June marks the beginning of summer, and with the warm weather lately the fish know that! Thats one of the greatest gifts my dad has passed on to me and his father to him and I am to my kids. Often times the choppier and windier the better. Spring is the spawning season when Bass will move from deeper waters into shallow waters with warmer temperatures. Little twitches of the rod tip every once and a while can also help to trigger bites from followers. I can usually tell within half a dozen casts whether or not a dock is holding fish. Lake Travis is a gorgeous manufactured reservoir on the Colorado River, northwest of lively Austin, Texas. Is It Safe to Swim in Lake Travis? [4 Things to Know] Their goal is to expend as little energy as possible, burn as few calories as they have to, yet still feed. Because of this, a well-presented bait can work well to catch them. Cut them off by targeting the areas they can easily move to. As far as baits go, I recommend a dropshot with a small straight tail worm such as a Roboworm, a Texas rig with a curl tail power worm, or a Carolina rig with a creature bait such as a lizard or baby brush hog. The bass fishing on Lake Travis will stay good if not get a little bite better for the next month. Focus on rocky shorelines that are not super steep. A lot of the baits I am throwing right now revolve around the shad spawn. The habitats and behaviors of fish change with elements like weather and water conditions. Fish baits that are fast moving, throw off a lot of vibration, or have some flash to them. Be quick though. Small paddle tail swimbaits, casting spoons, and topwater baits can be effective in targeting these fish. Texas Hawgs! Unsolved: The mysteries lurking in Lake Travis - KXAN Austin Fishing gets stupid easy and largemouth feed up gorging on seemingly any bait you throw at them. Those looking to stay busy with Sunfish will appreciate Lake Travis as well. Great targets can be points, docks, seams, or any other obvious transition where bass have an opportunity to ambush. Currently the thermocline on Lake Travis is around 40 feet deep. Summer has the water very warm, as of late around 85-87 degrees, which also slows the bass down. I recommend a bright color such as white, bubblegum, or merthiolate as it is easy to see underwater. There are three types of offshore/ deep structure I look for, ledges, secondary points, and bluff walls with docks. Are there bears in Austin Texas? Visitors remember this city for its unique beauty, but [], Youll hardly find a place in the world where fishing is more a part of everyday life thanTexas. If you dont have a boat, or would like to learn more about Lake Travis consider booking a trip with me! Lake Travis is also part of a larger system of reservoirs and storage lakes known as the Highland Lakes. When I get groups of three anglers I usually only go searching for spawning bass if they ask for it making two people sit and watch doesnt make for a memorable trip. During the summer months fish tend to move offshore in search of stable cool water. They take advantage of the cooler temps and low light conditions to feed up. (just watch out for those dock cables). Right now there are two patterns I recommend you try. A Storm Wiggle Wart in brown craw is one of my favorite baits, but there are tons of great options out there. Cover as much water as possible and fish fast! Crankbaits fished in the same places I fish the topwater plugs have also been very productive. There are a couple baits that I like to throw in particular when the bass are spawning. A football jig is one of my personal favorites. I do have some openings available in April so dont wait! Since the shad move back here for their food source, predator species such as bass and crappie follow. Also, baby brush hawgs can be super deadly, due to the action that the tail and appendages impart. The deeper chunk rock banks have been key for this pattern. For the crankbait, alternate between a crawfish and a threadfin shad colored bait, select a bait that will dive to +/- 15 feet. This is favorable to them and directly relates to the places they live during these colder months. For coves like this stick to the points and nearby shorelines. Texas State Parks are proud to host Free Fishing in State Parks, a year-round program to encourage spending time enjoying one of Americas greatest pastimes. Torwicks Guiding Service is a full time licensed and insured fishing charter and specializing in guiding on Lake Travis. Ambush points are always good places to look, but sometimes they just relate to structure since its instinctual, not always to position themselves to feed.I approach these the same way I approach ledges as far as baits. I am accepting reservations now. I like an underspin over a normal lead head since I believe the flash from the blade helps trigger more bites. The fishing out there has been consistently good and we havent even had a big cold front to cool things off. Lake Travis Fishing Guides This is where the ned rig and the drop shot come into play. This will drop the water temps into the mid to upper 60s. I believe this next full moon will push up the last wave of spawning fish. That is still a little ways off with as hot as its been. The fishing on Lake Travis has been exceptional the past month! Currently there are three patterns that I am focusing on to catch the majority of our fish. February is always a transition month on Lake Travis. If I am not getting bit throwing a moving bait, I will then slow down and switch to working the bottom with one of those other baits. Im looking to those warming trends as the critical hour for big fish potential. Oftentimes, early in the morning, you can find bass chasing shad feeding up for the day. