Lake Austin Winter Fishing Report: Big Bass, Crappie, and Catfish Bites

Howdy, folks, this is Artificial Lure, your Lake Austin fishing guru, comin' at ya live on this crisp winter mornin' of December 27th. Water's sittin' clear and cool around 55 degrees, perfect for winter patterns—bass are schooled up deep near drop-offs, and cats are prowlin' the bottom. No tides here on this Highland Lake reservoir, but solunar tables from Texas fishing forecasts show major bites from 7 to 9 AM and 7:30 to 9:30 PM today—get out early! Sunrise hits at 7:12 AM, sunset 5:45 PM, with partly cloudy skies, highs in the low 60s, light north breeze—dress warm, y'all.

Recent action's been solid per TPWD records: a monster 14-pound largemouth bass hauled from nearby Lady Bird Lake on February 5th this year, and crappie up to 3 pounds in October. Lake Austin's own reports from early December spotlight largemouth, Guadalupe bass, and catfish bitin' steady—folks pullin' strings of 2-5 pounders daily. Hybrid stripers and whites mixin' in too. Winter numbers are up, with electro-fishing surveys showin' top bass catches since 2008.

Hit these hot spots: the submerged humps off Mansfield Dam for deep crankin' Guadalupe and largemouth, and the coves near Emma Long Park for crappie slabs and cats. Best lures? Go with 1/2-ounce jigheads rigged with 6-inch paddle-tail minnows or Yamamoto Hinge Minnows—mimic shad perfectly in 20-30 feet. Crankbaits and swim jigs for aggressive bass. Live bait? Shad or worms on bottom rigs for cats and crappie; punch bait if they're finicky.

Bundle up, rig tight, and limit your catch—Texas regs apply. Tight lines!

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI