Lake Whitney Fishing
Ramps, live water level, TPWD species ratings, lake records and the limits that apply on 23,500 acres in Hill County.
- 23,500acres
- 108 ftmax depth
- 10boat ramps
- 12.3 lbrecord bass
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Lake Whitney, Texas at a glance
Lake Whitney covers 23,500 acres with a maximum depth of 108 feet and has held water since 1951. TPWD lists it in the Prairies & Lakes region, in Hill County. It lies on the Brazos and Nolan rivers off Texas Highway 22, about 30 miles northwest of Waco.
TPWD biologists rate no species as excellent here; largemouth bass, channel & blue catfish, white bass, striped bass and sunfish rate good.
Its biggest recorded largemouth bass came in at 12.3 pounds (2022).
Expect stained golden alga blooms can occur in the reservoir. these blooms are toxic to fish and may affect the quality of fishing. please check bloom status or contact the tpwd fisheries office for current conditions water on a typical day; vegetation includes willow, bushy pondweed, buttonbush, bulrush, coontail, pondweed, water willow; levels swing 4-8 feet annually.
Controlling authority: US Army Corps of Engineers (254) 622-3332. Lake Whitney facts from the TPWD lake page, checked October 2026.
Water level at Lake Whitney today
TWDB reservoir data for Lake Whitney, refreshed each hour.
Texas Water Development Board, Water Data for Texas, reading dated 2026-10-08. Retrieved Oct 9, 2026 5:07 am ET. 30 day chart on TWDB.
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
What bites at Lake Whitney
TPWD survey ratings for Lake Whitney, species by species.
Rating scale, 4 high to 1 low.
The main game fish TPWD lists for this lake: Striped & white bass, Smallmouth & largemouth bass, Crappie, Channel, blue & flathead catfish.
Lake Whitney lake records
The heaviest certified fish of each species from Lake Whitney.
| Species | Weight (lb) | Length (in) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue catfish | 62.75 | 46 | 1999-10-16 |
| Flathead catfish | 39.94 | 43.5 | 1993-11-20 |
| Striped bass | 39.69 | 43.25 | 1989-05-14 |
| Longnose gar | 33 | 58 | 1990-04-07 |
| Smallmouth buffalo | 29.28 | 37 | 2002-03-16 |
| Black buffalo | 27 | 35.5 | 2019-10-28 |
| Freshwater drum | 25.64 | 34 | 1992-10-30 |
| Channel catfish | 15.25 | 32.25 | 1977-10-10 |
| Hybrid striped bass | 15 | 27.5 | 2002-04-01 |
| Common carp | 14.99 | 30 | 2011-03-24 |
| Largemouth bass | 12.3 | 25 | 2022-02-10 |
| Smallmouth bass | 7.72 | 22 | 1988-11-20 |
Lake Whitney records: TPWD water body records, list updated October 8, 2026. Retrieved October 2026.
Boat ramps and access on Lake Whitney
TPWD lists 12 access points on this lake, 10 with a boat ramp and 0 with a marina.
Kimball Bend
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas. (254) 622-3332
Plowman Creek
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping. (254) 622-3332
Morgan Lakeside Park
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, live bait, parking, courtesy docks, boat gas.
Steele Creek
Single lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping. (254) 622-3332
Cedar Creek Park
Two lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping. (254) 622-3332
Cedron Creek Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping. (254) 622-3332
McCown Valley Park
Three lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping. (254) 622-3332
Lake Whitney State Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, camping. (254) 694-3793
Lofer's Bend
2 lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, live bait, parking, courtesy docks, boat gas. (254) 622-3332
Riverside Park
No fee; restrooms, parking. (254) 622-3332
Soldier's Bluff
No fee; restrooms, parking, picnic areas, camping. (254) 622-3332
Walling Bend
2 lane ramp; no fee; restrooms, parking, picnic areas. (254) 622-3332
21 mapped points from the TPWD access layer; ramp notes from the Lake Whitney page at TPWD, checked October 2026.
Fishing limits at Lake Whitney
Lake Whitney follows the statewide freshwater limits below.
| Species | Daily bag | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | 5 | 14 in minimum |
| Striped bass | 5 | 18 in minimum |
| Hybrid striped bass | 5 | 18 in minimum |
| White bass | 25 | 10 in minimum |
| Flathead catfish | 5 | 18 in minimum |
| White crappie | 25 | 10 in minimum |
| Black crappie | 25 | 10 in minimum |
Limits for Lake Whitney from the TPWD Outdoor Annual, 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027), checked October 2026.
Fish stocked in Lake Whitney
| Year | Species | Number | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Striped bass | 249,969 | Fingerling |
| 2026 | Smallmouth bass | 53 | Adult |
| 2025 | Striped bass | 481,981 | Fingerling |
| 2025 | Striped bass | 299,251 | Fry |
| 2025 | Lone star bass | 239,032 | Fingerling |
| 2025 | Smallmouth bass | 17,980 | Fry |
| 2025 | Smallmouth bass | 101 | Adult |
| 2024 | Lone star bass | 236,568 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Smallmouth bass | 187,288 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Striped bass | 170,754 | Fingerling |
Lake Whitney stocking: TPWD stocking by water body, retrieved October 2026.
Shops and guides near Lake Whitney
- Uncle Gus Marina – Boat Repair ShopClifton, 2 miles west of the lake, (254) 622-3333
- Cornerstone Bait and TackleWhitney, 5 miles northeast of the lake, (254) 694-3162
- Juniper Cove MarinaWhitney, 8 miles north of the lake, (254) 694-3129
- (3) Fly-Tying, 19 miles southeast of the lake
- Ron's Marina One LteWaco, 20 miles southeast of the lake, (254) 754-1642
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Lacy LakeviewLacy Lakeview, 25 miles southeast of the lake, (254) 591-8010
- Blackie's Bait ShopWalnut Springs, 26 miles northwest of the lake, (254) 797-0181
- Academy Sports + Outdoors WacoWaco, 26 miles southeast of the lake, (254) 399-2410
- Big Bite Guide ServiceFreshwater guide, (682) 459-7057
- Guaranteed Guide ServiceFreshwater guide, (469) 867-4299
Shop and guide sources for Lake Whitney: OpenStreetMap, store locators and guide websites (October 2026).
Lakes and towns near Lake Whitney
Aquilla Lake
10 miles east, 3,020 acres
Meridian State Park Lake
19 miles west, 50 acres
Lake Waco
22 miles southeast, 8,465 acres
Lake Brazos
27 miles southeast, 523 acres
- WhitneyHill County, 7 miles northeast
- CliftonBosque County, 14 miles southwest
- MeridianBosque County, 17 miles west
- WacoMcLennan County, 24 miles southeast
- Hill CountyFishing access across the county
Questions about fishing Lake Whitney
How big is Lake Whitney?
Lake Whitney covers 23,500 surface acres and is 108 feet deep at its deepest point, according to TPWD.
When was Lake Whitney built?
The reservoir was impounded in 1951.
What is the Lake Whitney record largemouth bass?
The lake record largemouth bass weighed 12.3 pounds and measured 25 inches, caught 2022-02-10, per TPWD water body records.
What other lake records does Lake Whitney hold?
Blue catfish 62.75 lb; Flathead catfish 39.94 lb; Striped bass 39.69 lb.
What fish are best at Lake Whitney?
TPWD rates largemouth bass good; channel & blue catfish good; flathead catfish fair; crappie fair; white bass good; striped bass good; sunfish good.
How many boat ramps are on Lake Whitney?
TPWD lists 10 boat ramps on Lake Whitney, and 5 of them charge no fee.
How do I check the water level at Lake Whitney?
The Lake Whitney level box on this page refreshes hourly from TWDB and shows the gap to full pool.
What are the fishing limits at Lake Whitney?
Lake Whitney uses the statewide rules. Largemouth: 5 a day, 14 inches or longer.
Is Lake Whitney stocked?
Yes. TPWD stocked 249,969 fingerling striped bass in 2026, and 10 stocking events are on record since 2024.
What town is closest to Lake Whitney?
Whitney is 7 miles northeast of the lake center, in Hill County.
Where can I buy bait near Lake Whitney?
Uncle Gus Marina – Boat Repair Shop in Clifton is about 2 miles from Lake Whitney, one of 8 shops listed above.
Is there a state park on or near Lake Whitney?
TPWD lists Lake Whitney State Park.
Plan a day on Lake Whitney
Check the level, then pick a ramp from the list above.