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". During these periods of the day you can find bass patrolling marinas that sit over deep water. The cove at the park is blocked off from boat traffic and doesnt get as much fishing pressure. The key to getting bit though is a well-placed cast. Keep in mind that during this time of year cold fronts, rain, and wind can cause the lake temp to change more than normal. Bass will use the large rocks as ambush points, allowing you to target them with jigs and similar tackle that can drop from above. Conversely, my stained water strategy is to target bass in 7 ft or less. Get right over the schools of bass and drop your bait down close to your transducer so that you can see it go down the screen, stop it once you are at the same depth as the fish. Between the years 2000 and 2015, it held the second highest spot on the same list.Generally, the waters are deemed to be safe if not during flooding seasons - when recreational water sports are to be avoided. Since the lake has very low productivity, the bass have a slow growth rate and a 4-pound bass is . I put a lot of work into these free reports and love sharing info, however I dont share ALL my secrets! Those fish may have moved out deep but they still have to eat. This will vary depending on weather and if we get more cold fronts. Can You Fish in Lake Travis? - NorthShore Marina - Boat Storage The dangers of Lake Travis By Rebecca Thomas, FOX 7 Austin Published May 3, 2017 News FOX 7 Austin Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Lake Travis. In low light or more windy conditions, were seeking out chunk rock and other irregularities on the bank. I like to use a crawfish scent on my plastics to make it a little more enticing. Its also crucial to determine where these predators are in the water column are they hugging the substrate or suspending over a sudden depth change? This time of year the bass tend to hold tight to cover and are not roaming in schools like they do in the spring. The water clarity is very good, 10+ feet in some areas depending on where you are in the lake. On those calm days I tend to slow down a bit, however a crankbait can still be very productive. You need to be wearing polarized glasses in order to bed fish effectively. Slow down and dont over work it. The LCRA took algae samples from the 10 spots along the lake March 3, just a week after it was reported that dogs were getting sick after swimming at Hudson Bend on Lake Travis. Also, we have been getting into a lot of White Bass. My focus is to keep them busy catching fish, learning about what we are doing, and engage them to prevent them from getting bored or fussy. The second, to fish for bass that are using staging locations. I also encourage you to follow me on Instagram @LakeTravisFishingGuide I post daily on there with tons of great Lake Travis fishing content! The biggest Bass caught at the reservoir was a Striped Bass weighing 30.50 pounds and measuring 42 inches. He also combines his passion for fishing with his passion for writing, which can be found on FishTechOutdoors where he provides tips and educational guidance on all aspects of Bass fishing. In most of the country December means winter fishing. Lake Travis - 2018 Survey Report. While the average depth hovers around 62 feet, the maximum depth of Lake Travis is 190 feet near the dam. During high sun, we am focusing on docks and walkways that provide shade. When bass spawn varies slightly year-to-year depending on if we have a warm winter or not. I recommend targeting the mouths of spawning coves. We get far more bites using compact baits, especially when the fish arent extremely active. Once you see the water temps get warmer here further into March the bass will commit to the spawn and they can be found up shallow. During this time of year, there are two main patterns I fish in order to consistently find fish. Since grass needs sunlight for photosynthesis this is why you will not find it growing way out in the middle of the lake. Flukes and Senkos- a fluke makes sense to try and imitate a shad right? Green pumpkin speed craws are an excellent option. Torwicks Guiding Service, Tyler Torwick. Freezing temperatures over night can drop the surface of the lake several degrees, whereas a warm sunny day can do just the opposite. