Belton Lake Fishing
TPWD ratings, ramp list, lake records and live water data on 12,385 acres in Bell County and Coryell County.
- 12,385acres
- 124 ftmax depth
- 10boat ramps
- 13.97 lbrecord bass
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The basics of Belton Lake
Impounded in 1954, Belton Lake spreads across 12,385 surface acres, 124 feet deep at the dam and sits in Bell County and Coryell County, part of the Prairies & Lakes region. You will find it on the Leon River in Bell and Coryell counties, 5 miles northwest of the City of Belton off FM 317.
TPWD biologists rate smallmouth bass and hybrid striped bass as excellent here, with largemouth bass, catfish, white bass and sunfish a step lower at good.
The heaviest largemouth on the lake record list weighed 13.97 pounds in 2017.
TPWD calls normal clarity moderate; aquatic plants include very sparse buttonbush and cattail; the fluctuation note from TPWD reads 3-5 feet.
Controlling authority: US Army Corps of Engineers (254) 742-3050. Belton Lake facts from the TPWD lake page, checked October 2026.
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Belton Lake level from the Texas Water Development Board, compared with full pool.
Texas Water Development Board, Water Data for Texas, reading dated 2026-10-14. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026 10:32 pm ET. 30 day chart on TWDB.
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
The catch at Belton Lake
TPWD scores each species at Belton Lake on a four point scale.
Scale used for Belton Lake: excellent 4, good 3, fair 2, poor 1.
Predominant species: Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Channel & flathead catfish, White & hybrid striped bass, Sunfish.
Record catches from Belton Lake
The heaviest certified fish of each species from Belton Lake.
| Species | Weight (lb) | Length (in) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue catfish | 75.02 | 48 | 2026-06-06 |
| Flathead catfish | 62.1 | 45 | 2016-02-20 |
| Smallmouth buffalo | 36.5 | 38 | 1989-06-23 |
| Black buffalo | 16.13 | 29.94 | 2020-04-18 |
| Common carp | 15.52 | 32 | 2025-03-29 |
| Largemouth bass | 13.97 | 28.75 | 2017-04-01 |
| Hybrid striped bass | 13.56 | 28 | 1994-04-13 |
| Freshwater drum | 10.2 | 27 | 2022-04-29 |
| Channel catfish | 8.01 | 25.13 | 2018-07-28 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6.43 | 22.5 | 1999-02-24 |
| Spotted bass | 3.75 | 19.75 | 2010-02-19 |
| White bass | 2.64 | 17.5 | 2017-02-25 |
Belton Lake records: TPWD water body records, list updated October 8, 2026. Retrieved October 2026.
Launch sites around Belton Lake
The lake has 11 access points per TPWD, with a boat ramp at 10 and a marina at 0.
Iron Bridge Park
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, parking. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsWinkler Park
No fee; restrooms, parking, camping. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsWhite Flint Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, camping. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsLeona Park
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsOwl Creek Park
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsCedar Ridge Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, live bait, parking, courtesy docks, boat gas. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsRogers Park
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsWestcliff Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsTemple Lake Park
2 lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsLive Oak Ridge (overnight campers only)
Boat ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, camping. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsBelton Lakeview Park
Boat ramp; no fee; restrooms, live bait, parking, courtesy docks, boat gas. (254) 939-2461
Ramp detailsTPWD access layer (19 points) and the TPWD Belton Lake ramp list, checked October 2026.
Limits that differ from statewide rules at Belton Lake
These exceptions replace the statewide limit for the listed species on this lake only.
Zebra mussels have been found in this reservoir.
| Species | Rule at Belton Lake |
|---|---|
| Catfish | For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag and possession limit = 25 blue and channel catfish in any combination. In the 25-fish bag, no more than 5 fish 20 inches or greater in length may be retained, and no more than 1 of those can be 30 inches or longer. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag = 5. |
Limits for Belton Lake from the TPWD Outdoor Annual, 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027), checked October 2026.
