Looking to get out on Buchanan for the very first time next week, going to take my 9yr. old and nephew. Looking for recommendations on places to stay that aren't too expensive. I'm bringing my boat, so a fish camp type place with a fish cleaning area (hopefully we need it) and a place to launch the boat.
I will also be bringing my shad tank so any tips on where to start looking for shad would be much appreciated! Thanks

As far as Lodging Big Chief, Thunderbird, and Scotts Landing in Tow. As far as shad goes usually this time of year you either have to get up super early and catch threads deep or make the run up north for gizzards. Silver Creek is usually good for shad and Red Rock creek. Red Rock is mid lake and Silver is up north.

In Buchanan Dam, there is a cheap place to stay, Hill Country Lodge & Mini Storage.
If your #1 priority is price of stay and you need cheap, give this place a look. I stayed there once.


I would recommend giving Thunderbird a look. They have cabins and I have usually done well on catching bait in that area.

You also may try Hi-Line up North.
Has lodging and boat ramp.
It also has a Crappie House and they have a restaurant and minnows.
Shad as Brando says. At last check there are few shallow and those there it's a real early deal.

Well alright, thanks for all the info. I'm not really an early bird but if that's what it takes to get on some good shad I'm in. When you say catch threadfins deep, how deep are you talking about? I normally catch shad on Belton up creeks in 3 to 10 fow. I've read about taping your cast net for deep shad but have never tried it. I do have transom mounted green lights, would that do anything for late night or early morning shad catching? Was also going to do some deadsticking, still pretty new to it but have caught some hybrids on Decker in January earlier this year.

My family used to go to Buchanan for our spring family reunion every year when I was growing up. We stayed at Paradise Point, but I haven't been back in about 15 years. They had about a dozen rooms available, a boat dock and crappie dock with fish cleaning facilities and also a cafe. There is a ramp close by, too.

Thanks for the info. Just looking to get on some stripers or hybrids. I've heard mixed things about the hybrid population being greater than stripers now on Buchanan, don't know myself since I've never fished it though.

Well finally got a chance to fish this afternoon until sunset. Fished mainly east of Shaw island. My nephew caught a catfish on a fluke while deadsticking which I thought was kinda odd
. We also caught undersized stripers on live shad and while trolling A-rigs, no keeper size stripers yet. The thumper really does call them in, they were stacked under the boat but had lockjaw for the most part. The lake has been like glass, so not sure if that hampers the bite or not, should have a little breeze tomorrow though.

Graph looks like whites or small stripers over catfish. At least you found them. Water chop usually = better fishing for me. Good luck.

Checked out about 8 different humps from Shaw area to the dam today and only found fish on one of the humps. Caught mainly white bass and a couple dink stripers. Finally caught a couple on the heavy MAL though which was a first for me. Will prob. be looking to hire a guide if I come out again! On a side note Thunderbird lodge is a cool inexpensive place to stay.