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Lake Travis has something most Texas lakes dont have.extremely clear water. http://northshoremarinahollows.com/living-on-the-lake/can-fish-lake-travis/. Water temperature affects dissolved oxygen levels in the lake, where the baitfish live, and the slowing of the bass metabolism. Identify the fish you want to catch and check you have all your paperwork in order See you on the water! One, this helps maintain bottom contact, and two it makes the bait easier for the fish to catch up too. I recommend starting at the mouths of coves and working your way inside. As the water cools you will find these shad moving from deep water, which in the case of Lake Travis will be the river channels and major creek arms. What I find to be most important in the winter is timing when you fish based on the weather forecast. While primarily used as a dam and flood storage basin, the lake has also gained interest as a recreational destination. This isnt to say they wont feed, but they do become more selective and less aggressive. 1. Summer conditions are still here and will be for at least the next month or two. We are still starting our mornings with top waters or shad imitation swim baits early. Lets start with pre-spawn. Using my sonar I am able to see how far from the surface the Hydrilla is growing, and select baits that will get down to it, without going so deep as to get snagged. Pay attention to the water temp where you are fishing as this can help you decide how you should be fishing. Lake Travis Access - Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Smaller subtle baits tend to get bit better this time of year. I have found fish out shallow and out deep, so being versatile is key to consistently catching good numbers of bass. I do not have any weekends open in March, however I do have a very limited number of weekday spots open. Dont let the heat stop you from booking a trip and getting out on the lake with me this month! Until it gets a lot cooler I will not bother fishing any further back than half way into the coves. I like to rig a fluke weightless on a 4/0 hook and fish it similar to a jerkbait. Right now the bulk of the largemouth bass are in their pre-spawn pattern. When fishing the shoreline pay attention to the angle of the bank and what the bank is made up of. We have seen some quality fish being caught near lighted docks at night on a variety of shad imitation baits. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Cast right on top of them when they are boiling on the surface. Jon Stewart has been an avid fisherman for the last 27 years. Current water temps on Lake Travis are in the upper 80s, anywhere from 85-88 degrees depending on the time of day. https://www.torwicksguidingservice.com/honeyholes. Until the water gets a little colder, they will continue to do so. My clients the other morning caught two bass on one topwater bait! During the winter they fish slow down due to cold water, then fire back up as it warms in the Spring. John is a fishing guide who has lived in or around Austin, TX since 1999. I run Garmin Panoptix on my boat (for those unfamiliar with it, it is live view sonar). As of last month I have a new tool in my boat Garmin Panoptics Livescope sonar. Focus on the mouths of small coves, points within a these coves, and drains along the shoreline in these coves. Ive seen plenty swimming through the greenbelt, and am fortunate enough to not have gotten too close. https://www.torwicksguidingservice.com/honeyholes. Look for hard targets like stumps and or boulders, with sand and gravel nearby. To cover water more quickly a paddle tail swimbait such as a 4.2 Keitech Fat Swing Impact rigged with a belly weighted hook can be deadly. 36 were here. Formed along the Colorado River, this reservoir is also home to a healthy population of Guadalupe Bass, the Texas state fish. I recommend going with natural colors; any variation of green pumpkin is a good place to start. While not the species I normally guide for, I love catching them as theyre hard fighters and are great for clients who want to keep their catch. On June 2nd, 1932, George Perry caught the current world record bass out of Lake Montgomery, an oxbow lake off the Ocmulgee River in southern Georgia. These baits and rocks dont mix, so do not let it hit the bottom. These trips are geared more towards education and less about running my honey holes. Their lives revolve around their diet, so if you find the bait, youll find the fish! A thermocline is essentially a divide down deep in the lake between the cooler dense water and the lighter warm water. So what does this cold weather mean for the bass fishing? Most of the bigger fish are hitting jigs, shaky heads and Carolina rigged plastics. Once again, these lures would be most effective when color matched to the predominate prey species in your fishery. There is still some top water action but not near the constituency of the past few months. I think its a common misconception that the fishing is bad in the winter just because its colder. Largemouth bass are at their heaviest when they are full or eggs but have yet to lay them. Texas rigged creature baits, football jigs, shakey heads and drop shots are all effective baits. During late fall and into winter it is common to find