Best Times to Fish in Austin (Seasonal Guide)

The best times for fishing near Austin are typically early morning and late afternoon, especially during the spring and fall seasons when water temperatures are ideal for fish activity. These periods offer optimal conditions for a variety of fish species, with spring and fall being particularly favorable due to moderate weather and active fish feeding patterns.

Month	Austin Fishing Location
January	Lake Travis – Mansfield Dam Park – Targeted Fish: Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass – This location offers good fishing opportunities for bass during the winter months.
February	Colorado River – Below Longhorn Dam – Targeted Fish: Catfish – The waters below Longhorn Dam provide excellent catfish angling during February.
March	Lady Bird Lake – Auditorium Shores – Targeted Fish: Carp, Catfish – In April, Anglers can find good fishing for carp and catfish at Auditorium Shores.
April	Lake Travis – Mansfield Dam Park – Targeted Fish: Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass – This location offers good fishing opportunities for bass during winter.
May	Lake Travis – Starnes Island – Targeted Fish: White Bass – May is prime time for white bass fishing at Starnes Island on Lake Travis.
June	Pedernales River – Pedernales Falls State Park – Targeted Fish: Guadalupe Bass, Sunfish – Pedernales Falls State Park offers great opportunities for catching Guadalupe bass and sunfish during June.
July	Lake LBJ – Horseshoe Bay – Targeted Fish: Striped Bass – July is an excellent month to target striped bass at Horseshoe Bay on Lake LBJ.
August	San Gabriel River – Blue Hole Park – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass – Anglers can enjoy good smallmouth bass fishing at Blue Hole Park on the San Gabriel River in August.
September	Lake Travis – Jones Brothers Park – Targeted Fish: Catfish – September offers excellent catfish angling at Jones Brothers Park on Lake Travis.
October	Colorado River – Bastrop State Park – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish – Bass and catfish fishing can be productive at Bastrop State Park on the Colorado River during October.
November	Lake Austin – City Park – Targeted Fish: Crappie – November is a great time to fish for crappie at City Park on Lake Austin.
December	Lady Bird Lake – Festival Beach – Targeted Fish: Rainbow Trout – Festival Beach on Lady Bird Lake provides good opportunities for catching rainbow trout in December.

This article will discuss the best times and seasons to fish in Austin. We will also talk about where some of the best fishing in the state is on a month-by-month basis. Click here to find out the ideal times for angling in Texas.

Best Times: Creeks/Rivers to Fly Fish near Austin

Colorado River (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

San Gabriel River (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Pedernales River (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Blanco River (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Llano River (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Guadalupe River (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Trout.

San Marcos River (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Brushy Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Onion Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Bull Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Barton Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Walnut Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Bear Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Cottonmouth Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Turkey Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Shoal Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Slaughter Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Cypress Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Bull Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Brushy Creek (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Check out this helpful guide to a best times for Port Isabel fishing. You may also be interested in this article on the fishing in Houston in the best times.

Best Times: Lakes to Fish near Austin

Lady Bird Lake (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Lake Travis (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Austin (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Bastrop (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Georgetown (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Fayette County (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake LBJ (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Granger Lake (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Marble Falls (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Inks Lake (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Buchanan (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Striped Bass.

Lake Lyndon B. Johnson (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Walter E. Long (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish.

Lake Travis – Mansfield Dam Park (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Austin – Commons Ford Ranch (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Bastrop – North Shore Park (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Georgetown – Cedar Breaks Park (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Fayette County – Oak Thicket Park (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Granger Lake – Taylor Park (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Lake Marble Falls – Johnson Park (March to May, September to November) – Targeted Fish: Bass, Catfish, Crappie.

Recommended Fishing Guides near Austin

These Austin-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Location
Central Texas Fishing Guide	Austin, TX
Redemptional Fishing & Outdoors	Austin, TX
ATX Bass Guide	Austin, TX
Bassquatch Fishing	Austin, TX
Hill Country Bass Coach	Leander, TX
Austin Native Fishing Guide	Austin, TX
James Roberts Fishing	Austin, TX

Species Seasonal Breakdown

Striped Bass

Striped bass fishing near Austin is best during the spring and fall seasons when the water temperatures are cooler. The best months to fish for striped bass are March to May and September to November. Early morning and late evening hours are the most productive times. Some of the best locations near Austin for striped bass fishing include Lake Buchanan, Lake Travis, Lady Bird Lake, and Granger Lake.

