Lake Austin Fishing Report: Bass, Cats, and More on the Legendary Texas Fishery

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Austin fishing report.

We don’t worry about tides on Lake Austin, but water’s running a light generation pattern this weekend, so you’ve got just enough current on the main river channel to stack fish on breaks and dock lines. With the recent cool, clear nights and mild afternoons, surface temps are hanging in the low 60s, and the water’s got that classic green Austin stain.

National Weather Service data for the Austin area shows a chilly, calm morning with light north to northeast wind shifting east later, topping out in the mid‑60s with high pressure and bluebird skies. Sunrise is right around 7:15 a.m. and sunset near 5:30 p.m., giving you a tight low‑light window at both ends of the day. Solunar-style forecasts for Central Texas put the stronger activity mid‑morning and again late afternoon, so plan to grind a bit in between.

Recent local chatter from Austin bass clubs and Central Texas Facebook groups has most boats scratching up **8–15 largemouth** a trip, with a few **3–5 pounders** and the occasional **6+** coming from deeper structure. Kayak anglers are reporting steady **Guadalupe bass** and some chunky **spots** on finesse rigs around rocky banks, plus a decent **catfish** bite after dark on cut bait under the bridges.

Best producers right now:

- **Largemouth/Guadalupe bass**
- Early: walking **topwaters** (Spook‑style) and **buzzbaits** over grass edges and shallow points.
- Midday: **3.8–4.3" swimbaits** on ball heads, **medium crankbaits** deflecting off rock in 8–14 feet, and **Carolina rigs** on main‑lake points.
- Finesse: **green pumpkin or watermelon red shaky heads**, **Ned rigs**, and **drop shots** around docks and bluff transitions.

- **Catfish**
- **Punch bait**, **cut shad**, or **chicken liver** on simple bottom rigs in 20–35 feet off channel bends and below the 360 bridge at night.

- **Multi‑species**
- Small **inline spinners**, **rooster tails**, and **live worms** under a float around marina riprap will pick up sunfish and the occasional schoolie bass for kids.

If you’re looking for hot spots, two to circle on your map:

- **Pennybacker (360) Bridge area**: Current funnels through here and stacks bait on the ledges. Work the downstream points with swimbaits and cranks, then pitch jigs and Texas rigs to the shade lines of the bridge pilings once the sun gets up.

- **Emma Long / City Park stretch**: Classic Lake Austin rock and scattered grass. At first light, run topwater over the flats just outside the park, then slide off to the first break and drag Carolina rigs and jigs. Docks along this stretch are still giving up some quality bites, especially on shaky heads skipped way back.

Water’s a little clear for heavy hardware, so lean on **natural shad and green pumpkin colors**, downsize line to **10–12 lb fluoro** for your finesse and moving baits, and expect the better fish to come in short flurries tied to that mid‑morning and late‑day movement.

That’s the Lake Austin rundown from Artificial Lure.

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