schools of bass suspended out deep off of these kinds of spots. The whites can still be caught in creeks on the main lake but there is a good number of them up river that can be caught a variety of ways including trolling. Locations like Arkansas Bend have boat ramps close to several points and other underwater structures you can attack. For the slightly deeper bite, instead of the texas rig, I may focus more on the drop shot and perhaps a standard-sized carolina rig. The last bait I recommend is an underspin. This style of fishing will last a few more weeks. In ranking lakes in Texas for accidental fatalities, Lake Travis was ranked No. Fall is finally here and the water temps are down into the mid 70s and will continue to get colder with these shorter days and chillier nights. But upon further inspection they are mostly sand and gravel, these areas generally dont hold too many fish. It is located in central Texas, United States, and has a surface area of roughly 76 km2, and a volume of 1.39 km3, though the water levels in the reservoir fluctuate quite a bit over the years. Good luck and may the best angler win! I offer what I call a coaching trip. LAKE TRAVIS, Texas (KXAN) Justin Barnes with the Texas Game Wardens pulled up to a large rented boat on Lake Travis. Once I see them moving around in schools on the live sonar I prefer the jerkbait or swimbait. Currently water temperatures are in the 85-88 degree range with temps varying slightly depending on the time of day you are on the water and what end of the lake you are fishing. We will focus on learning how to cast, how to present different kinds of lures, and how to fight a fish back to the boat. Once you catch a fish off a nest, please return them to the lake quickly. Lake Austins water is always cold, because it comes from the bottom of Lake Travis, 270 feet below the top of the dam. With that said you typically dont start seeing fish actually on nests until the very end of February. Concrete, large rocks, tires, and black dock floats all hold heat the best. When fishing around the grass you want to select a bait that will dive to the proper depth. Each report contains 5+ EXACT spots with all the information needed to fish them. In an effort to find this, some bass will seek out deeper areas of the lake to live. Shad patterns work well too, but something about a crawfish colored crankbait bumping along the bottom kicking up sand and silt just triggers those bass into biting. To know if you should be looking for bed fish or be targeting pre-spawn fish, keep any eye on the water temps. Casting baits along side the marina breakwalls and pitching baits into the empty slips can produce some big bites. Guadalupe Bass. On days with a little wind, cloud cover, and a falling barometer I like to throw baits that elicit a reaction strike, a jerkbait, an Alabama rig, or a small paddle tail swimbait on a ounce lead head work well. When you hit the flooded vegetation on Lake Travis, stick with presentations that wont snag, including plastics and hollow-body lures. Tight lines! The tail end of the shad spawn is still going on, so pay attention to the shorelines early in the morning for signs of this. Warmer water instinctively tells the fish that it is time to build nests and lay eggs. When a thermocline is present fish will go as deep as the can without going below it. Lewisville Lake NOT the deadliest in Texas | News | starlocalmedia.com Im talking about the 7s, 8s, and 9+s. There are a couple things you can expect. But, good techniques for deep points can be deep diving crankbaits, carolina rigs, and even jigs and Texas rigs. As more and more fish move up to the banks in these coves, looking for cover to cast at is key. https://www.basspro.com/shop/en?irclickid=zTtTKRTaTxyIUoxTyMXa6T%3AYUkD1CE0orUBPzg0\u0026irpid=2934706\u0026irmpname=Simplistic%20Fishing\u0026irsharedid=\u0026cm_soc=AFF\u0026irgwc=1\u0026hvarAID=impact#Tight Lines!Tyler Make a long cast past the school and get it down to depth before you bring it through the school of fish. During slow periods, the baitfish and bass will relate to the creek channels. Without going super in depth (if you want that level of info consider purchasing one of my Honey Hole Reports) I recommend having a variety of crankbaits in different diving depths as well as a swimbait tied on. Youll be safe with the other fish in the water. Lets not forget about the white bass run that is taking place farther up lake (up river) and the crappie that will soon be showing up in the shallows and the marinas to spawn. While the weather may be hot, the bite can sometimes be just as hot! Water clarity is the typical Travis gin clear water; 8-12 foot visibility on the lower end of the lake is pretty normal. Additionally the White Bass are moving up to spawn, and with the low lake levels I have found them spawning in unusual places. During the winter months when the water is at its coldest the bass seek deep water in search of stable water temperatures that are less prone to fluctuating with big cold fronts or warm sunny days. Come on out and book a trip. The Lake is HEALTHY! These fish will move