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass fishing near Austin is best during the spring and fall seasons when the water temperatures are moderate. The best months to fish for largemouth bass are March to May and September to November. Early morning and late afternoon hours are the most productive times. Some of the best locations near Austin for largemouth bass fishing include Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Fayette County Reservoir.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass fishing near Austin is best during the spring and fall seasons when the water temperatures are cooler. The best months to fish for smallmouth bass are March to May and September to November. Early morning and late afternoon hours are the most productive times. Some of the best locations near Austin for smallmouth bass fishing include Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Pedernales River.

White Bass

White bass fishing near Austin is best during spring when they migrate for spawning. The best months to fish for white bass are February to April. Early morning and late afternoon hours are the most productive times. The best locations near Austin for white bass fishing include Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and the Colorado River.

Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid striped bass fishing near Austin is best during the spring and fall seasons when the water temperatures are cooler. The best months to fish for hybrid striped bass are March to May and September to November. Early morning and late afternoon hours are the most productive times. Some of the best locations near Austin for hybrid striped bass fishing include Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Granger Lake.

Spotted Bass

Spotted bass fishing near Austin is good year-round, but the best times are during the spring and fall seasons. The best months to fish for spotted bass are March to May and September to November. Early morning and late afternoon hours are the most productive times. Some of the best locations near Austin for spotted bass fishing include Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and the Colorado River.

Gar

Gar fishing near Austin is best during the spring and summer seasons when the water temperatures are warmer. The best months to fish for gar are April to August. Early morning and late evening hours are the most productive times. Some of the best locations near Austin for gar fishing include Lady Bird Lake, Colorado River, Lake Austin, and Bastrop Lake.

Catfish

Catfish fishing near Austin is good year-round, but the best times are during the warmer months of spring and summer. The best months to fish for catfish are April to September. Nighttime and early morning hours are the most productive times. Some of the best locations near Austin for catfish fishing include Lady Bird Lake, Colorado River, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin.

Crappie

Crappie fishing near Austin is best during the spring and fall seasons when the water temperatures are moderate. The best months to fish for crappie are March to May and September to November. Early morning and late afternoon hours are the most productive times. Some of the best locations near Austin for crappie fishing include Lady Bird Lake, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Lake Bastrop.

Best Fishing near Austin on a Seasonal Basis

Winter

Lake Buchanan – Striped Bass: Head to Lake Buchanan during winter to catch striped bass.
Choke Canyon Reservoir – Crappie: Winter is a great time to target crappie in Choke Canyon Reservoir.
Port Aransas – Speckled Trout: Visit Port Aransas in the winter to reel in speckled trout.
Lake Fork – Largemouth Bass: Winter is an ideal season for targeting trophy-sized largemouth bass in Lake Fork.

Spring

Brazos River – Catfish: Head to the Brazos River in the spring to catch catfish.
Lake Travis – White Bass: Spring is an excellent time to target white bass in Lake Travis.
Trinity River – Largemouth Bass: Visit the Trinity River in the spring for a chance to catch largemouth bass.
Galveston Bay – Redfish: Spring is a great season to fish for redfish in Galveston Bay.

Summer

Gulf of Mexico – Red Snapper: Head to the Gulf of Mexico during summer to catch red snapper.
Lake Fork – Largemouth Bass: Lake Fork is known for its excellent largemouth bass fishing in the summer.
Padre Island National Seashore – Speckled Trout: Visit Padre Island National Seashore in the summer to reel in speckled trout, a prized game fish in the area.
Lake Texoma – Striped Bass: Summer is a great time to fish for striped bass in Lake Texoma.

Fall

Colorado River – Largemouth Bass: During the fall months, you can catch largemouth bass in the Colorado River.
Lake Conroe – Catfish: Fall is a great time to target catfish in Lake Conroe.
Galveston Bay – Speckled Trout: In the fall, head to Galveston Bay to catch speckled trout.
Lake Buchanan – Striped Bass: Fall is an ideal season for targeting striped bass in Lake Buchanan.