Fish released into Belton Lake
| Year | Species | Number | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunshine bass | 123,284 | Fingerling |
| 2025 | Sunshine bass | 1,324,340 | Fry |
| 2025 | Lone star bass | 157,697 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Palmetto bass | 824,800 | Fry |
| 2024 | Smallmouth bass | 115,211 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Lone star bass | 100,676 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Sunshine bass | 81,449 | Fingerling |
Belton Lake stocking: TPWD stocking by water body, retrieved October 2026.
Competitive fishing on Belton Lake
| Date | Event | Organizer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | Bass Champs 2026 Stop #2 – Lake Belton | Bass Champs | completed |
| 2026-07-18 | 2026 TBN Kayak Division Event 10 – Belton Lake | Texas B.A.S.S. Nation | completed |
| 2026-10-03 | 2026 TBN North Central Region Regional Championship | Texas B.A.S.S. Nation | completed |
Tournament dates for Belton Lake from each organizer, retrieved October 2026.
Shops and guides near Belton Lake
- Frank's MarinaBelton, under a mile southwest of the lake, (254) 939-7443
- Cedar Ridge Park Marina, 4 miles north of the lake
- Pier 36 MarinaTemple, 4 miles north of the lake, (254) 986-2466
- Stillhouse Hollow MarinaBelton, 6 miles southwest of the lake, (254) 939-5741
- Academy Sports + Outdoors TempleTemple, 7 miles southeast of the lake, (254) 742-7350
- Academy Sports + Outdoors KilleenKilleen, 15 miles west of the lake, (254) 501-6800
- Central Texas Wholesale BaitKilleen, 16 miles west of the lake, (254) 634-3934
- Big catch bait and tackleMoody, 18 miles northeast of the lake, (254) 717-3525
Shop and guide sources for Belton Lake: OpenStreetMap, store locators and guide websites (October 2026).
Nearby lakes and towns for Belton Lake
Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir
7 miles southwest, 6,429 acres
Granger Lake
29 miles south, 4,009 acres
Lake Georgetown
34 miles southwest, 1,297 acres
Lake Waco
36 miles northeast, 8,465 acres
- BeltonBell County, 4 miles south
- TempleBell County, 5 miles east
- Harker HeightsBell County, 11 miles west
- KilleenBell County, 15 miles west
- Bell CountyFishing access across the county
- Coryell CountyFishing access across the county
Piscifun reels for this water
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Frequently asked about Belton Lake
What size reservoir is Belton Lake?
Belton Lake covers 12,385 surface acres and is 124 feet deep at its deepest point, according to TPWD.
How old is Belton Lake?
The dam closed and the lake began filling in 1954 on Leon River.
What is the Belton Lake record largemouth bass?
A 13.97 pound largemouth and measured 28.75 inches, caught 2017-04-01 holds the record, according to TPWD.
Which other species records come from Belton Lake?
Blue catfish 75.02 lb; Flathead catfish 62.1 lb; Smallmouth buffalo 36.5 lb.
What should I fish for at Belton Lake?
TPWD surveys give largemouth bass good; smallmouth bass excellent; catfish good; crappie fair; white bass good; hybrid striped bass excellent; sunfish good.
What boat ramps does Belton Lake have?
TPWD shows 10 boat ramps on Belton Lake, and 5 of them charge no fee.
How do I know the stage at Belton Lake?
Look at the water level section of this page, which pulls the Belton Lake reading from TWDB every hour.
Does Belton Lake have its own bag limits?
Lake specific TPWD rules cover Catfish; see the 2026-27 limits table on this page.
Does TPWD stock Belton Lake?
TPWD released 123,284 fingerling sunshine bass in 2026, and 7 stocking events are on record since 2024.
What tournaments run on Belton Lake?
Most recent: 2026 TBN North Central Region Regional Championship on 2026-10-03, run by Texas B.A.S.S. Nation.
Where can I stay near Belton Lake?
Belton, roughly 4 miles south of the lake center, in Bell County.
Where do I get tackle near Belton Lake?
Look at Frank's Marina in Belton, some under a mile from Belton Lake, one of 8 shops listed above.
More water near Belton Lake
Pick a ramp above once you know the current level.