West Texas Lakes

Moving out to Andrews and looking opinions and advice on the closest lakes in that area and which ones I shouldn't even waste my time with. These are the lakes that I have came up with that are within a reasonable drive time feel free to add to the list, thanks in advance.

Alan Henry
Buffalo Springs
JB Thomas
Spence
White River
Twin Buttes
OH Ivie

The first one and the last one. Might want to look at Hubbard Creek and PK.

The last one on the list has been really tough the last couple weeks, one day is good next five is a grind.

Stamford, Fort Phantom ;HILL, Oak Creek could be looked at along with Nasworthy. I would scratch off Buffalo Springs. White River has had extreme water level fluctuations. Plus 1 on PK and Hubbard Creek. ALan Henry has consumption advisories

JB THOMAS and SPENCE best 2 on the list.

HC and PK aren’t even west Texas lakes and are nowhere close to Andrews. Any one of those lakes you mentions minis Buffalo springs and white river can be good.

I wouldn’t say any are a waste of time. My opinions on the lakes I’m familiar with:

Alan Henry - no doubt has giants, can expect numbers of small spots at times, quality largemouth are tough to come by
Buffalo Springs - never fished
JB Thomas - can be a tough lake to get bit, once you find them numbers can be good, lots of quality fish, not uncommon to have days with more fish over 4 lbs than smaller than 4 lbs; would put a biggest 5 fish stringer up against any lake in Texas, chances of catching a 10+ not great yet, but lots of 6-8 lb fish to be caught; solid year round lake
Spence - depending on time can be a numbers lake, can put off decent quality as well,
White River - never fished
Twin Buttes - never fished
OH Ivie - mix of numbers, quality, and as good of a chance to catch a giant here as anywhere else; can also humble you; my favorite lake but caught 10 fish in 2 1/2 days of fishing last weekend


Don’t forget about Champion - good numbers and quality, but can be tough in the summer

No fish in Twin Buttes. Just move along to another one.

Since I live in Lubbock, Buffalo Springs is my go-to. I can take the boat and be on the water in 30min or take the Motorhome and boat for a few days at a time. I have caught several good bass up to 5lb in the past and lately chasing the local striper population. Unfortunately they are over fed due to a massive shad population so things have been tough lately. I think its a 2 hour drive from Andrews so maybe too far for you.
Allen Henry does have some good fish if you can find them but being more than an hour away from me and no good Motorhome spots to camp I haven't been in a while.
White River was great back in the day before she lost 75% of her water. Some tell me of good Walleye fishing but the need for 4WD to get your boat in the water so I haven't been lately.
I hear lots of good stories from Ivey but haven't been. This may be fairly close to you.
I've been to Nasworthy, Brownwood, PK, Proctor and a few others but they just haven't been worth the drive.

You will spend over $30 for one day to fish Buffalo and almost the same to fish Alan Henry as an out of towner.

Colorado Municipal River District season pass is $60 and gets you on Thomas, Spence and Ivie. Great deal

I’m a big fan of Champion as well. No jet skis, no wake boats. Just fishing. $90 season pass.

Biggest sack for me all year was on Twin Buttes. Need TP&W permit. $12.00 I believe.

Make sure your trailer and tires are good to go. A must in West Texas. Lol

A Season pass to your lake of choice is always an advantage. If I spend 30 days per year at Buffalo Springs that equals out to be about $6 per day. I started going local after adding up all the gas and time traveling around to other lakes in the area. I was never at a lake long enough to figure it out and spent all of my time looking. The only extra charge for taking the Motor home and parking on the shoreline is the $30 per day camping permit. I love hitting the water before daylight when i'ts calm, cool and no one else is around.

30 days a year fishing Buffalo? To each his own.

Thanks everyone for the advice I've fished HC and PK a bunch being from the west side of Fort Worth area but now it will be a little further of a drive, I did not think of champion but I will defiantly add that to the list.

Lake brownwood and Brady creek has been good at times

I live in Midland and have been to a few spots. Ivie is your best bet that I know of. Alan Henry I have been to once and would go again just because of the water clarity. I remember being around 13 and watching about a six pound bass swim under the boat. As someone said, Brady Creek has some tanks in it and is an easy spot to fish if you have a boat. My personal favorite place to go is Hords Creek. I never see anyone else catching anything, but I always catch bass and it's a safe place to camp if you want to stay a while.

Weighed a 13.20# for a kid at Ivie this past Friday morning. His scale read a little over 10 but was unsure. When he pulled it out of his livewell, I knew it was way over 10#. Fished 5 days with very little to show for it.