Comanche in Winter

Fishing Comanche Creek Nuclear Power Cooling Lake – Time Is Running Out!

Everything You Need to Know Before You Go Fishing!

Story by – Chet Gypt, Freelance Writer Ghost

TPWD LINK – Comanche Creek Formerly Squaw Creek

Comanche Creek Reservoir — a practical primer for first-time anglers

Formerly called Squaw Creek Reservoir, Comanche Creek Reservoir is a small cooling/reservoir impoundment used by the nearby Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant that also allows public fishing and boating. Expect largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel/flathead catfish and tilapia. There are special access logistics (Luminant’s reservation system) and seasonal pressure/behavior patterns you should plan around. (Texas Water Development Board)

Quick facts & name history

• Official name change: the U.S. Board on Geographic Names changed the lake’s name from Squaw Creek Reservoir to Comanche Creek Reservoir on September 8, 2022. If you run into older maps or local anglers they may still call it “Squaw.” (Texas Water Development Board)
• Primary purpose: built and impounded as a cooling reservoir for the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in the late 1970s; recreational fishing is a secondary use. The plant relies on Comanche Creek Reservoir for cooling water. (Wikipedia)

Where it sits and the nuclear plant connection

• The reservoir sits adjacent to (and is used by) the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Somervell County. The plant has two reactors and is one of the two nuclear power sites in Texas; it supplies a large chunk of baseload electricity to the Texas grid. You’ll often see plant infrastructure and intake/discharge structures when you’re in the area — this is not a remote state park lake, it’s a managed reservoir tied to an industrial site. (Wikipedia)

What that means for anglers

• The plant uses the water for condenser cooling; there can be warm-water outflows or altered temperature regimes near discharge areas and intake structures. Avoid fishing right at industrial access points and respect posted Luminant/Lake rules. The warmer-water areas can concentrate fish at certain times of year, but they’re also near restricted areas. (Wikipedia)

Fish species you can expect

Primary species listed by Texas Parks & Wildlife for the lake:

• Largemouth bass (best gamefish target for most anglers)
• White bass
• Crappie (black crappie)
• Channel catfish (and occasional flathead/blue catfish)
• Tilapia (present in many Texas reservoirs) (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)

Notable record fish from the lake are on TPWD’s all-tackle records page (e.g., an 11.17 lb largemouth is listed). If you’re into numbers, check TPWD’s “All-Tackle Records” for species-size context. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)

Regulations & unique access rules (must-know)

• Statewide fishing regulations apply for species (bag/size limits follow TPWD statewide rules unless a special notice is posted). There are no special statewide-unique fishing limits listed for Comanche Creek beyond the standard TPWD regulations. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
• Boat access reservations: Luminant (the plant/operator) runs an online reservation system for boat access and day-use at the lake. Boat/park access can be limited and winter is a high-pressure season — TPWD specifically notes anglers wanting to boat in winter should make reservations well in advance. Expect limited public launching points and occasional closures for plant operations or security. Plan ahead and check Luminant’s reservation page before driving out. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
• Private/managed park areas: Some shorelines and parks around the lake are operated by Luminant; obey posted signage, parking rules, and any security restrictions. During events (maintenance, regulatory inspections, or heightened security) public access can be altered quickly. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)

Seasonal timing & where to fish (practical tips)

These are field-tested-style suggestions adapted to Comanche Creek’s species mix and the lake’s small/cooler-power-plant-managed character. Publisher Note – I do not believe this lake is open year around any longer (2026).

• Winter (Dec–Feb)
  • Expect high angling pressure (TPWD warns winter is busy). White bass and catfish anglers often show up; boat slots must be reserved in advance. Bass and crappie will be deeper-suspended—target ledges and creek channels with jigs, drop-shot rigs, or small swimbaits. Morning cold fronts can push fish deeper. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
• Spring (Mar–May) — prime bass time
  • Pre-spawn and spawn bass: fish move shallow to flats and brush during warming water. Use spinnerbaits, plastic worms (Texas-rig), and jigs around brush/rock. Crappie move to brushpiles and standing timber — jigs and small live minnows work. White bass often stage on points/creek mouths during shad spawns. (General spring patterns reflect typical TPWD region reports.) (Midland Reporter-Telegram)
• Summer (Jun–Aug)
  • Fish early morning and late evening; during the heat of day target deeper structure, brush piles and main-lake ledges with deep-diving crankbaits, dropshot, or Carolina rigs. Tilapia are active near warm shallow pockets. Pay attention to changing water clarity and low-oxygen possible near shallow warm flats on very hot days.
• Fall (Sep–Nov)
  • Water cools and fish feed heavily—topwater and medium-diving baits produce for bass as shad move. White bass and crappie can be active as they chase schooling shad. Fall can be a very productive and less-crowded window after summer heat.

