Lake Clyde in Callahan County Texas
Lake Clyde, a freshwater lake located on the headwater of the Pecan Bayou in Callahan County. Approximately 25 miles east of Abilene and a mere five miles south of Clyde.
Impounded in 1970, this lake has a surface area of 449 acres and a maximum depth of 30 feet. While the water appears slightly stained with a visibility of three feet.
Water fluctuation seems moderate, though the lake may be prone to long periods of dropping water levels.
Furthermore, the City of Clyde Reservoir Controlling Authority may be contacted at (325) 893-5339 for any information. However, due to low water levels, fishing may be poor, but some of the predominant fish species include.
Structure and Native Vegetation
No aquatic vegetation occurs at the lake. However, when the lake fills acres of brush and black willow trees flood to provide cover to the fish.
Lake Clyde Boat Ramps, Accommodation, Docks and Parking
Public access to the lake may be limited with one public boat ramp. While shore access may be limited to the north side of the reservoir only. However, when operating on or around water, please wear your Personal Flotation Device for your own safety.
| Main Boat Ramp | x | x | x | x | x |
Main Boat Ramp
The Main Boat Ramp, located approximately 5 miles north of Cisco, a mere three miles west of Texas Highway 6 on FM 2807.
This facility offers restrooms, picnic areas, camping facilities with water and electricity, parking for approximately 25 trailers and courtesy docks with a two-lane lighted boat ramp.
While the facility opens all year round, they charge a nominal lake use fee. Operated by the City of Clyde who may be contacted on (325) 893-5339 for information and reservations.
Fish and Fishing
Historically Largemouth Bass and White Crappie fishing has been good to excellent for quality and trophy-sized fish. However, due to several years of drought population numbers have drastically reduced water levels and fish populations. Leaving fishing opportunities for Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Channel Catfish and Sunfish poor.
Largemouth Bass
The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), a carnivorous species of freshwater game fish. Has an olive green to greenish grey body with dark, sometimes black blotches forming a jagged horizontal stripe along each flank.
Meanwhile, the upper jaw extends beyond the rear margin of the orbit. Reach lengths of 29.5 inches weighing around 25 pounds.
Feed on snails, crawfish, crayfish, frogs, snakes, salamanders, bats, shrimps, insects, small water birds, mammals, baby alligators and small fish. Including bluegill, banded killifish, shad, yellow perch, ciscoes, shiners, sunfish, catfish, walleye, bass, and trout.
Larger bass occupy deeper water and prey items may be as large as 50% of the bass’s body length or larger. While they prefer open areas with little or no cover.
Meanwhile, in areas with overhead cover such as overhanging banks, brush, or submerged structures, they use their sense of hearing, sight, vibration, and smell to attack and seize their prey.
Generally, spawning occurs in spring from March until early July. Sought after by anglers for their exciting fight.
Often caught on Spinnerbait, plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits, and live baits such as worms, frogs, crawfish, shiners, and minnows.
While there is a strong cultural pressure among largemouth bass anglers encouraging catch and release practices of larger specimens.
Furthermore, bass have a white, slightly mushy meat which is of a lower quality than that of the smallmouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, or crappie. The world record largemouth bass weighed in at 22 pounds 4 ounces.
Lake Clyde Largemouth Bass populations will hopefully improve after 2 – 3 years of good water levels.
However, feel free to click and read more on our site about Largemouth Bass.Â
Crappie
The Crappie is a freshwater fish in the Pomoxis genus. A North American fish in the sunfish or Centrarchidae family. A species of popular pan fish. Other names for Crappie include Papermouths, Strawberry Bass, Speckled Bass, Speckled Perch, Crappie Bass or Calico Bass.
Further, the crappie is divided into the White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis) and the Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus).
Both species feed predominately on small fish including the Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Walleye and Crappies. While, farther feeding on zooplankton, insects, and crustaceans.
They are less active during the day and will concentrate around weed beds or submerged objects such as logs and boulders. Meanwhile, they feed during dawn and dusk, moving in open waters, or approaching the shore.