on you when you find them, so if you dont get bit after 10 minutes of fishing, graph them again. Early in the fall I focus heavily on shad patterns, baits with gray, silver, and chartreuse in them work well. When they move offshore they usually are not super active even though they are schooled up. Best Lake Travis Lakeside Restaurants. The water is not as clear at this end of the waterway, which can help with a closer approach for casting lighter tackle. I still have some dates in spring coming up so get your trip booked soon with Texas Hawgs, Lake Travis has been fishing well this month. I rely heavily on my live sonar for this fishing, but when they push the bait to the surface you will see them splash which gives away their location. When the moving bait bite is good I like to tie on a red/ orange squarebill, a white spinnerbait, a 4 Keitech on an underspin head, or a fluke rigged on a belly weighted hook. The fish will seek out protected areas away from wind and boat traffic where they will not be disturbed. Not every deep spot like this is loaded with fish, but when you find the right one they can be loaded. Of the various styles of topwater lures a classic spook is my favorite. Pair this up with a ounce lead head and fish it slowly just over the bottom. During the fall there are two main forages the bass prefer; crawfish and threadfin shad. Water clarity is great as always; expect to find visibility 5-10 feet on the lower end of the lake, and slightly less as you get further up river, especially past the split. Some locations along Lake Traviss shoreline are free to access, while developed facilities like Mansfield Dam Park charge a day-use fee. I like to keep my boat as far away as possible and make long casts with the swimbait or Alabama rig and run it right through the middle of those schools of bass. I completely disagree! These trips are all about education and are designed to teach you as much as possible about fishing Lake Travis. A walking style plug such as a Zara spook in a natural shad color has been consistently putting fish in the boat! A bass eggs will not hatch until the water temps are in the low 60s. During high water, you can find them along the flooded shore banks where vegetation is plentiful. For this I recommend turning on your 2D sonar and Livescope if you have it. The biggest fish want the best possible combination of cover and favorable environmental conditions. When fishing grass I recommend using a ounce tungsten bullet weight or lighter in order to let the rig slide through the grass easier. While not our target species theyre a blast to catch! These feeding windows are often short lived, so dont waste time taking selfies, measuring the fish, or Face Timing your fishing buddies, get back to fishing! AUSTIN, Texas - By Texas standards, Lake Travis - the site of Berkley Stage Two Presented by Mercury - is a unique fishery that looks completely different than most anglers' perception of a Lone Star State bass lake. A good ol Texas Rig has been working great lately. The lower end of Lake Travis closest to the dam is typically much clearer than the upper end of the lake closest to the Perdenales split. On windy overcast days, especially if the barometer is dropping from weather moving in, I like to get on main lake points and shorelines getting hit by the wind. I also sell a weekly Honey Hole Report on my website! Stick to natural colors like watermelon or green pumpkin when fishing the clearwater on the lower end of the lake. Deep Offshore Fish Lake Travis Parks. Water temperature is by far one of the largest factors that influence how the bass behave and what they do. Spring is right around the corner! Once you see water 59 degrees or higher you can expect a change in the bass behavior. Use braid that is white or yellow as it is easier to see. Make long casts with your spook across main lake points or ledges adjacent to deep water. My favorite baits this time of year are rattle traps and mid to shallow running crank baits, during periods of wind or cloud cover. Most people visit to boat, swim, dive, and fish. I have been catching fish out deep on deep diving crankbaits, and as the water gets even hotter, more fish will begin that migration. If you have young children now is the perfect time to introduce them to the sport of fishing and get them hooked on the sport that you love! Rig up a Texas rig with a or 3/8th ounce bullet weight (the windier/ deeper the heavier I go) and a 4/0 EWG hook and a craw style bait like a Zoom speed craw. (512) 626-3930. Some fish will stay out deep offshore in their typical summertime homes, while others will make a transition and move. For the shaky head worm, I am using a 4 zoom finesse worm in green pumpkin. The other place I find shad spawning is up in the marinas and docks as they lay their eggs in the algae that grows on the dock floats. With Lake Travis being so rocky, there is actually an abundance of crawfish in the lake. Swimbait Natural colors like green pumpkin have been best, however add some orange to whatever bait you are fishing.
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