How to Fish Lake Travis

Lake Travis fishing FAQ

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Lake Travis in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 55-65°F. Bass are actively transitioning toward spawning areas, showing increased movement along migration routes like points and ledges Fish are becoming more aggressive but may be affected by cold fronts, requiring both power and finesse presentations Key locations: Points and ledges connecting to spawning flats, especially those with rocky structure; Protected areas between docks, particularly in coves leading to potential spawning areas; Secondary points with submerged grass in 8-15 foot range. Best techniques: Drop Shot with finesse worms worked slowly around structure, Wacky Rigs worked methodically near cover and transition areas, Hard Jerkbaits worked along ledges and points, especially early in the day. Primary forage: Shad schools congregating near points and transition areas, Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas as water warms. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Dark Neutrals, Green Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Lake Travis in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 58-68°F. Moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) around protected coves, back of pockets, and areas with submerged grass Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure, making frequent movements between deep and shallow water Increased aggression and territorial behavior around spawning sites, particularly during warm, stable weather periods Key locations: Protected shallow coves with submerged grass in 2-8 feet; Secondary points leading into spawning pockets; Boat docks and marinas adjacent to spawning flats. Best techniques: Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around spawning areas, Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and cover, Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and slow presentations. Primary forage: Shad moving into spawning areas, Bluegill beginning to populate shallow areas. Best bait colors: Natural Craw Colors, Natural Shad Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Lake Travis in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 67-70°F. Fish are actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting shad around grass edges and rocky structure Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones (5-15 feet) throughout the day, with increased activity during morning hours Key locations: Submerged grass on shallow flats and in coves; Rocky drop-offs and bluff walls in 5-15 foot range; Marina areas with adjacent grass. Best techniques: Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with underspin near grass, Shakey Heads on rocky structure and bluff walls, Hard Jerkbaits worked around grass edges, Ned Rigs for pressured fish around hard structure. Primary forage: Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports, Bluegill - starting to become active in grass areas. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Dark Neutrals, Green Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Lake Travis in Summer?

Water temp 79-87°F. Fish are showing multiple depth patterns - shallow early/late and deeper during midday, with some suspended in deeper water (30-50ft) near structure Feeding activity peaks during early morning and evening hours, with a tough midday bite reported Key locations: Windy main lake points with access to deeper water; Marinas and boat docks, especially those near deep water; Submerged grass edges in 15-20 foot range; Offshore brush piles and ledges with suspended fish. Best techniques: Hard Topwater (Walking) early and late in the day on points, Drop Shot with slow presentations around deeper structure, Football Jigs worked through grass edges, Swim Jigs with paddle tail trailers near bottom in shaded areas. Primary forage: Shad - primary forage base shown in multiple reports, Crawfish - indicated by success with bottom-contact presentations. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Lake Travis in Fall?

Water temp 58-72°F. Following baitfish schools while transitioning to shallower water, actively feeding during shad migration patterns Relating heavily to vertical structure and showing increased activity around rocky areas and dock structures Key locations: Rock ledges and drop-offs with nearby shallow water access; Boat docks and marina areas, especially those adjacent to deeper water; Primary points with rock structure. Best techniques: Drop Shot with slow presentations along ledges and under docks, Swim Jigs worked around bait schools and structure, Suspending jerkbaits with long pauses on points and ledges. Primary forage: Shad - primary forage evidenced by multiple reports of bait balls, Bluegill - secondary forage especially around dock structures. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Green Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Lake Travis in Winter?

Water temp 59-64°F. Bass are actively feeding in 8-15 feet of water, particularly around grass edges and rock structure Fish are responding well to both reaction baits and finesse presentations, suggesting a moderate activity level typical of winter feeding patterns Movement patterns show fish utilizing both shallow and mid-depth zones, with increased activity during wind events Key locations: Rock piles and rock walls in 8-15 foot depth range; Submerged grass edges in 2-10 feet of water; Protected areas between docks, especially on windy banks; Main lake points with access to deeper water. Best techniques: Drop Shot with finesse presentations for deeper rock structure, Ned Rigs worked slowly along grass edges and rock transitions, Medium diving crankbaits (7-12ft) worked along rock piles, Underspins with small swimbaits for suspended fish near grass. Primary forage: Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports, Crawfish - active in rocky areas during winter period. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Dark Neutrals, Natural Craw Colors.