Fall's Frenzy on Lake Austin: Chasing Bass, Cats, and Crappie at the Peak of the Season

October’s rolling in, and Lake Austin is waking up to real *hill country fall fishing*. Weather’s cool, with gentle fog at first cast and a light north breeze making the banks crisp by sunrise. According to the National Weather Service, we’re set for highs in the mid 70s today, lows dipping to the upper 50s, a partly cloudy morning shaping up for clear skies by noon, and winds staying steady at 5–8 mph from the north. Sunrise hit right around 7:22 a.m. and you’ll see sunset at about 7:07 p.m. If you’re planning to fish deep or slow-roll plastics, aim for the major fish activity windows—late morning and the last couple hours before dark, just as the water warms and fish move shallow for an afternoon snack.

The bite’s turned noticeably better the last couple of days. Cooler nights are dropping water temps into the high 60s to low 70s, kicking off the *shad migration* and ramping up those feeding windows for both bass and baitfish. Reports from area guides and anglers say **largemouth bass** are pushing shallow early chasing pods of shad around bulkheads, rocky points, and grass edges, especially between Emma Long Park and the 360 Bridge. Fish are hitting **white or silver flukes**, mid-size **chatterbaits**, and shad-patterned **squarebill crankbaits**. Locals are also picking up a few on topwater early: a bone or silver walking bait is the ticket if you want a crash on the surface right at sunrise.

**Catfish** action’s been steady for bank anglers soaking **punch bait** or cut shad on channel bends and deeper docks, especially on the southern end near Tom Miller Dam and the City Park area. Early morning and pre-dusk are best for channels and smaller blues. Don’t be afraid to drop your lines as deep as 15–20 feet this time of year—a good cat bite is still rolling after these mild cold fronts.

Want to put some numbers on the board? **White bass** are making mini runs chasing bait up the main river channel—watch for birds and busting shad between the upstream shoals and the bridge pilings. Small **little George tailspins** or white **grub jigs** are best for these, worked fast through the schools. **Crappie** have started stacking on boat docks and brush piles, with local reports mentioning limits for patient folks fishing small minnows or 1/16 oz. chartreuse jigs just over submerged timber.

A couple of real hot spots right now:
- The **360 Bridge pilings and adjacent steep banks** are holding both bass and crappie, especially early and again before sunset.
- The stretch from **Emma Long Park north toward Steiner Ranch**—focus on dock edges, submerged timber, and transitions where gravel meets grass.

For those after a trophy, don’t overlook the chance at a big **alligator gar** from the deeper holes and creek mouths below the dam. According to recent charters listed on FishingBooker, local guides are still putting visiting anglers on gar up to six feet long with cut shad on heavy gear—nighttime or low-light is best.

The top lures right now are:
- **White or silver flukes**
- **Bone topwaters** (walkers or poppers)
- **Chartreuse squarebills or spinnerbaits** after a rain or when water’s stained
- **Black/blue jigs** or **green pumpkin Texas rigs** once the sun’s high
Best baits for cats are **fresh cut shad** or **punch bait**; for crappie, stick with minnows or tiny jigs.

Bite windows are classic for this transitional weather: best action is dawn until 10 a.m., plus the last two daylight hours before sunset. If you’re night fishing, take advantage of the waxing gibbous moon—fish move up shallow and get active after midnight under that extra light.

Thanks for tuning in to the Lake Austin fishing report. Remember, you can always trust “Artificial Lure” to put you on fish, and don’t forget to subscribe to get the skinny ahead of your trip.

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