Popular Fishing Spots near Austin, Texas
The state capital of Texas, Austin is perhaps best known for its lively music scene. When they are not frequenting eclectic restaurants and music venues, however, visitors might enjoy fishing at one of the lakes, rivers, and ponds in the area, of which there are many.
Lake Austin
Lake Austin provides the best chance to catch largemouth bass, which linger primarily along the edges of weed beds on the shoreline and can weigh up to ten pounds. Because the lake is popular with pleasure boaters, fishers should plan their trips for early morning or nighttime.
Anglers should try casting white spinnerbaits with heavy bait, as well as artificial lures such as plastic worms and jerkbaits. Live-bait fishing works best with minnows under corks along the weedlines. In addition to largemouth bass, the shallow waters of the lake are also home to triploid grass carp, which can grow to more than 60 pounds, as well as bluegill and flathead catfish.
McKinney Falls State Park
Situated within Austin city limits, McKinney boasts hiking trails, campsites, and dual falls. The best fishing conditions are found in Onion Creek and Williamson, where crappie and sunfish are abundant. Anglers do not need a license to fish from shore in Texas state parks.
Brushy Creek Lake
Because the lake prohibits motorized boats and trolling motors, Brushy Creek is ideal for kayak or shoreline fishing. Light and ultralight rods work well for largemouth bass, and the spot is also popular for fly fishing. The bank can get crowded, so those who start early in the morning will have the best chance of choosing their location.
Lake Buchanan
A member of the Highland Lakes chain, the 22,333-acre lake has large populations of catfish, black bass, stripers, and crappie. Underwater structures such as logs provide many hiding places for fish, while underwater mounds create a dense spawning ground for largemouth bass. In addition to numerous fish species, the lake is home to notable animals such as bald eagles, egrets, blue herons, and osprey.
Walter E. Long Lake
This 1,270-acre power plant cooling reservoir just east of Austin contains numerous creek channels, submerged tank dams, and drop-offs. Because the water remains warm while the power plant is in operation, fish species such as largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish thrive. With a consistent water level year-round, anglers can often catch bass from 14 to 21 inches.
Pedernales Falls State Park
A popular central Texas spot, the falls offer decent live bait fishing for carp, sunfish, catfish, and bass, while the pool below the falls is full of perch. Additionally, Pedernales Falls provides access to the Guadalupe River, where anglers have their best chance to catch a Guadalupe bass, the state fish of Texas.
The Guadalupe River
Since 1966, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has introduced more than 250,000 rainbow trout into the state’s waterways each year. Although most of the state’s waters are too warm for the cold-water species, anglers hoping to catch a trout should head to the Lower Guadalupe River, which runs from the bottom of Canyon Lake. Considered North America’s southernmost trout fishery, the area is typically cold enough for trout except during the peak of summer.
