Champion Creek Reservoir Depth Map & Fishing Spots (TX)

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Lake depth chart

Champion Creek Reservoir, TX

Max 28 ft

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Where to start

Fall shad migration window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Fall shad migrationActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Dec 15 · upper ends and stained creeks turn on first, the main lake follows; Deep-South creeks hold bait into December

adultall day, best mid-afternoon as the sun warms the bait — the rare pattern where you can sleep in — follow the bait, not the structure: gulls, herons and egrets diving or stacked in a creek mean the shad (and the bass) are there — run and gun until you find flickering bait or surface activity

Concentrates hard but unevenly — whole stretches go empty while one creek loads up. The birds are the map.

Creek-arm run-and-gun: lipless crankbait and squarebill through the flats and ditches, walking topwater over surface schools, a 3/8 oz spinnerbait around isolated cover along the creek channel. Downsize to match the young-of-year shad; jerkbaits are the sleeper.

The event happens over backs of creek arms, pockets and ditches, secondary points on the way in, and main-lake flats where the bait balls roam

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · in ~6 months

Shad spawn · baitfishMar 15 – Jun 15 · in ~6 months

Bluegill spawn (bream-bed bass) · forageMay 1 – Jul 31 · in ~8 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Champion Creek Reservoir

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Champion Creek Reservoir on the board.

Fishing Champion Creek Reservoir: what the data says

1,577-acre reservoir near Colorado City. The lake tops out around 28 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.

Champion Creek Reservoir's chart carries 19.2 miles of bank, with a single island in the mix. A development index of 4.1 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 82% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 3.8 mi, about 1.8 mi across. You'll find it in Mitchell County. For a second option, Lake Colorado City lies 7 mi northwest.

Largemouth Bass fishing at Champion Creek Reservoir

Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 28 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	Spinnerbait, Chatterbait
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (13 ft)	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	8 to 28 ft	midday	Break off the point (13 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

White Bass fishing at Champion Creek Reservoir

Early season white bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 25 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 28 ft. Put North Fork Champion Creek inflow first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	North Fork Champion Creek inflow (4 ft)	Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank
Summer	8 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish)
Fall	6 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Jigging spoon, Blade bait
Winter	8 to 28 ft	midday	Deep basin (24 ft)	Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait

Crappie fishing at Champion Creek Reservoir

The spring pattern is a shallow one: crappie in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 25 ft before dropping to 8 to 28 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub
Summer	10 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (13 ft)	Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled)
Fall	8 to 20 ft	dawn	Break off the point (13 ft)	Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2")
Winter	8 to 28 ft	midday	Deep basin (24 ft)	Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon

Channel Catfish fishing at Champion Creek Reservoir

Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 28 ft. Top water on the chart: North Fork Champion Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	North Fork Champion Creek inflow (4 ft)
Summer	8 to 25 ft	night & dusk	Deep basin (24 ft)
Fall	8 to 28 ft	dusk	Deep basin (24 ft)
Winter	8 to 28 ft	midday	Deep basin (24 ft)

Flathead Catfish fishing at Champion Creek Reservoir

In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 28 ft before dropping to 8 to 28 ft for winter. Fall flathead catfish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 24 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 20 ft	night & dusk	North Fork Champion Creek inflow (4 ft)
Summer	7 to 28 ft	night & dusk	Deep basin (24 ft)
Fall	8 to 28 ft	night & dusk	Deep basin (24 ft)
Winter	8 to 28 ft	midday	Deep basin (24 ft)

Bluegill fishing at Champion Creek Reservoir

Spring puts bluegill in skinny water — 1 to 6 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 4 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 25 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring bluegill. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig covers the summer program.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 6 ft	midday & dusk	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings)
Summer	4 to 15 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (3 ft)	Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig
Fall	6 to 18 ft	midday	Break off the point (13 ft)	Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped
Winter	10 to 25 ft	midday	Deep basin (24 ft)	Tiny spoon

Notable structure

Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 24 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 24 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 13 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
North Fork Champion Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 4 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft

Champion Creek Reservoir stocking report

Date	Species	Count	Size
2025*	Channel Catfish (fingerling)	27,970	—
2024*	Lone Star Bass (fingerling)	34,560	—

* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: TPWD stocking history, retrieved 2026-08-18.

Champion Creek Reservoir fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Texas waters are set by the Texas Parks & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Champion Creek Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Texas fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Champion Creek Reservoir?

Champion Creek Reservoir is about 28 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Champion Creek Reservoir?

Anglers target largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, bluegill on Champion Creek Reservoir.

Where is the best fishing spot on Champion Creek Reservoir?

Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Champion Creek Reservoir?

For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

Is Champion Creek Reservoir stocked with fish?

Yes — per TPWD stocking history records, Champion Creek Reservoir was most recently stocked 2025 with 27,970 channel catfish (fingerling). The full stocking history is listed above.

What are the fishing regulations for Champion Creek Reservoir?

Fishing on Champion Creek Reservoir is regulated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife. Check the official Texas regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Lake Colorado City 7 mi · Lake J.B. Thomas 30 mi · E.V. Spence Reservoir 31 mi · Lake Sweetwater 32 mi · Oak Creek Reservoir 35 mi · Lake Alan Henry 53 mi · Lake Abilene 55 mi · O.C. Fisher Lake 59 mi · New Ballinger Lake 60 mi · Lake Winters 61 mi · Kirby Lake 64 mi · Twin Buttes Reservoir 67 mi

See how Champion Creek Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Texas · best white bass lakes in Texas · best crappie lakes in Texas · best bluegill lakes in Texas

Browse all Texas fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.