If you are fishing later in February start looking for the tops of small ledges that are close to deep water. May this be the year you break your personal best! I do experiment a lot with colors and changing them up, but when in doubt one of these three colors will get you bit. Where to look: I recommend searching for beds in the back of protected coves and on spawning flats. Make long casts up forward of your boat and get close to the shoreline. Well go over understanding seasonal patterns, how to establish a pattern, and how to understand how it positions the bass and where to look for them. They will usually be down deep, and once they find the shad, they push them up to the surface chasing them. In other news, theres been some big changes at Torwicks Guiding Service! You can catch them right on the bank out to 35-40 feet of water. During the end of September and the beginning of October, depending on when we first start seeing cold fronts, the lake temps will start to drop. Slowing down your retrieve, especially on calm sunny days can be the key. February is always a transition month on Lake Travis. Jun 30, 2009. Whatever bait you are throwing, slow way down with it and keep it in contact with the bottom. With the gin clear water its very important to match the the size of your bait to the shad. Lake Travis has a ton of bluff walls, but not all of them are created equal. A few stripers up to 8 pounds have been showing up in the mix as well. Instead, I am looking for the first stretch of deep water out in front of the areas where the fish have been spawning. It was 71 degrees across most of the lake this past week, but expect that to keep slowly going down as we get further into fall. The time change is on March 10th so the lake is about to explode. As the lake level creeps down on Lake Travis the fishing has been great the last few weeks. This sonar returns images in real time and you can literally see the fish moving on the screen. This will drop the water temps into the mid to upper 60s. (Photo: @MikeyTantalo) Aug. 2022. However, on overcasts days you can get them to bite it all day long. https://www.torwicksguidingservice.com/honeyholes. In my previous report we discussed how the fish will move back into the coves to follow their food source of shad. If this fishing report helps you, please consider sharing it on your social media! Keep this in mind the next time you are fishing docks! First off, while we are experiencing this cold front expect the bite to change and the fish to react to it. I recommend fishing deep secondary points, ledges, and the middle of creek channels. Polarized sunglasses are a must! That is a high percentage spot for those fish to pull up on. In addition to your normal guided fishing trips, I also offer what I call my Coaching Trips. Creature baits rigged on a Texas rig are a great way to trick them into biting! My biggest tip for you right now is to find rock! Lake Travis Waterloo Adventures Opening | Leander, TX The premium is now placed on utilizing electronics to discover condensed groups of fish on select pieces of offshore cover. Once water temps reach the low 60s you will find fish on beds. Then find shallow water closest to that! I dont want to have my boat positioned too far back into the creeks. With a new course configuration this season, Lake Travis Waterloo Adventures offers . I run Garmin Panoptix on my boat (for those unfamiliar with it, it is live view sonar). Lake Travis is Central Texas' largest water storage reservoir, holding over three hundred billion gallons. The fishing out there has been consistently good and we havent even had a big cold front to cool things off. 6,771 Readers. Areas with a lot of rock attract the fish as it provides habitat as well as hold forage they feed on. Fish slow and really pay attention to the feel of the bait hitting the bottom. Focus on more gradual sloping shorelines that have rock along them, but are adjacent to deep water. Creek channels are a major factor during the fall, as these fish will move up into the creek channels and use them to move from the main lake to the backs of the coves. Focus on rocky shorelines that are not super steep. Swimbait: A 3 or 4 inch paddle tail swimbait in a silver or white color is another excellent option. Small medium diving crankbaits, paddle tail swimbaits, and jerkbaits have all been very productive. At this point in the season, you shouldnt be looking in the creeks at all. Nonetheless, the runoff it produces tends to make the lake more stained, also the bottom up river has more mud and dirt, whereas the lower end of the lake is more limestone, rock, and sand. Time to buckle down and focus, because the easy fish have been picked off. You can catch several fish up shallow but not too many big ones. As the water temps rise throughout the day the fish tend to pull up shallower to feed. I use these bright colors since they are easy for me to visually see on the bottom of the lake. As for the deep bite, this has been the most consistent pattern for me lately. Most weekdays we have the lake to myself aside from a few dock builders boats. Climate of Lake Travis Current water temps on Lake Travis are in the upper 80s, anywhere from 85-88 degrees depending on the time of day. During the summer months fish tend to move offshore in search of stable cool water. Lexi-careless 13 days ago Temperatures average 74 to 94 degrees in the summer and 40 to 70 degrees in the winter. Medium diving crankbaits, small swimbaits, flukes, and plastics fished along the bottom are all good ways to target these fish. 70 F Overcast Data based on our forecast model Facebook Sunrise 6:55 AM Sunset 8:05 PM Local time 8:06 PM (UTC -5) Elevation 820.21 ft Forecast Superforecast Report Statistics Webcams Daily forecast as Tables Bird's-eye Print this forecast Embed this forecast Sat, Apr 22 Sun, Apr 23 Mon, Apr 24 Tue, Apr 25 Wed, Apr 26 Thu, Apr 27 Fri, Apr 28 The lakes have provided a reliable water supply for Central Texas since Lake Travis was completed in the 1940s. 