The capital of Texas is known for many things – music, supporting the lil’ guy, and Guadalupe Bass, the state fish of Texas. Spend your next vacation in Austin Bass fishing – the whole family will love the non-stop action these waters offer, with the Black Bass action non-stop. Largemouth Bass in particular will offer anglers a great fight.

What to Catch 

Central Texas is the only place in the world where you can fish for Guadalupe Bass (known to the locals as ‘Guads’). Although these guys are quite small, they are aggressive and present a unique opportunity to anglers.

If that wasn’t awesome enough, you can also catch your fill of the bigger Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, and White bass. These Bass offer great action, and will eat almost anything – this includes the bats found around the lakes. This can make baiting your lines quite interesting!

Largemouth Bass under 2” are called ’fry,’ and are not considered predators until they are bigger. But they grow up fast, and are a great sport fish to go after due to their aggressive character. Anglers are encouraged to release big Largemouth Bass, as these are usually the female breeders.

Where to Go

There are many lakes and reservoirs you can fish in Austin. As well as the top spots mentioned below, you can also go to Lake Georgetown, Granger Lake, and Lake Kyle. When looking for Bass, head to areas that have some form of cover and protection, such as rock, lily pads, grass, and boat docks.

A lot of charters will head out of Austin to other productive lakes in the surrounding area. Lakes such as Bastrop, Choke Canyon, Fayette, Falcon, LBJ (Lake Lyndon B. Johnson Reservoir) and Lake Travis are all a short ride from Austin and will keep you busy for hours. The Highland Chain of Lakes is the perfect place to drop lines and target Guadalupe Bass.

Lake Austin

This lake reaches depths of 75 feet and is one of the best lakes for bass fishing is Lake Austin. If you’re going after your trophy Bass, this is the place to go to. Most Bass caught are between 8-10lb in the underwater brush piles that have been strategically placed here. As these waters are so productive, it’s best to come very early in the morning or during the night, to get the best fishing spots and not be disturbed by too many anglers. You can also find good numbers of Catfish and Sunfish.

Lake Travis

For those bringing their whole family fishing, Lake Travis is a great spot for the kids to wet their lines. Lake Travis is double the depth of Lake Austin, and has a great number of Largemouth Bass here. You can also find Striped Bass a the lower section of the lake, as well as Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish.

Walter E. Long Lake

This smaller lake can be found on the east side of Austin, in Metropolitan Park. To access these waters and the rest of the park, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee. These waters are used to cool the power plant, so are continually warm. This makes them a great habitat for Hybrid Striped Bass, which reach good sizes.

Lady Bird Lake

Lady Bird Lake is in downtown Austin, and is locally called the “Town Lake,” despite technically being a part of the Colorado River. This spot is great for Largemouth Bass, especially at night. The average size is around 2–3 pounds, but what they lack in size they make up for in sheer quantity.  

Lake Bastrop

Head 30 minutes from Austin to Lake Bastrop, for a top Bass fishery. The Florida Largemouth Bass are smaller than their counterpart in Lake Austin, ranging between 2–5 pounds. However, they are stocked up regularly, providing hours of entertainment for anglers. This is also a great fishing spot for Guadalupe Bass, Striped Bass, and White Bass.

How to Fish
 

• Each body of water has a top tip for catching Bass. On Lake Austin, try using bait such as minnows. Keep them in the weedlines using corks. When it’s warmer, use more aggressive lures, and when cooler more slow lures.

• The Bass in Lake Travis make use of the deeper water, so entice them to the surface using jerkbait, topwater, or spinnerbait.

• When Bass fishing in Austin, use an 8–10 lb line for best results.

When to Go

Although there are opportunities to catch Bass year-round, fall till spring will yield the best results, as Largemouth Bass and the other Bass tend to spawn in between March through June. The spring is the best time to target spawning Bass. Fisheries such as Walter E. Long Lake are great in the winter, as the water remains warm.

Austin Bass fishing has to be experienced by every freshwater angler. The smaller size of some of the Bass won’t stop them from giving you a great fight that will have you coming back for more.