The best lures to use on Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, Texas
Lady Bird Lake - or, as the locals still call it, Town Lake - is a great place to catch some nice bass on calm water right in the center of Austin, since gas engines aren't allowed here. It's the best jig lake around, and I've won plenty of bass club tournaments here and know where the big ones live. These are the lures I throw for a downtown trophy. Here's my rundown of the best bass fishing lakes near Austin for the bigger picture.
A nice largemouth from Lady Bird Lake, right in downtown Austin.
A jig - this is the one
If you like throwing a jig, this is your lake - it's the best jig lake around. A jig fished slow around the cover and where the better fish hold is the number-one way to catch a quality Lady Bird largemouth. When in doubt here, throw the jig.
Lady Bird is the best jig lake around - when in doubt, throw the jig.
Big swimbaits for a lunker
Lady Bird is a genuine big-fish lake - the lake record is over 14 pounds - and big baits catch big fish. A swimbait worked where the giants live is one of the best ways to tempt a true downtown lunker into biting.
Alabama rigs and other lunker baits
An Alabama rig is another great big-bait option here, imitating a small school of baitfish that the bigger bass can't resist. Between the jig, swimbaits and A-rigs, this lake is set up for anglers who want to swing for a trophy rather than just numbers.
Slow down - it's a jig lake at heart
The winter months are a classic time to slow way down with a jig and pull a true giant off the cover. A slow, deliberate presentation is how this lake gives up its best fish, so take your time and fish where the big ones live.
One note: it's a 14-24 inch slot limit, and I practice catch and release here regardless - the water runs through downtown, so we just snap a quick pic and let them go. Let me know if this helps, and if you'd like a unique trip with the skyline as your backdrop, book a trip and we'll go.