Possum Kingdom Lake Fishing: Access, Species & Rules

Want Trout?

Go below Canyon Dam on the Guadalupe River. Check stocking dates, public lease access and special zones before keeping fish.

Want Bass?

Fish clear-water structure: rocky points, ledges, flooded timber, docks, marinas and TPWD habitat sites.

Bringing Boat?

Check lake level and ramp status first. Low water can make old ramp memory useless.

No Boat?

Use official parks, docks, piers and tailrace access. Avoid random steep private-looking shoreline.

Recent Percent Full

Water Data for Texas recently listed Canyon Lake at 61.1% full.

Recent Mean Level

Recent mean level was listed around 888.14 ft.

Below Pool

Most recent instantaneous value was about 20.88 ft below the 909 ft conservation pool.

Call Before Towing

Check Water Data, USACE notices and ramp operator status before hauling a boat.

Canyon Lake Reservoir

• Best for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Guadalupe bass, white bass, striped bass, catfish and sunfish.
• Clear to slightly stained water, with more stained water up reservoir and in the river portion.
• Important structure: steep rocky banks, ledges, rock piles, humps, flooded timber, laydowns, marinas and habitat structures.
• All reservoir fish are under statewide freshwater regulations unless TPWD lists a specific exception.
• Water level affects ramps, shoreline access and underwater hazards.

Guadalupe Tailrace Below Canyon Dam

• Best for winter rainbow trout and brown trout planning.
• USACE lists an ADA-accessible concrete fishing pier below Canyon Dam near the power plant outlet.
• TPWD stocks the Canyon Tailrace in winter and has public access lease details in season.
• Two special trout zones have artificial-lure harvest rules and different size/bag limits.
• Lease access, stocking dates and river flows can change each season.

Surface Area

TPWD lists Canyon Lake at 8,308 acres.

Maximum Depth

Maximum depth is listed at 125 feet.

Conservation Pool

Conservation pool elevation is 909 ft msl.

Miles of Shoreline

USACE lists 93 miles of shoreline.

Impounded

The reservoir was completed/impounded in 1964.

Water Clarity

Normal water is clear to slightly stained, with more stain in the upper reservoir and river.

Aquatic Vegetation

TPWD lists aquatic vegetation as none.

Control

The reservoir is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Canyon Project Office.

Adults Usually Need License

USACE says a valid/current Texas fishing license is required to fish Canyon Lake and the river coming in and out of the lake.

Freshwater Coverage

Use a Texas license that includes freshwater endorsement for lake fish and trout below the dam.

Youth Under 17

Texas youth under 17 generally do not need a license, but size, bag, gear, access and safety rules still apply.

Guadalupe Park Pier Below Dam

Best official starting point for accessible trout-tailrace fishing below Canyon Dam near the power plant outlet.

Potter’s Creek Park Dock

USACE lists a dock near the free-use boat ramp west of Potter’s Creek Park Campground.

Cranes Mill Fishing Dock

USACE lists a free-to-use dock outside/next to Cranes Mill Park Campground plus a campground pier reserved for campers.

White Bass Plan

• Spawning migration usually matters February-April.
• White bass can concentrate in the river portion and upper reservoir when conditions are right.
• Use small jigs, inline spinners, small crankbaits, live bait and spoons.
• In summer/fall, watch main-lake points, humps and bait schools.
• Limit snapshot: daily bag 25; 10-inch minimum.

Striped Bass Plan

• Search main-lake points, humps, deep breaks and open-water bait schools.
• Use trolling, vertical jigging, white bucktail jigs, spoons, live bait and topwater during schooling action.
• Birds and surface bait can reveal active schools.
• Limit snapshot: daily bag 5 in any combination with hybrid striped bass; 18-inch minimum.
• Consumption advisory applies to striped bass from Canyon Lake.

Accessible Pier

USACE lists an ADA-accessible concrete fishing pier below Canyon Dam near the power plant outlet, historically one of the trout stocking locations.

2025-26 Stocking Note

TPWD’s 2025-26 lease announcement said the Canyon Tailrace would receive close to 20,000 rainbow trout from early December through late January, including 5,050 from WORD.

Lease Access Timing

TPWD listed public lease access from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset during the lease period.

Channel / Blue Catfish

Use stinkbait, punch bait, cut shad-style bait or cut bait. The upper third of the reservoir is often the more consistent catfish zone.

