Lake Buchanan/Inks Lake Chamber of Commerce

01/18/2025

Texas State Parks NEED our help!

Texas State Parks have provided outdoor recreation and educational programs for both Texans and visitors for nearly 90 years, creating memorable experiences for visitors while preserving the land and cultural heritage. ​ The parks attract visitors from all over, boosting local economies. ​ Traditionally, usage fees cover almost half the operating budget, but financial challenges persist. ​ To address this, citizens can now donate $5 or more when registering or renewing their vehicle registration. ​ These donations go directly to the state park account, helping to maintain and improve the parks for current and future generations. ​

State parks need your help now, more than ever; please contribute each time you register or renew your vehicle registration. Please look for the "donation" blank in the summary box and enter how much you wish to contribute.

(below) Beginnings of Mother Neff State Park from a century ago..
Followers and Viewers

01/15/2025

Please start NOW getting your home and business ready for our upcoming (((CCOLD)))) WEATHER! Wrap your pipes, cover your outside faucets, Check your insulation, and water your plants (ESPECIALLY during the day, Sunday!).

Forecast~ Low High % Chance of Precipitation Type of Pecipitation
Friday: 45° 70° 9% Rain/Winter Mix
Saturday: 25° 57° 0%
Sunday: 24° 13° 0%
MONDAY: 19° 38° 25% Light Snow or Flurries
TUESDAY: 18° 33° 11% Light Rain
WED: 21° 39° 5% Flurries
Thursday: 26° 47° 66% Light rain / SNOW
Friday: 31° 53° 65% Light rain / SNOW

01/02/2025

Fishing on Lake Buchanan remains EXCELLENT! Water slight stain; 55 degrees; 16.55 feet below pool. Striper and white bass are all biting in 32-36 feet of water hanging tight to bottom. Vertical jigging, or slabbing, with ½-1 ounce spoons continues to be the best producer. The birds continue to work some nice schools of fish most days. (as reported by Travis Holland, TH Fishing).
Striper fishing has slowed down and there is less bird action this week. The white bass have slowed but can be caught on jigging spoons in 20-40 feet of water. (as reported by Captain Aaron Dick, One Up Fishing Guide Service).
REMEMBER, THE COLDER IT GETS, THE BETTER THIS LAKE FISHES! Throwing jigs and shaky heads with trick worms, die those tails, around those rock piles will catch a pile of bass. Crankbaits and swimbaits around the same areas will catch some big ones as well. A fluke in perch colors or even shad colors around rocks and lumber will get some bites anywhere out on this lake as well. A walking style topwater will catch some good ones around steep banks on main and secondary points. (As reported by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs).

12/30/2024

We are blessed each year with the annual return of many whom we refer to as "Winter Texans', but none so celebrated as the Bald Eagles who come each year to lay their eggs and teach their young to fly. We are excited to report that they have officially returned and are here in their nest. Stop by and see them, they'll be here until April-(ish). Our Observation Deck is the perfect spot for bird watching!

12/24/2024

Merry Christmas, Merry Yule, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hannukah, & any other holidays I may have overlooked . . . Y'all have a Wonderful Holidays!

12/23/2024

May we all find Joy & Gratitude Each & Every Day in these final days before Christmas.

12/21/2024

It's COMPLETELY TRUE

12/20/2024

Updated fishing report now posted on our website: http://www.buchanan-inks.com/fishingboating.html
Week of DECEMBER 19, 2024

Buchanan
EXCELLENT. Water slight stain; 62 degrees; 15.99 feet below pool. The high winds have made it challenging some days but striper and white bass can be caught if you can handle the waves. Target depths of 28-42 feet vertical jigging, or slabbing, with ½-1ounce spoons has been the best technique. Deadsticking soft plastics has produced some nice limits of stripers of the past week. The birds continue to work some nice schools of fish most days. Report by Travis Holland, TH Fishing. Fishing patterns are consistent. Striped bass and white bass are good with jigging spoons and deadsticking in 17-40 feet of water. The afternoon seems to be the best bite. There is increased bird action leading the ways to schools of stripers and white bass. Report by Captain Aaron Dick, One Up Fishing Guide Service. Remember, the colder it gets the better this lake fishes. Throwing jigs and shaky heads with trick worms, die those tails, around those rock piles will catch a pile of bass. Crankbaits and swimbaits around the same areas will catch some big ones as well. A fluke in perch colors or even shad colors around rocks and lumber will get some bites anywhere out on this lake as well. A walking style topwater will catch some good ones around steep banks on main and secondary points. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.

