Stillhouse Hollow Lake
US Army Corps of Engineers • Impounded 1968 • 6,429 surface acres
Stillhouse Hollow Lake
Lake-specific guide · Agency-sourced
Stillhouse Hollow Lake: its history, water and shoreline
From Lampasas Lake to Stillhouse Hollow
Stillhouse Hollow Lake sits on the Lampasas River in Bell County, roughly five miles southwest of Belton. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' project history says it was authorized under the 1954 Flood Control Act as Lampasas Lake; a later federal law changed the project name to Stillhouse Hollow. The dam's purposes were broader than recreation: the Corps lists flood-damage reduction, water conservation, fish and wildlife habitat, and public recreation.
Construction began in June 1962. The Corps records the start of deliberate impoundment in February 1968 and completion of construction that July. That distinction matters: 1968 is both the impoundment year and the completion year, but they describe different events. Today's lake is a managed reservoir rather than a natural lake with an unchanging shoreline. The Corps places it about 16 miles upstream from the confluence of the Lampasas and Leon rivers.
What the lake is like
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) lists Stillhouse Hollow at 6,429 surface acres and a maximum depth of 107 feet. The Corps reports 58 miles of shoreline at conservation pool. Those numbers describe the reservoir under stated or typical conditions, not the area of water available on every particular day. The Texas Water Development Board identifies the conservation-pool elevation as 622 feet above the NGVD29 datum; the observed elevation can rise or fall around that reference.
The water does not have the same character everywhere. TPWD describes a very clear, deep main lake with steep rocky banks and hydrilla beds in the lower lake. Farther up the reservoir and river, the water is somewhat more stained, with laydowns, brush piles and standing timber. That contrast gives visitors a practical way to choose where to spend time: open, rocky water and vegetated coves offer a different outing from the cover in the upper reaches. Check the current level and local hazards before navigating unfamiliar water.
Fishing the different kinds of cover
TPWD lists largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel and flathead catfish, crappie, and white bass among the lake's predominant fish. Rather than treating the whole reservoir as one fishing spot, its lake guide points anglers toward specific kinds of habitat. Rocky points and riprap are worth considering for smallmouth bass; hydrilla and rocky points figure in its largemouth guidance. Submerged brush and cedar bushes are associated with crappie, while TPWD describes upper-lake options for catfish and the early-spring white bass run upriver.
Those are descriptions of habitat and seasonal patterns, not a prediction of today's bite. The same agency notes that water clarity differs between the main lake and upper reaches. A useful plan is to pick an area and technique that match the cover you want to fish, then check current conditions and Texas regulations. TPWD links its current fishing rules from the lake page; historical descriptions should never substitute for current limits.
Choosing a place to start
Access areas serve different trips. The Corps' park list describes Dana Peak as a camping and day-use park with a swim beach, fishing dock and boat ramp. Union Grove also offers camping, a fishing dock and a ramp. Their Dana Peak and Union Grove Recreation.gov pages are the appropriate places to check campsite details and availability.
Stillhouse Park is different: Recreation.gov identifies it as a day-use park with no overnight camping, although it has a boat ramp. The Corps also lists a ramp and picnic areas at Rivers Bend, a ramp-only access point at Cedar Gap, and an interpretive hiking trail at Chalk Ridge Fall Nature Area. Its boat-ramp guide describes Rivers Bend and Cedar Gap as no-fee launches. Hours, fees, closures and usable ramps can change, so consult the operator's current notices before driving out.
Water levels and leaving the lake in good condition
The conservation-pool figure is a reference point, not a promise that every launch will be usable. Compare a recent, time-stamped reading with that reference and confirm the specific ramp's status; a lake-wide elevation alone cannot establish whether a particular ramp is safe to use. LakeWatchers' level card identifies its observed gauge and reporting time, while the Corps maintains the access information.
TPWD also warns that zebra mussels are present in Stillhouse Hollow. Its boater advisory calls for cleaning, draining and drying boats, trailers and gear before moving to another water body, and notes that draining water is required by Texas law. That is a practical last step on a visit, whether the day was spent fishing, launching a boat or exploring a park.
Boat Ramps & Launches
Public launches, lane counts, fees, and federal pass info. Confirm ramp status with the operator before launching.🚤 Stillhouse Park Boat Ramp
Check StatusRamp inside Stillhouse Park; map pin is the park location, not the ramp. The park is day-use only; Recreation.gov lists ramp hours as 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
Campgrounds & RV Parks
Campgrounds listed by Recreation.gov and official park sources⛺ Dana Peak Campground
Check with operatorCampground at Dana Peak Park; the Corps lists a four-lane boat ramp in the park.
⛺ Union Grove Campground
Check with operatorCampground at Union Grove Park with a fishing dock and boat ramp.
Fishing & Boating Rules
Official SourcesLimits, licenses, and boating requirements change often. Check the current official rules before fishing or boating on Stillhouse Hollow Lake:
Report Conditions on Stillhouse Hollow Lake
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Tell us about water clarity, ramp conditions, or hazards. We review reports and use them to correct the information on this page.
Commercial Marinas & Featured Partners on Stillhouse Hollow Lake
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Featured Fishing Guides on Stillhouse Hollow Lake
Are you a licensed fishing guide or charter captain on Stillhouse Hollow Lake? Feature your guide service at the top of our daily solunar fishing forecast and water report.
Marinas & Boat Rentals on Stillhouse Hollow Lake
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Living on Stillhouse Hollow Lake
Considering a lake cabin, waterfront home, or retirement property on Stillhouse Hollow Lake? Water levels, dock permits, and flood pool limits all affect waterfront property, so review them before you buy.