Excellent
White bass
An excellent schooling fishery with a defined spring river run.
Live lake level: 100.0% full · 908.98 ft · measured Sep 7, 2026
Water Data for Texas →TexasDefined checks Canyon Lake's official Water Data for Texas page when this page opens; the reading is not stored as evergreen copy.
Texas Defined Fishing · Hill Country
Canyon Lake Fishing Guide
An 8,308-acre, 125-foot-deep Guadalupe River reservoir in Comal County with clear water and excellent white- and striped-bass fishing alongside largemouth, catfish and a low-density smallmouth fishery.
8,308 acres125 ft max depthVerified August 15, 2026
At a glance
What makes Canyon Lake different.
Canyon Lake is a clear Hill Country highland reservoir where open-water white and striped bass are as important as shoreline black bass. TPWD identifies white and striped bass as excellent, largemouth as the most abundant sportfish, and a low-density naturally reproducing smallmouth population in the lower lake.
- Surface area
- 8,308 acres
- Maximum depth
- 125 ft
- Impounded
- 1964
- Counties
- Comal
- Waterway
- Guadalupe River
- Conservation pool
- 909 ft msl
- Normal fluctuation
- Moderate
- Water clarity
- Clear to slightly stained
- Controlling authority
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Cover & structure
What the water looks like to a fish.
Rocky shorelines, main-lake points, humps and flooded timber replace the aquatic-vegetation patterns common on many East Texas lakes.
Clear main-lake water makes depth, light line and structure positioning more important.
Standing timber in the river can hold crappie even though the overall crappie fishery is limited.
The river portion becomes especially important during spring white-bass spawning migration.
Fish this lake
The targets that define Canyon Lake.
Excellent
Striped bass
A stocked fishery valued for growth potential and strong open-water fishing.
Good
Largemouth bass
The reservoir's most abundant sportfish, strongest in cooler seasons.
Fair
Smallmouth bass
A low-density naturally reproducing population concentrated more strongly in the lower third.
Good
Catfish
Channel, blue and flathead catfish occur throughout the reservoir.
Quick answers
Plan the trip faster.
What is Canyon Lake best known for?
Canyon Lake is a clear Hill Country highland reservoir where open-water white and striped bass are as important as shoreline black bass. TPWD identifies white and striped bass as excellent, largemouth as the most abundant sportfish, and a low-density naturally reproducing smallmouth population in the lower lake.
How large is Canyon Lake?
Canyon Lake covers 8,308 acres and reaches a published maximum depth of 125 feet.
Where should I check Canyon Lake fishing rules?
Use the current Texas Parks & Wildlife Department rules before harvesting fish; this guide avoids freezing changeable bag limits into evergreen copy.
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Source transparency
Core facts and durable fishing patterns were checked against official sources on August 15, 2026. Water levels, closures, access, regulations and current fishing activity can change.