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Kirby Lake

Abilene, Texas — Taylor County.

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740Surface acres · TPWD
16 ftMax depth
1928Impounded
1Public access sites

Surface area: TPWD (official surface acres); the USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 100995914) measures 580 acres; max depth from TPWD.

Location & fast facts

Where Kirby Lake is in Texas

The red circle marks Kirby Lake.

Fast facts

About Kirby Lake

  • County: Taylor
  • City or town on the shore: Abilene
  • Location (TPWD): On the south side of Abilene, just east of US 83
  • Impounded: 1928 (TPWD)
  • Controlling authority: City of Abilene · (325) 676-6038
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 5 mi from Abilene and 75 mi from San Angelo, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Texas: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Texas

Official TPWD pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Lake map

Kirby Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat Launch (Boat launch)1½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Boat Launch
    Boat launch · Abilene

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 100995914), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (TPWD publishes ramp names per lake, not coordinates). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Kirby Lake

We found 19 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Kirby Lake, 2 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

13 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Texas

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (32.3729, -99.7334). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Kirby Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Kirby Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Fish you can catch

    Largemouth bassChannel & blue catfishSaugeyeWhite crappieBluegill & green sunfishCommon carp

    Predominant species from the TPWD Lake Finder.

    TPWD Lake Finder: Kirby Lake

    Fishing outlook & regulations

    SpeciesTPWD rating
    Largemouth BassFair
    CatfishExcellent
    CrappieFair
    SunfishGood

    Regulations (TPWD): This reservoir has special regulations on some fishes. See bag and size limits for this lake.

    Aquatic vegetation (TPWD): Bulrushes

    Conservation pool: 1,786 ft. msl Call (915) 692-0921 for current water level

    Water-level fluctuation: Variable

    Normal clarity: Red colored with visibility less than 12 inches

    TPWD Lake Finder page · Lake records · Latest survey report

    Ratings are TPWD's own Poor / Fair / Good / Excellent scale. Statewide rules: TPWD Outdoor Annual, fishing. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Stocking history

    TPWD has 37 stocking records for Kirby Lake from 1970 to 2016. The table shows 2012–2016.

    YearSpeciesFishSize
    2016Bass, Florida Largemouth40,000Fingerling
    2014Bass, Florida Largemouth75,451Fingerling

    TPWD stocking history for Kirby Lake

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat LaunchAbilene—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating32.3801, -99.7296

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (TPWD publishes ramp names per lake, not coordinates)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Texas lakes & ponds · All waters in Abilene