught in 1989.
Where are stream gauges near Bosque County?
This page shows 3 USGS gauges, beginning with N Bosque Rv nr Clifton, TX.
Other places to fish near Bosque County
Pick a lake close to Bosque County, or browse the county list.