LBJ
FAIR. Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.20 feet below pool. Crappie are fair on minnows in 12-16 feet of water on brush with chartreuse jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on punch bait in 22-26 feet of water over drop-offs and rock piles. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Bass are good working docks and bulkheads with creature baits, worms and flukes. A frog or topwater around underwater vegetation is working well. Do not forget a wakebait in those same areas. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.

TPWD Fishing report

12/09/2024

Special Action Alert: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has scheduled a public meeting concerning the proposed rock-crushing plant on FM 3509.
Time and location:
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Hill Country Fellowship
200 Houston Clinton Drive
Burnet, Texas 78611

We MUST have as many supporters in attendance as possible! Arrive early and WEAR GREEN to show solidarity.
The meeting will be broken down into two parts:

First, a question and answer session. Questions and answers are informational only and will not be considered in the final decision.
Second, is a formal comment period. There will be a table at the front to sign up to speak. Speakers will be given 3 min each. All comments will be considered during the decision process.
Three-minute time slots go by in a flash. Please have comments written and ready to present.

Here are a few, but not all the talking points to consider.
1. "Save Burnet" is the name of the excellent coalition formed to protest this proposal. However, the affected area is much larger than Burnet County and, as shown below, encompasses the entire Lake Buchanan area and much of Llano County. It also affects Northwestern Travis County.
2. This proposal affects the most environmentally sensitive area in the Highland Lakes Region. (see below)
3. The dust produced by this plant would devastate the grape crops of at least five vineyards in Burnet, Llano, and Travis Counties.
4. The plant would directly affect the environmental quality of Inks Lake State Park, one of the most beautiful, and most visited of Texas State Parks.
5. The Longhorn Cavern Park and cave system is within three miles of the proposed site. The explosions required to mine the rocks would devastate this nearly 100-year-old Texas gem built in the 1930s by the CCC.
6. Dust produced by the plant can travel up to 30 miles. Smaller particles can travel up to 50 miles.
7. A rock-crushing plant uses 1.5 million gallons of water per month, equivalent to 265 families.
8. Currently, there is no published plan to deal with the used water?
9. The Highland Lakes and the groundwater beneath them are the main source of drinking water for the Austin and Central Texas Region. We are already in a prolonged, severe drought situation. Every drop counts.
10. Besides drinking water, The Highland Lakes system also provides water for agriculture.
11. Truck traffic from the plant would adversely affect the already congested roads in the area.

12/05/2024

Joe Here. Virginia asked me to join the Dickens of a Christmas Board, and I was truly looking forward to this event! I was VERY involved with the Galveston Historical Society's Dickens Festival (which this festival is based upon), attending since 1983 and as an active participant from '91 - '97, and continuing to attend for many years thereafter.

I'm sad that we will be cancelling, but certainly understand. I'm hoping for an even better festival next Christmas and anticipate seeing everyone there!

Our board met this morning and made the difficult decision to cancel all the outdoor activities scheduled for Saturday, December 7 on the courthouse lawn due to bad weather predicted for Saturday.
Our board thanks you for all your support this year. Any sponsorships from businesses and individuals will be applied to the festival 2025.

The Breakfast with Santa will still be held at the Lutie Watkins Memorial Methodist Church from 9:00-10:30 a.m.
The Llano Art Guild Christmas Bazaar is still on with a party at 2:00pm and discounts on art purchased Saturday.
The Home Tour by the Woman's Culture Club of Llano is still scheduled from 1:00-5:00pm.

Check with the Llano Chamber of Commerce regarding the Lighted Parade.

11/29/2024

Let's all shop small, local businesses this weekend. 😊

11/22/2024

TOMORROW -- 10 to 4‼️

PLEASE Support OUR LOCAL ART GALLERY!
This Saturday, November 23, 10-4

11/19/2024

PLEASE Support OUR LOCAL ART GALLERY!
This Saturday, November 23, 10-4

11/14/2024

Saturday, November 30, 2024, Friends of Inks Lake SP (FOIL) will host its 2nd Art in the Park with Marla Ripperda. Marla is a well-known artist in the Highland Lake area. Come join her to paint
Winter Birds. All supplies will be furnished. The program location will depend on the weather.
We hope it will be a gorgeous day to be outside.

To register, email [email protected]. Suggested donation is $30 per person. Ages 12 and up are welcome. Art in the Park is a fundraiser for FOIL. FOIL is a registered non-profit that supports all park activities to increase visitors' environmental awareness, promoting conservation and nature education.

11/09/2024

This AMAZING & Well-Researched book is available in only 2 places -- on the River Cruise and from OUR VISITOR CENTER! Only $10 (+ tax) for this amazing keepsake! You'll find this book absolutely fascinating!

Thanks to Cap'n Sean for your wonderful donation!