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. When I say this I am referring to baits you cast and retrieve that mimic threadfin shad. Deep Offshore Fish Recently Ive had several half day trips with 20+ fish. Look for creek channels or big drop offs, then find the nearest point or ledge where a fish could pull up to in order to ambush prey. I cant tell you how easy this has made this type of fishing for me! I also live near the dam on Lake Travis and fish the lake over 200+ days a year. Cast right on top of them when they are boiling on the surface. 1. Look for ledges and secondary points in anywhere from 15 to 35 feet of water. Weve experienced sporadic schooling the last few weeks with these fish targeting 1 inch shad. I guarantee youll notice there are small ledges made up or rock with usually 10-20 feet of gravel and small chunk rock above or below those veins of rock. If you havent gotten out on the lake, now is your time! The ones up tight to the bank are chasing shad so a small swimbait/swimjig, shallow crankbait and even a spinnerbait can get you bit. Understanding what is going on beneath the surface of the lake, not only with largemouth bass, but also with the other species of fish in the lake, can help you become a better angler. Fishing has been getting good and will only get better until it gets really cold! Lake Travis Facts to Know Before You Go - Travisso Blog Deeper fish can be had on Texas rigged worms and shaky heads in watermelon and green pumpkin colors and some of the bigger fish have been eating a 1/2 oz up to a 3/4 oz jig in either green colors or black/blue with a good craw trailer. Central Texas summer weather has usually started to settle in by this date, so come prepared for the sun and heat. I offer what I call a coaching trip. Some of those days with less than ideal forecasts can be some of the best fishing! Topwater baits such as pop-rs and spooks in bone or chrome are very fun baits to throw early in the morning. There are a few fish on beds already as well. Wind direction and depth along the bank is also important. were focusing on main lake points and docks with quick access to deep water nearby. While you can get bit doing some of those things at the moment, thats not the main way I am fishing. Also check out the background, notice how the bank is all rock? Once the water gets into the 60s I start throwing more crawfish pattern baits, so baits with red, orange, and brown will be good. This translates into catching more fish, bigger bass, and being able to throw more moving baits. Try fishing secondary points later in the day as these are usually places bass hang out once they have moved out deep. The extreme low water level on Lake Travis means there is insufficient water available for re-fill after a lake drawdown, so it is not anticipated that the City . Right now there are two patterns I recommend you try. Happy New Year everyone. 6,540 Readers. Long accurate casts are the key to catching these fish. The exception though is if the bank has things like stumps, concrete anchor blocks (for docks/ marinas), grass, or brush. Well, its to follow their food source! Casting up near the back of the docks near the staircases is always a good spot! Focus on rocky areas outside of places you have found bass historically spawning. While the weather may be hot, the bite can sometimes be just as hot! Report. While the bite this time of year can be a little more hit or miss, if you put in the work you can still have some very rewarding days on the water! As far as bait selection goes, a topwater walking style bait is hard to beat. Windblown areas can also be great as they congregate bait fish and other prey species. Austin pumps highest amount of water, so far this year. During April when the water warms to the right temperature the shad move up shallow on gravel banks and around docks to lay their eggs. Smaller subtle baits tend to get bit better this time of year. There are still a few fish on beds and they should be done after this next full moon. A slower retrieve gets more bites in my opinion. The bites can be very very subtle. 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. Keep in mind that during this time of year cold fronts, rain, and wind can cause the lake temp to change more than normal. The slow enticing fall of a senko can be deadly even though it is not shaped like a bass. Until then, get out there on the water and keep fishing! While bed fishing is fun, targeting pre-spawn fish has produced better numbers for my clients in my recent trips. I look for steep banks, but not sheer cliffs. This bite is referred to as a reaction bite. With the lake having risen recently due to the rain, there are a lot of weeds on the edge of the lake. The early summer transition has absolutely begun to take place. There are a lot of versions of this bait, a vixen, sexy dawg, spook, rover, dogma, etc are all good choices by various bait companies. Watch your line to make sure you are maintaining bottom contact, especially when you get down deep with the bait. Im generally going to start looking for fish in the 20 ft range during this time of year. As the water gets colder you will start seeing these fish move out deeper, but why? My approach to bass fishing often involves the science behind it, and not just whatever the latest fad on BassMaster is. Water Data