(These tips are practical guidance based on the lake species and regional seasonal behavior — use them with local conditions and reports.) (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)

Boat/shore access & logistics

• Reservations: required for many public-access days / boat entries — check the operator (Luminant) reservation site before you go. TPWD’s access notes advise advanced booking for winter. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
• Facilities: expect basic park facilities where available (parking, restrooms at managed parks), but don’t expect the infrastructure of a big state park. Bring water, shade, and extra fuel.
• Cell/coverage: Somervell County is rural — cell coverage can be spotty depending on carrier and exact location. Tell someone your plan and launch time if you’re fishing alone.

Safety & stewardship notes

• Plant safety: do not approach plant intake/discharge structures or restricted areas. Signage will be posted — obey it. The reservoir is an industrial cooling body first and a recreation site second. (Wikipedia)
• Thermal effects: industrial cooling means localized warmer water near discharged cooling flows; these can affect fish distribution and oxygen levels. Fish can concentrate there — but those areas may be off-limits. (Wikipedia)
• Leave no trace: pack out your trash and fishing line. If you see posted special closures, respect them — they can be for plant operations or safety. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)

What the power plant “puts into the grid” — brief, plain explanation

• Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant is a two-unit nuclear station that provides large-scale baseload electrical generation to Texas’ grid. Its reported electric capacity (two reactors combined) is in the order of ~2,400–2,500 megawatts (MW) and the plant produces tens of thousands of gigawatt-hours per year — making it one of the state’s biggest single-site electricity generators. More broadly, Texas nuclear plants together provide roughly 10% of the state’s electricity generation. For energy planners and residents this means the plant is primarily an electricity-generation facility; the reservoir provides essential cooling for that process. (Wikipedia)

Where to check before you go (links / actions)

• TPWD lake page for species, current lake info, and statewide regulations. (TPWD also lists access notes.) (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
• Luminant / Comanche Peak visitor or boat reservation page — verify current reservation rules, closures, and park status. (TPWD’s access note points to Luminant’s reservation system.) (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
• Local fishing reports & community forums — for day-to-day bite trends (many anglers post catches to FishAngler, local Facebook groups, and YouTube trip videos). Examples exist but always verify with official sites before travel.

Final, practical checklist for your first trip

• Reserve a boat slot in advance (especially if you plan a winter trip). (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
• Bring electronics (GPS/fishfinder) to locate brushpiles and main-lake structure — the lake is small and structure-oriented.
• Pack shade, water, and extra ice — small reservoirs heat up quickly.
• Target spring shallow structure for bass, summer deep structure during the day, and check points/creek mouths for white bass runs. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
• Respect plant restrictions and park signage — safety first. (Wikipedia)

• Located at 2300 Coates Road, off Texas 144 midway between Granbury and Glen Rose
• 5 boat launches
• Open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for bank fishing. Boats allowed Friday through Sunday.
• User fees required
• Operated by Luminant Power (817) 573-7053
• CURRENT FEE IN 2026 is $30-dollars

GO to COMANCHE CREEK RESERVATIONS PAGE

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EDITOR NOTES – I will have more thoughts and perspective on Comanche Creek FLY FISHING as soon as I can get there. I am still undecided as to go by kayak or skiff. What do you think I should do? The idea of bringing back some tilapia is very appealing in these hard times, and the laws state you cannot release them, so it seems like a no-brainer to me! Some of the information Chet Gypt scraped off the internet seems to ignore the seasonal opening of this lake, but I will double back and check that for accuracy.