Clear Lake in Hays County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Clear Lake belongs to Hays County, Texas. It lies 965 feet above sea level. Small at around 9 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Hays County list holds plenty of bigger water. Wimberley lies 3.7 miles from the water. After that come Woodcreek at 4 miles and Canyon Lake at 9.9 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists Rio Grande longear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, American eel and bluegill. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Clear Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 83°F in July and bottoms out near 48°F in January. Cold never closes this one. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Time your trip to Clear Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Canyon Lake at 8.8 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Clear Lake are worth checking on the day.