"Lake Austin Fishing Report: Topwater Bites, Crappie Slabs, and Wary Bass"

Lake Austin woke this morning to a light pre-dawn breeze and a subtle drop in temps, holding steady in the low 70s after a patchwork week of muggy nights and just enough clouds to take the bite out of midday sun. According to the National Weather Service, today’s highs will nudge up near 81 degrees, humidity hanging around 90% at sunrise, and skies partly cloudy—making for picture-perfect fishing in Central Texas.

Sunrise hit at 7:36 AM, with sunset lined up for 6:57 PM. With a waxing gibbous moon above, fish activity is clocked to peak between 8 and 11 AM, then again at dusk—prime time for both topwater and deeper setups.

Over the past several days, Captain Experiences’ guides have reported a banner week on Lake Austin. Several trips saw boats catch five to seven species per outing—solid numbers for autumn. The bass bite, especially largemouth, has been consistent, with most catches taken from rocky ledges, dock shade, and submerged brush. Recent catches ranged from 1-4 pounds, with one “big one” that snapped an 80 lb test line just before breakfast two days ago.

Soft plastic worms, especially green pumpkin and watermelon red, are the talk of the docks. Wacky rigs and shakey-head setups right off the grass lines are still hot. Slow-rolled swim baits and perch-patterned crankbaits picked up spotted bass and a handful of chunky bluegill. Guides also mentioned success for crappie on small jigs near sunken timber and under bridges—try chartreuse or white when the water’s a little stained.

As for catfish—they’re fair, if you’re patient. Try cut shad or punch bait along channel bends after noon. You’ll also want to bring a few live baits if you’re hoping for stripers or the occasional hybrid, which have been a bit more active after last weekend’s mild cold front. For big bluegill, crickets and nightcrawlers on slip bobbers did well for a few family parties earlier this week.

This morning’s slight northeast wind will put baitfish on the move—especially around the Bull Creek Inlet and the mouth of Bee Creek. These are two of my go-to spots for the fall transition, as shad congregate and predatory fish push shallow just after first light and right before sunset. The Arboretum stretch has also given up a few nice catches for anglers working parallel casts among dock pilings.

Top local tip: with water levels sitting over 4 feet below pool and visibility ranging 3-4 feet, stealth counts—downsize your leader and wear muted colors on deck. Boat traffic picks up mid-morning, so work coves and creek mouths early.

Minnows and smaller soft plastics represent the best one-two punch for numbers and variety. But if you’re after that Lake Austin kicker, don’t overlook a big swim jig or a slow-dragged Carolina rig just outside the hydrilla edges. The fall transition has bass roaming, so cover water and don’t be afraid to switch up colors as light changes.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Austin fishing report. Be sure to subscribe for more tips and on-the-water updates.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Lake Austin woke this morning to a light pre dawned
breeze and a subtle drop in tempts holding steady in
the low seventies after a patchwork week of muggy nights
and just enough clouds to take the bite out of
midday sun. According to the National Weather Service, today's highs
will nudge up near eighty one degrees, humidity hanging around
ninety percent at sunrise, and sky's partly cloudy, making for

(00:23):
picture perfect fishing in Central Texas. Sunrise hit at seven
thirty six am, with sunset lined up for six fifty
seven pm with a waxing gibbish moon above. Fish activity
is clocked to peak between eight and eleven am, then
again at dusk, prime time for both topwater and deeper setups.

(00:44):
Over the past several days, Captain Experience's guides have reported
a banner week on Lake Austin. Several trips saw boats
catch five to seven species perrorouting solid numbers for autumn.
The bass bite, especially largemouth, has been consistent with d
Most catches taken from rocky ledges, dock shade, and submerged brush.

(01:05):
Recent catches ranged from one to four pounds, with one
big one that snapped an eighty pound test line just
before breakfast two days ago. Soft plastic words, especially green
pumptin and watermelon red, are the talk of the docks.
Lackey rigs and shaky head setups right off the grass
lines are still hot. Slow rolled swim baits and perch

(01:27):
pattered crank baits picked up spotted bass and a handful
of chunky bluegill. Guides also mentioned success for crappy on
small jigs near sunken timber and under bridges. Try chartreuse
or white when the water's a little stained. As for
catfish or fair if you're patient, try cut shad or
punch bait along channel bends after noon. You'll also want

(01:48):
to bring a few live baits if you're hoping for
stripers or the occasional hybrid, which have been a bit
more active after last weekend's mild cold front for big bluegill.
Crickets and nightcrawlers on slip bobbers did well for a
few family parties earlier this week. This morning, slight northeast
wind will put bait fish on a move, especially around
the Bowl Creek inlet and the mouth of b Creek.

(02:11):
These are two of my go to spots for the
fall transition, as shad, congregate and predatory fish push shallow
just after first light and right before sunset. The Arboretum
stretch has also given up a few nice catches for
anglers working parallel casts among dock pilings. Top local tip
with water levels sitting over four feet below pool and

(02:33):
visibility ranging three to four feet stealth counts. Downsize your
leader and wear muta colors on deck. Boat traffic picks
up mid morning, so work coves and creek mouths. Early
minnows and smaller soft plastics represent the best one to
two punch for numbers in variety. But if you're after
that Lake Austin kicker, don't overlook a big swim jig

(02:54):
or a slow dragged Carolina rig just outside the hydrilla edges.
The fall transition has bass, so cover water and don't
be afraid to switch up colors as light changes. Thanks
for tuning in to today's Light Austin Fishing Report. Be
sure to subscribe for more tips and on the water updates.
This has been a quiet please production. For more check

(03:14):
out Quiet Please dot ai