Flathead Catfish

Live bait is commonly preferred for flathead catfish. Check legal-device and trotline rules before setting anything.

Sunfish

Use worms, tiny hooks and floats near docks, shade, rocks and safe banks. This is the easiest kid-friendly fishing goal.

Before Leaving the Lake

• Drain boat, motor, livewell, bilge and bait buckets.
• Remove plants, mud and debris from trailer, bunks, anchor and ropes.
• Dispose of bait water on land, not in another water body.
• Dry gear before moving to another lake or river.
• Remember possession and transport of zebra mussels is illegal.

Most-Missed Places

• Livewell pumps and drain plugs.
• Anchor rope and wet storage compartments.
• Kayak scupper holes and seats.
• Trailer carpet bunks and axle areas.
• Cast nets, bait buckets and minnow containers.

Before Launching or Fishing

• Check current lake level, ramp status and park operator page.
• Call the ramp/park before towing a boat a long distance.
• Wear life jackets, especially for kids and weak swimmers.
• Watch for submerged timber, exposed rock, shallow ramp ends and sudden drop-offs.
• Use grip shoes on steep limestone banks.
• Do not swim or fish where signs prohibit access.

Rules Users Miss

• USACE no longer accepts cash for USACE-operated campground or boat-ramp payments.
• Comal Park has no walk-ins, no free reentry, no glass, no styrofoam and no cliff jumping.
• Pets in many managed parks must be leashed and cannot roam free.
• Burn bans are enforced in USACE parks when active.
• USACE says the lake was not designed to stay at 909 ft all year.
• Closed ramps are not a shortcut for kayaks if the managing agency prohibits launching there.

Go Lighter in Clear Water

Use 6-10 lb line for finesse bass fishing on clear main-lake points. Heavy line can cost bites.

Cast Along the Ledge

On steep rocky banks, cast parallel or at a shallow angle. Fish often sit on the first break, not far offshore.

Follow Bait First

For white bass and stripers, bait balls matter more than pretty banks. Watch birds, surface flickers and electronics.

Save Habitat Sites

TPWD habitat structures are worth marking before launch. Build a route around points, humps and habitat instead of wandering.

Try Night in Summer

Summer bass can be tough midday. Night fishing around rock, docks and deeper banks can be more comfortable and productive.

Keep Topwater Ready

Early, late and cloudy windows can be short. Keep a topwater or spoon ready for sudden schooling fish.

Release Trout When Unsure

If you cannot confidently identify the trout zone below Canyon Dam, release the fish. The rule changes by stretch.

Call Before Towing

Low water can ruin a boat trip. Call the park, marina or ramp operator before a long drive.

Start Kids on Easy Fish

Sunfish, small catfish and trout-pier access are better first goals than deep-water stripers or clear-water bass.

Use Wind, Do Not Fight It

Light wind can push bait to points. Strong wind can make ramps and open water unsafe. Choose protected structure when needed.

Bring Ice Before Catching

Hill Country heat can ruin fish fast. If you plan to keep legal fish, have ice before the first cast.

Make a 3-Spot Plan

Pick a main spot, backup spot and bad-weather spot before leaving home. Canyon Lake is easier with options.

Canyon Project Office

601 C.O.E. Road, Canyon Lake, TX 78133. Phone: (830) 964-3341. Office hours listed Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.

District Fisheries Office

505 Staples Road, San Marcos, TX 78666. Phone: (512) 353-0072. TPWD listed biologist: Patrick Ireland.

Local Information

Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce, 3934 FM 2673, Canyon Lake, TX 78133. Phone: (830) 964-2223 or (800) 528-2104.

Before You Go

• Assuming all ramps are usable without checking lake level.
• Confusing Canyon Lake bass fishing with Guadalupe River trout fishing.
• Forgetting freshwater license/endorsement for anglers age 17+.
• Not checking WORD vs USACE vs county vs marina rules.
• Ignoring the Canyon Lake mercury consumption advisory.
• Not checking trout lease dates and special zone rules.

On the Water

• Fishing too close to clear-water points.
• Using heavy line when fish are pressured and water is clear.
• Running across low-water hazards without checking depth.
• Keeping trout below Canyon Dam without knowing the zone.
• Blocking ramp lanes while rigging or loading.
• Leaving without draining boats, livewells and bait containers.