For Texas Lake Travis: 44.0% full as of 2023-04-29 Recent Historical Statistics Turnback History, Lake Travis, and Weather - Austin Yacht Club Cleanups help protect marine life and the quality of the water itself. Where can I find information regarding Lake Travis water temperature, swimming and lake conditions? I recommend this style hook as opposed to a lead head in order to prevent snags. There is more deep water current which transports cool water and oxygen. A good ol Texas Rig has been working great lately. Alabama Rig- This bait has a reputation as a cold water bait. Drop shots and shaky head worms have been doing well for me. While the shad pattern is very popular to fish this time of year, imitating crawfish can also produce some nice fish! The well-known vertical speedboat at Lake Mead is now surrounded by water after the lake rose four feet in May, 2023. Spring is right around the corner! Subtle movements with your rod tip, smaller dragging motions to the side, and a slower reeling presentation with moving baits tends to do better when the weather is hot and the water is hot. One morning produced back to back 6 pound bass on a windy point on a weighted fluke. One thing I love about the lake is how different it feels fishing the lower end of the lake close to the dam, versus the upper end out in the Lago Vista/ Spicewood/ Marble Falls area. This is favorable to them and directly relates to the places they live during these colder months. Bass like stability; so going deeper provides them with water that is not prone to change a whole lot. March usually kicks off the good fishing for the year. A good mess of white bass and crappie make for a great fish fry and table fair. These areas typically hold schools of threadfin shad, which is one of the primary food sources for bass. TIMELAPSE: A look at the history of 'Sometimes Island' on Lake Travis This time of year I will focus on points and ledges close to the mouth of coves. Its no secret the tournament was won on surface baits (see video). Lake Travis Test Station | Weather (utexas.edu) Public Boat Ramp Information Water Recreation and Safety TPWD Weekly Fishing Reports Water Quality 1996 - 2023 - Lower Colorado River Authority I also am a big believer in not fishing spots and fishing a pattern instead. Lake Travis's current water temperature is 68F Todays forecast is, Clear With a high around 87F and the low around 50F . Let this info be of help when selecting what colors of crankbaits to throw. Happy New Year and I hope to see you out on the water! Once I find the fish I like to slow down and pick the area apart with a slower moving bait, then go back to the moving baits. I recommend starting off with a small profile shad colored crankbait, a 4 paddle tail swimbait rigged weedless, or a Alabama Rig with small 3-4 paddle tail swimbaits. Now that you know where to start your search lets talk about what bait to throw. Water temps throughout the winter have been cold. A thermocline is essentially a divide down deep in the lake between the cooler dense water and the lighter warm water. Water Temperature Tables - National Weather Service Baits such as medium diving crankbaits, Texas rigged plastics, and drop shots are all good options to target these fish. I believe this next full moon will push up the last wave of spawning fish. The link above is a great video I filmed last year teaching you how to fish a crankbait this way. If the bass you are targeting are not getting fired up with the fast moving bait, slow down. As it gets colder I will continue going further and further into the backs of coves. Lake Travis Camping With bed fishing you may spend 30+ minutes looking for a nest and trying to get the fish to bite. We are catching them on a number of baits such as soft plastics, jigs and crank baits. Change baits often and rotate through your arsenal of lures to draw bites. Alternate between these baits and target points and drains outside of areas bass spawn. They will eat though if something easy to catch goes past their face. On a topographic map these creek channels are generally denoted by a darker color, signifying a deeper depth, relative to the surrounding topography. Ledges, points, bluff walls, and rockpiles in 25-35 feet of water are your best bet. Currently water clarity throughout the lake is a bit stained, the lower end by Mansfield Dam is still quite clear, but not by our usual standards. With these hot temperatures naturally comes warmer water temps, which is one of the number one things to affect fish and how the behave. 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. Deep docks with numerous cross members and a low platform are probably the best. Most of the time I fish this bait on a or 3/8th ounce lead head. Fish it with small twitches of the rod top and dont be too aggressive with the bait. Please note, the tide times given are not suitable for navigational purposes. If you want to fish on a weekend I recommend booking well in advance. As more and more fish move up to the banks in these coves, looking for cover to cast at is key. Summertime fishing can be hit or miss for a lot of anglers, but I promise you, if you put in the time and learn how bass behave and why certain conditions make them behave a certain way, you will be more successful. You want a bait that gets close to the bottom and even digs into the bottom. Occasionally you will come across small schools of suspended bass. As I mentioned earlier though, crawfish are a large part of their diet too. On days with no clouds and no wind you have to really fish a little stealthier and slow down your presentation. With this report you even get the exact GPS coordinates of where I recommend