Fishing in Johnson County, Texas
Public access points, lakes, rivers and shops across Johnson County.
- 8access points
- 3lakes
- 9.2sq mi of water
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Fishing at a glance in Johnson County
Johnson County has 725 square miles of land and 9.2 square miles of surface water in the TPWD Prairies & Lakes region.
Lakes with a TPWD fisheries page here: Lake Pat Cleburne, Alvarado Park Lake and Cleburne State Park Lake.
The TPWD public access layer shows 8 public access points here: 6 on lakes, 2 on rivers and creeks.
Anglers who want current will find most access on Brazos River. For a town view, see Burleson and Cleburne.
Johnson County area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; access points from the TPWD layer edited 2021-08-27.
Lakes you can fish in Johnson County
Lake Pat Cleburne
1,558 acres; excellent for channel catfish.
Ramps and recordsAlvarado Park Lake
437 acres.
Ramps and recordsCleburne State Park Lake
107 acres.
Ramps and records
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TPWD access points across Johnson County, and each dot names its water body.
- Pat Cleburne Reservoir4 access points in Johnson County
- Brazos River2 access points in Johnson County
- Alvarado Reservoir1 access point in Johnson County
- State Park Lake1 access point in Johnson County
Johnson County access list: TPWD public water access layer, checked October 2026.
Bait and tackle stores in Johnson County
- B&B BAIT AND TACKLEbait tackle, Alvarado, (817) 790-8130
- BOB'S BAIT AND TACKLEbait tackle, Venus, (682) 597-0559
Johnson County shops: OpenStreetMap contributors, company store lists and TPWD lake pages, retrieved October 2026.
Lakes a short drive from Johnson County
Cleburne is the county seat, with 31,352 residents in the 2020 Census.
Drive 2 miles north from Cleburne to reach Lake Pat Cleburne, the closest surveyed lake.
23 lakes with TPWD survey data lie within 50 miles of the county center.
TPWD survey ratings around Johnson County favor largemouth bass (15 lakes), crappie (14 lakes) and catfish (12 lakes).
USGS reports flow from 2 stream gauges within 22 miles, on Brazos River.
For a state park trip, look at Cedar Hill State Park, Cleburne State Park, Cleburne State Park and Dinosaur Valley State Park.
Lakes within 50 miles of Johnson County that TPWD rates good or excellent for each species.
Biggest fish caught near Johnson County
| Species | Weight | Lake | From county | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Blue | 75.5 lb | Lake Worth | 29 miles | 2012 |
| Catfish, Flathead | 73.5 lb | Grapevine Lake | 44 miles | 1980 |
| Carp, Grass | 65.25 lb | Lake Whitney | 35 miles | 1993 |
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 46.18 lb | Lake Pat Cleburne | 3 miles | 2024 |
| Gar, Longnose | 40.75 lb | Lake Worth | 29 miles | 2019 |
| Bass, Striped | 39.69 lb | Lake Whitney | 35 miles | 1989 |
| Carp, Common | 28 lb | Grapevine Lake | 44 miles | 2004 |
| Buffalo, Black | 27 lb | Lake Whitney | 35 miles | 2019 |
| Drum, Freshwater | 25.64 lb | Lake Whitney | 35 miles | 1992 |
| Catfish, Channel | 23.5 lb | Lake Granbury | 19 miles | 1976 |
All-ages rod and reel lake records from TPWD for lakes within 50 miles of Johnson County.
Stream gauges around Johnson County
Flow in cubic feet per second at gauges near Johnson County.
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv Ds Lk Granbury Nr Granbury, Tx | 14 cfs, 10.19 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:15 pm |
| Brazos Rv Nr Glen Rose, Tx | 3 cfs, 4.02 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 9, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Stocked trout ponds in Johnson County
| Location | Trout stocked | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Bailey Lake | 1,350 | 12/2/2025 |
| Byron Stewart Park Lake | 600 | 12/9/2025 |
| Hidden Vista | 900 | 12/5/2025 |
Johnson County: TPWD winter trout schedule (2025-2026 season) and Neighborhood Fishin site list.
Bordering water and counties, Johnson County
Lake Granbury
19 miles west of the county midpoint
Benbrook Lake
20 miles north of the county midpoint
Comanche Creek Reservoir
24 miles west of the county midpoint
Wheeler Branch Reservoir
25 miles west of the county midpoint
- Somervell County26 miles southwest
- Hood County27 miles west
- Tarrant County27 miles north
- Hill County31 miles southeast
Hunting in Johnson County
Public hunting land, seasons and processors for Johnson County are on State Hunting Spots, our sister site.
What to know before fishing Johnson County
How many places can the public fish in Johnson County?
TPWD maps 8 public water access points in Johnson County.
What reservoirs does Johnson County have?
TPWD surveys these county lakes: Lake Pat Cleburne, Alvarado Park Lake and Cleburne State Park Lake.
Which lake in Johnson County is the biggest?
Lake Pat Cleburne, with 1,558 surface acres.
What rivers can I reach in Johnson County?
TPWD lists stream access on Brazos River (2).
Which outside lake is closest to Johnson County?
Lake Granbury is about 19 miles west of the county center.
Which stores in Johnson County sell bait?
The shop list on this page has 2 listings in the county, starting with BOB'S BAIT AND TACKLE in Venus.
Is trout stocked in Johnson County?
Yes, Bailey Lake, Byron Stewart Park Lake and Hidden Vista received trout during 2025-2026.
What city is the Johnson County seat?
Cleburne, home to 31,352 people in 2020.
How long a drive is it from Cleburne to a lake?
From Cleburne, Lake Pat Cleburne is about 2 miles north.
What bites in lakes near Johnson County?
Lakes inside 50 miles score good or excellent most often for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass.
What record fish have come from near Johnson County?
The standout record is at Lake Whitney, a 39.69 pound bass, striped from 1989.
Where are stream gauges near Johnson County?
The table above pulls 2 USGS gauges, including Brazos Rv ds Lk Granbury nr Granbury, TX.
Other places to fish near Johnson County
Pick a lake close to Johnson County, or browse the county list.