Ok I’ve attempted fishing lake Buchanan for the last year solid three to four times a month with no luck. I am clearly doing something wrong but have only had luck fishing in the spring from the shore when the whites are running. Anytime outside of that I’ve not even caught a small bass.

I’ve tried live shad in many spots in the main lake (humps, bends in the old river bed with intersections), across long flats,, slabbing, trolling and even using a down rigger with pet spoons. I am always out in the morning before first light and off the water by noon. I do well in every other highland lake but this one has me completely stumped.

Does anyone have any best practices for targeting whites, striped bass or even large mouth for Nov / Dec?

Today really made me want to almost give up on the lake until spring as I was working birds on a hump at the beginning of beaver creek and shad were being chased on the surface. I threw everything including the kitchen sink into the birds and jumping shad. I was marking fish from 10-30ft but they didn’t seem tightly packed together. The only thing I did not have was live shad.

Hoping someone might have thoughts on a single game plan for Buchanan for fall. I get frustrated by about 10am every time I am out after not catching anything and know I need to slow things down and stick to a single game plan which might be the issue too but looking for any advice.

Alabama rig
Donkey rig
Large top waters. Spooks and poppers

Or if they're chasing bait, throw a small swimbait and fish it fast! Don't let em get a good look at the bait. As long as it's pretty close to size and color of the shad they'll get it! Surprised live bait didn't do the trick though.

Buch in the fall is my favorite. Tell me about your rod and reel rigs? Devils in the details

I too have had little to no success fishing for largemouth on Buch.

I haven't tried hybrids yet but would like to someday.

It's not very often you see any fishing reports on the lakes in Highland chain of lakes.

Good luck!!

Maybe with the stocking the hybrid fishing will get better.

From this website I read the following:

https://www.lakebuchanancc.org/

We stocked Lake Buchanan with 1,100,000 hybrid striper fry in mid May, 2020.
​Happy Fishing Folks!

I'm the striper king. I limited out in about 30 minute by tinhorn.

I'm the striper king. I'm the one who taught the guides how to fish buch. I limited out in about an hour by tinhorn.

Flag island is good once a quarter when the shad bloom. Black Rock. Bounce a slab this time and I would use downriver in the summer with a buck tail jig Live shad is always the best bet

The white bass are usually on humps by channel swings in 30 to 40 fow.. I jig with slabs for them and will pick up an occasional hybrid.
Two weeks ago the large mouth were SHALLOW and chasing shad literally onto the shore. A small bladed spinner bait was working.

Wow snowyriver6 I sure would like to learn from someone who taught the guides how to fish buch!

Time to hire a guide to teach you the lake. It is a great fishery if you can get a pattern down
I recommend Seth Hobbs. He is very laid back and will teach you the tools you need to be successful.
https://www.facebook.com/labellefishingguideservice/

Match the hatch. Lure size is very important. Match the hatch.

PM Mr. Brandon A
He knows the lake/fish.