Belton Lake
Belton, TX
Website
Texas Outside Rating: 6.8

Acres Of Water & Miles Of Shoreline
12,300 acres and 136 miles of shoreline

Brief Overview:
The review on Belton is not quite complete. Pictures and more will be added shortly. Belton Lake (actually, a reservoir) is a deep lake (124' maximum depth) with a typically greenish cast to the fairly clear water. Belton Lake has a shoreline that is developed primarily with overlooking lakeview homes,several Corps of Engineer Parks, and limestone bluffs. Most of the lake is undeveloped.

Belton Lake is an impoundment of the Leon River and the Cowhouse Creek, and is about 10 minutes from Temple. The main lake area is dominated by steep, rough limestone shoreline on the south shore mixed with more gently sloping shorelines on the north side.

During the floods of 2007, Belton Lake suffered a lot of damage and was closed for a number of months. A majority of the parks are still closed (11-2007) and can't seem to find the funding for cleanup and repairs. You can tell from some of the pictures how high the water was because there is debris in the trees and most of the trees along the shoreline were under water for so long they died.

A Typical Texas Outsider Day
We come to Belton Lake to enjoy some time on or by the water and camping in one of the Corp of Engineers Parks.

Other Cool Things To Do:
On the Cowhouse Creek arm of Belton Lake, the U.S. Army operates the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA). It is open to the general public and offers pavilions, picnic sites, a lakefront swimming area, a waterslide, boat rentals (safety course required), and more. See this page for more details.

What To Do If No Boat:
If you don't have a boat and like to fish, then call Bob at Holding the Line Guide Services and let him take you out after white bass, hybrids, largemouth or smallmouth. Bob knows the lake and is the holder of 6 State Fishing records; he even offers fly fishing trips for long-rod enthusiasts. Bob is offering Texas Outside visitors a $20 savings for a short period of time, so book a trip now! Click here to print his coupon.

BLORA has boat rentals if you want to get out and explore the lake.

Nearby Activities:
We are still working on nearby activities and fun things to do plus we will be adding pictures within the next couple months.

Restaurants, Bars, & Music:
If it's restaurants you're after, you can head into the town of Belton and dine, very casually, at Schoepf's Old Time Pit Barbeque. You'll smell the smoke blocks away, the meats always tender, and they make their own old-time thin sauce with lots of black pepper - mmm good. Visit there website. If you prefer to dine on the lake, a long-time Belton Lake establishment, Frank's Lakeview Inn & Anchor Club (2207 Lake Road Phone 254-939-5771) is the place to go. Call ahead for lakeview seating. As for bars and music, you'll probably need to keep heading south to Austin.

Wake Boarding & Skiing:
Due to the high bluff banks there is always calm water for skiing and boarding even when the wind is howling. The Leon River arm is fairly narrow, so be considerate of those who are anchored or fishing as you speed by.

Fishing:
You should call Bob at Holding the Line Guide Services and let him take you out after white bass, hybrids, largemouth or smallmouth.

According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, Belton Lake is a popular lake for hybrid striped bass, and can also be a good largemouth bass lake at certain times of the year. Most of the shoreline is very steep, rocky habitat. Majestic tall bluffs and long rocky points are most common, although sand and mud flats can be found up the Leon River and Cowhouse arms. The lake has little or no aquatic vegetation. Timber is also limited.

Largemouth bass fishing is at its best from late February through April. As the water temperature begins to rise, bass become more active and prepare for the upcoming spawn. The backs of creeks and coves, protected from the north wind, provide the warmest water on the lake. Good creeks to target are Cedar, Bear, Owl, Stampede, and Cowhouse. Spinnerbaits, plastic lizards, jerkbaits, and jig and pork combinations are the preferred baits. From May through September look for bass on main-lake points and flats next to creek channels. Stickbaits, chuggers, buzzbaits, crankbaits, and plastic worms can all be productive under the right conditions. From October through December, bass can be caught from the same areas as during the spawn. Smallmouth bass are generally caught from the dam to the Cedar Creek area at mid-lake. Early spring and late fall, when the water temperature ranges from 55 to 65 degrees, is the prime time to target smallmouth. Spawning occurs in rocky coves protected from the north wind. In summer and fall, long, gently sloping rocky points are good areas to fish. Deep diving crawfish-colored crankbaits, stickbaits, chuggers, buzzbaits, grubs, and small jigs are usually most productive.

Hybrid striped bass were introduced to Belton Lake in 1977, and have since become a very popular sportfish in the reservoir. Hybrids tend to travel in schools throughout the main lake. They can be caught bottom fishing with live bait as well as trolling jigs and crankbaits, with or without the aid of downriggers. White bass fishing is best from March through May when they migrate up the lake into the Leon River to spawn. Bank or boat fishing from the Highway 36 bridge north to Mother Neff State Park using small jigs or spinners can be very productive. During summer and fall, white bass sometimes school on the surface. Try fishing for white crappie between late February and the middle of May, when crappie move into shallow water in the backs of creeks and protected main-lake coves. Spawning crappie are fairly easy to catch on live minnows or small jigs fished around stumps and submerged cover in 2 to 5 feet of water. In summer, fall, and winter, crappie can be caught around large isolated trees and submerged brush at 5 to 20 feet. Catfish are best in the spring and summer. Channel cats spawn from May to June, during which time they move into water 2 to 5 feet deep in the backs of creeks or along flats just off the river channel. Shad, shrimp, blood bait, and stinkbait all work just fine.

Species	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
Largemouth Bass
Catfish
Crappie
White Bass
Hybrid Striped Bass
Sunfish
Smallmouth bass

*Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife

Day Use Parks, Camping, Lodges, & Cabins

Cedar Ridge Park offers both R.V. and tent camping with water and electricity at all 68 sites. Gate attendants reside within the park to serve the visitors. Cedar Ridge Park camping area has restroom facilities with showers, a 2-lane boatramp, a fishing dock, a swim beach, a playground and basketball court, and a dump station.

Westcliff Park has 38 campsites, 27 have water and electricity for tent or R.V. camping and the remaining 11 are primitive, tent only sites. This park is staffed with full-time gate attendants. Campers have access to restrooms with showers, a 2-lane boatramp, swim beach, and playground.

Winkler Park has 15 sites with water, but no electricity. There is a camp host that stays in the park year round to serve the campers, and there are restrooms with showers.

Ramps & Marinas
There are a number of two lane boat ramps on the lake, see TP&W's website for a list.

Frank's Marina is located at Belton Park off FM 439. This Marina has boat slip rentals, boat rentals, jet ski rentals, snack bar, gas, and covered fishing dock. For more information, contact the Frank's Marina at 254/939-7443. Pier 36 Marina-This Marina is located at Cedar Ridge Park off of state highway 36. This Marina has boat slips for rent, snack bar, & gas. For more information, contact the marina at 254/986-2466.

Texas Outside Rating of Belton Lake
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