Considered among the best tasting freshwater fish due to their diverse diets. While, crappie can be caught on many different lures and baits including light jigs, plastic jigs, lead jig heads, crankbaits, trolling with live minnows and small spinnerbaits.
As well as spider rigging. While some anglers even chum or dump live bait into the water to attract the fish to bite their bait.
Generally, crappie is targeted and caught during the spawning period from May to June. The current world record for black crappie is 5 pounds and for white crappie is 5.2 pounds. White Crappie occur in Lake Clyde.
However, feel free to click and read more on our site about the Crappie.
Channel Catfish
The Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is the most abundant type of catfish species in North America. While being the official fish of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee.
The Channel Cat is popular for food. Therefore, there has been a rapid expansion of aquaculture of the species in the United States. Cavity nesters laying eggs in crevices, hollows, or debris to protect them from swift currents.
Have a keen sense of smell and taste. With taste buds distributed over the surface of their entire bodies and their nostrils. Further, the fish has four pairs of barbels surrounding the mouth allowing the catfish to find food in dark, stained, or muddy water with relative ease.
Generally, are omnivores and feed on a variety of natural and prepared baits including crickets, nightcrawlers, minnows, shad, freshwater drum, crawfish, frogs, bullheads, sunfish, chicken livers and suckers. While they are even known to take Ivory soap as bait and even raw steak.
Meanwhile, popular fishing methods include juglines, trotlines, limb lines and bank lines in addition to the traditional rod-and-reel fishing techniques. While another method of fishing for the catfish includes noodling or hand fishing.
Channel Catfish occur in Lake Clyde, while fishing is poor, they can mostly be caught on the bottom using stinkbaits.
However, feel free to click and read more on our site about the Channel Catfish.
Sunfish
The sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the Centrarchid family, order Perciformes and genus Centrarchus. A ray-finned fish comprising of 34 different living species. Native to North America.
Mostly valued for sport fishing and have been introduced in many waterways. Generally, they have laterally compressed body shapes with 3 – 8 anal spines and 2 fused dorsal fins.
However, there are two main groups, the Lepomis and the Micropterus. The Lepomis are defined by a deep rounder body shape, smaller mouth that obtain food by suction feeding.
While, the Micropterus have more streamlined body shapes, larger mouths and primarily consume prey by ram feeding methods. They prefer clear, warm, slow moving water. Preferring to live in and around aquatic vegetation. Further, found in various water columns within a body of water.
Generally, spawning occurs in spring and juveniles emerge in the late spring to early summer. Their diets consist primarily of insects, snails, and small invertebrates.
Sunfish in Lake Clyde can be caught on nightcrawlers, crickets, grasshoppers, waxworms, or mealworms. As well as small flies and lures on light spinning tackle.
However, feel free to click and read more on our site about the Sunfish.
Lake Clyde Alligator and Alligator Safety
Lake Clyde is a water source within Texas. As we are aware, there are alligators in Texas. Let us not fret over whether there are or are not alligators. Rather, take necessary precautions and always be on the lookout. Alligator safety does not take much time and it may save your life or the life of someone else around you.
Should you detect an alligator, regardless of size, do not feed them to allow them to get food as they will become a problem to everybody. Alligator safety is covered in our article Alligator Safety, but here is a quick breakdown.
If the gator hisses, you are too close, move away! In encounters, back away slowly.
Report the alligator to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Do not attempt to remove it.
If you have a pet with you, place it on a leash and keep it under control.
Do not swim in the water where there are alligators.
Killing or harassing or attempting to move an alligator is prohibited by state law.
Conclusion
In short, Lake Clyde offers fishing opportunities, boating, jetskiing, camping, and picnicking. While having a moderate fluctuation, it may suffer extended periods of dropping water levels. While the water clarity is moderately stained with a three feet visibility.
This 449-acre lake has no aquatic vegetation and fish cover consists of brush and flooded black willow trees. Should you have any queries or need information feel free to contact the City of Clyde who are the Reservoir Controlling Authority on (325) 893-5339.