you fish! Make sure you are getting your casts very close to the structure, the closer the more bites you will get! I guarantee that this alone will be worth the price of a guided trip! 3. Pay attention to the water temp where you are fishing as this can help you decide how you should be fishing. Lets discuss both! If you find them jumping, get your cast as close to the fish as possible as quick as you can. Currently water clarity on Lake Travis is around 4-5 feet depending on the part of the lake youre on. Written by Professional Austin fishing guide, tournament angler and owner of Torwicks Guiding Service, Tyler Torwick. Weve definitely noticed that the bite is better near the lower end of the reservoir, meaning closer to the dam. When scouting I recommend utilizing tools like the Navionics web app or Google Earth to find new areas like this. The weather averages for the month of April, temperature averages around 26c and at night it feels like 15c. For these trips the focus of the trip is to teach you to be successful on your own. Next time you are fishing a shallow sloping shoreline on Lake Travis take a look at the rocks. As for the fluke, I like to rig this on an Owner twist lock hook and make long casts with it. During increased periods of activity they will move onto the point or flat. Lake Travis Fishing Report - April 2019 You can cover water quickly, you can trigger reaction baits by choosing a bait that will bump into the rocks on the bottom, and the come in tons of realistic colors. November is my favorite time of the year to fish. If you follow my reports you know Spring is my favorite time of year to fish. Fish Deep! This is important because it brings cool, oxygenated water and food to the bass. There is also a type of grass called chara that grows up shallow, its an annoying stringy grass that doesnt help attract fish but rather fouls up your hooks more than anything. They are not trying to feed, rather they are just trying to get your bait to go away. This is where the female bass will move to in order to spawn with the male bass. Football jigs and finesse jigs with a craw style trailer work very well and tend to draw larger bites. As of this report though, we finally have our first real cold front. Beating the bank gets tougher as many of these shallow fish have moved, and you really have to work for every bite. I have a couple dates still open in May so dont procrastinate! The reason I mention this is because largemouth bass do not like to live below the thermocline. So what does this mean for the bass fishing right now? Were still experiencing schooling in the marinas early and sporadically throughout the day. Fall is a close second to springtime for me as the numbers of fish you catch are excellent, and later in the fall you start to see lots of big fish being caught. Also, I might focus on very main lake bluff type areas. Brush piles, rock piles, docks, staircases, etc. Its about to be a great time to get out and on some nice fish. I am an open book with my clients and will treat the day as if we were practicing for a fishing tournament. Of course, this fluctuates if its a hot sunny day, or if its early in the morning right after a cold night. Updated: 12:52 PM CDT April 21, 2021. Winds are out of the SSE at 8mph, with wind gusts of 17mph. I like this bait since I can cover a lot of water quickly and the strikes tend to be very aggressive. Now with that being said the bite has begun to slow up a bit with the warming water. The fish are still very much in a wintertime pattern, but you can still have some great days on the water! They move out and down the bank pretty fast. Quick, accurate casts into the schools of bass hitting the surface are key to getting bit. One of the challenges of fishing Lake Travis is learning the lake at various lake levels. Lake Travis is still fishing a little tough this month with a few active days in between. With that said, it has been unseasonably warm. If you have ever fished with me you know I love to throw jigs. The majority of Lake Travis bass have now transitioned to post spawn. Look for hard targets like stumps and or boulders, with sand and gravel nearby. Dont waste time fishing dead water and burning fuel running all over the lake! 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. Also, we have been getting into a lot of White Bass. I recommend starting at the mouths of coves and working your way inside. The water temperature on Lake Travis is in the high 50s to low 60s, so pretty warm compared to the rest of the country this time of year! Wind & weather forecast Lago Vista/Lake Travis - Windfinder It is very light, but that little bit of lead helps it cast far. The bass fishing on Lake Travis has been great, and will only continue to get better throughout April! Raising funds for water-related causes is an excellent World Water Day activity. What to throw: I recommend a craw style bait rigged on a Texas rig or a drop shot with a very short tag end between the hook and weight. This is the bottom of the food chain and what species like threadfin shad eat. I can cut your learning curve of fishing Lake Travis in half but dont take my word for it, check my reviews online! I would love to get you out on the water and educate you on how to catch these fish, that way you are successful the next time you are out on the lake by yourself. Nearly all my weekends are booked up, but I have quite a few openings mid week. When this phenomenon is present the cooler water below the thermocline will hold very little dissolved oxygen. As our shakey head worm crept over deep rocks our line would just become heavy and swim off.
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