Lake Sweetwater News

Lake Level Summary for 2014

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 14:06:08 -0600

Lake Sweetwater lost 4 feet 9 inches in 2014. On 31 Dec 2014 the lake level was 28 feet 4.2 inches below the spillway. Lake capacity is currently around 13%. Total rain from 1 Jan through 31 Dec 2014 was 15.92 inches.

The max depth of the lake when full is estimated to be about 45 feet so there might be 16.6 feet left in spots along the east half of the dam. The lowest level on record was 38.59 feet below the spillway at the end of July 2007, which amounted to 6 or 7 feet of water along the east half of the dam.

Monthly 2014 losses and rain follow.

Jan -3.96 inches (Rain 0.0")
Feb -1.8 inches (Rain 0.08")
Mar -4.8 inches (Rain 0.06")
Apr -5.28 inches (Rain 0.5")
May -4.2 inches (Rain 3.41")
Jun -4.8 inches (Rain 3.81")
Jul -7.2 inches (Rain 0.66")
Aug -9.96 inches (Rain 0.82")
Sep -3.96 inches (Rain 2.95")
Oct -7.68 inches (Rain 0.97")
Nov -1.32 inches (Rain 2.34")
Dec -2.4 inches (Rain 0.32")

The last time that the lake had a month end on the plus side was in Sep 2012. A one month gain has happened only three times since the summer of 2010.

Bryan and Pullig Win 17 March 2011 Bass Tournament

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:17:28 -0500

Patrick Bryan (L) and Don Pullig (R) won the17 March, Lake Sweetwater weekly Thursday evening bass tournament. Patrick brought in the biggest bass at 10 1/8 inches, 6.12 lbs. Don had the best stringer with three bass totaling 7.95 lbs.

Thursday Night Bass Tournaments Return to Lake Sweetwater on 17 March

Wed, 2 Mar 2011 19:55:19 -0600

The regular Thursday evening bass tournaments at Pappy's Bait Shop & Grill will return to Lake Sweetwater, Texas on 17 March 2011.

Starts at 6:00 PM at the bait shop. Weigh in will be at 9:00 PM at the bait shop.
$10 entry fee for highest weight for a 3 bass stringer. 80% payout.
Optional $5 entry fee for "calcutta" (biggest bass). 100% payout.

There will also be a monthly bonus prize this year. 20% of the weekly tournament entry fees will go into the bonus fund. Every 4th week, the bonus fund will be awarded to the person catching the highest total weight for the month.

Only legal sized bass will be weighed. Lake Sweetwater currently has a 14" to 18" slot limit for bass, which means that only bass that are less than 14 inches or greater than 18 inches in length may be taken.

Pappy's Bait Shop & Grill is located next to the public boat ramp at the east end of the dam.

Call the bait shop at (325) 235-1223 for more information.

Burn Ban In Effect

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 14:53:54 -0600

The burn ban continues for Lake Sweetwater and Nolan County.

On Monday 28 February 2011 the Nolan County Commissioners left the county wide burn ban in effect due to the many recent wildfires and continuing dry conditions in the area.

Bonds Wins 16 Sep 2010 Bass Tournament

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:33:47 -0500

Jason Bonds won the 16 September, weekly Thursday evening bass tournament at Lake Sweetwater with two bass, one at 4.52 lbs 19 inches and the other at 3.59 lbs 18 inches.

John Stokes also caught one out of the slot at 4.18 lbs 19 inches, as did Marty Foust at 3.52 lbs 18 1/4 inches. Marty Foust is on the left in the photo below, John Stokes is on the right.

Burn Ban Lifted

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:47:50 -0500

On Monday 13 September 2010 the Nolan County Commissioners lifted the burn ban that has been in place for some weeks in Nolan County.

The Sweetwater Fire Department advises rural residents to let the department know before they commence any burning. A Department representative has said that when folks burn brush or debris, distant observers often report the fire not knowing that it is intentional. The number to call is (325) 235-4304.