Late Summer Largemouth on Lake Austin: Topwater, Soft Plastics, and More

Lake Austin lit up this Saturday, September 6th, with warm, humid air hanging over glassy water at sunrise—officially 7:08 AM per Weather Underground, while sunset’s coming at 7:48 PM. Temps early were in the mid-70s, climbing fast with a muggy blanket and some light south breeze expected. Water sits around 82 degrees, just a hair below normal pool, and the clarity is holding steady, according to the Lake Austin Daily Fishing Report.

Fishing action is still firmly in late-summer patterns. Bass are active early—there's a distinct topwater window for largemouth along grass edges and shallow docks until about 9 AM. Start with a buzzbait or popping frog right around first light. Once the sun’s up, pivot to soft plastics in watermelon or green pumpkin, especially worms or creature baits on Texas or Carolina rigs. Locals have had decent luck slow-rolling small swimbaits along bluff walls and fishing drop-offs near the Pennybacker Bridge.

Mid-size crankbaits and finesse jigs are producing, especially off deeper rock piles and submerged timber lining the channel bends. You can get bites with both shad-pattern crankbaits and natural-hued jigs—think subtle, not flash, for these pressured fish. For live bait fans, big shiners fished along shaded docks through mid-morning are still delivering some solid strikes.

Recent catches this week, shared by area guides and anglers on social feeds, highlight largemouth in the 2–5 lb range as the most frequent, with a handful of 6+ lb fish landed by patience and persistent casting. Catfish are biting fair on punch bait and cut shad, with best success in 10–15 feet of water off deeper rock and marina edges. Crappie are scattered but can be picked off with small jigs or minnows over brush, especially as dusk approaches.

For those willing to move around, top hot spots remain unchanged—the cove near Emma Long Park is a reliable bet for early bass, while the stretch around the Hula Hut restaurant down to Walsh Landing keeps producing mixed bags throughout the day. If you want fewer crowds, try targeting submerged structure north of the 360 Bridge.

There’s no real tide on inland Lake Austin, but minor barometric swings today—rising pressure mid-morning—may spike bites just after sun-up and again in the late afternoon. During the heat of midday, expect the action to slow, so consider finding shade or deeper water near ledges.

For the best shot today:
- Use **topwater baits** at sunrise and sunset
- Switch to **soft plastic worms, Carolina rigs, and mid-diving crankbaits** by late morning
- Try **punch bait** or **cut shad** for catfish near structure

Remember, the best bait is what matches the hatch—shad imitations are strong right now, and for artificial, green pumpkin and watermelon flake can’t be beat.

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