TPWD District Fisheries Office

8684 LaVillage Avenue
Waco, Texas 76712
(254) 666-5190
Michael Baird, Biologist

About the Area

Nearby State Parks

 

Pat Cleburne Lake

Quick Links: Fishing Regulations | Angling Opportunities | Cover & Structure | Tips & Tactics


Lake Characteristics

Location: On the Nolan River just southwest of the City of Cleburne off US 67
Surface area: 1,558 acres
Maximum depth: 64 feet
Impounded: 1961

Water Conditions

Current Lake Level
Conservation Pool Elevation: 733.6 ft. msl
Fluctuation: 1-2 feet
Normal Clarity: Stained to murky

Reservoir Controlling Authority

City of Cleburne
PO Box 657
Cleburne, Texas 76033
(817) 641-3321

Aquatic Vegetation

Water willow, lotus, cattail, bulrush, and buttonbush

Predominant Fish Species

Lake Records
Stocking History
Latest Survey Report

Lake Maps

None available

Fishing Regulations

All species are currently managed under statewide regulations.

Angling Opportunities

This reservoir offers good largemouth bass fishing and the opportunity to catch three different species of catfish.

Species Poor Fair Good Excellent
Largemouth Bass     yes  
Channel Catfish       yes
Blue Catfish     yes  
Flathead Catfish yes      
Crappie yes      
White Bass     yes  
Sunfish     yes  
Fishing Cover/Structure

Stained to murky water, with a variety of shallow emergent aquatic vegetation and isolated laydowns, provide plenty of cover for fish. In 2016, TPWD biologists worked with a local volunteer group to install crappie condos near the dam. These structures provide cover for a variety of fish species.

Use the Habitat Structure Viewer for an interactive map of fish habitat structures and downloadable GPS coordinates.

Tips & Tactics

Largemouth bass can be caught using spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and plastic worms fished through and around vegetation at 1- to 4-foot depths. Shallow-diving crankbaits fished on the riprap can also be productive. Channel and blue catfish are caught by drift fishing and tightlining with stinkbait or shad. White bass are often caught by trolling jigs and spinners down windy shorelines. Crappie can be caught from shallow brush piles on live minnows. Sunfish are caught on live worms and crickets around shallow brush and riprap.