Lake Austin Bass Fishing Guide
Lake Austin (fishing great right now)
Lake Austin is a grass-filled trophy lake near downtown Austin - hydrilla and other vegetation grow some of the biggest largemouth in Central Texas, with a lake record over 16 pounds. Spring is prime for a giant; summers are busy, so Bryan runs early half-days and quiet night trips.
Why: Find the grass, you'll find the bass.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Grass / Hydrilla Fishing technique · Fluke / Soft Jerkbait guide · What to throw on Lake Austin
Verified Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 11, 2026
Lake Austin is a hidden gem and, in my book, one of the best lakes in the Austin area for a true giant. Some of the largest bass anywhere around here have come out of Austin - the lake record is north of 16 pounds - so if you're chasing a lifetime fish, this is a great place to do it. It's full of grass, which is exactly why the big ones live here: find the grass, you'll find the bass.
Lake Austin at a glance
- Lake type
- River Run
- Impounds
- Colorado River
- Managed by
- LCRA
- Impounded
- 1939
- Surface area
- 1,599 acres
- Max depth
- 75 ft
- Water level
- Constant
- Lake record (LM)
- 16.03 lbs — Junior record 12.70 lbs; lake Guadalupe bass record 3.06 lbs
- Primary forage
- Threadfin Shad, Bluegill
- Best for
- Trophy, Grass, Night Fishing, Experienced
Where we meet: Quinlan Park boat ramp — 1601 Quinlan Park Road South, Austin, TX 78732
Today: Fri Aug 07, 2026
Sunrise: 6:53 am · Safe light: 30 minutes before sunrise
Lake info: TPWD lake page
What you'll catch on Lake Austin
This is a trophy largemouth lake - some of the biggest bass in Central Texas live here, and the grass gives them everything they need to grow heavy. In spring we also run into nice white bass and catfish, and there are Guadalupe bass in here too. I release the bass; white bass make fine table fare if you'd like to keep a few.
Seasonal patterns on Lake Austin
Spring
Big-fish prime time - the best window for a giant. Bass move up around the grass to spawn, and it's also when we pick up nice white bass and catfish. If a wall-hanger is the goal, plan around spring.
Summer
There's a lot of recreational traffic in the hot months, so plan an early half-day - or one of my night trips, when it's quiet, cool and the big bass are on the prowl.
Fall
As it cools and the crowds thin, bass feed hard around the grass edges. A comfortable, productive time to be out.
Winter
Fewer fish but better average size. Slower presentations around the deeper grass and structure can produce the bass of the trip.
What works on Lake Austin, season by season
The baits Bryan leans on through the year on Lake Austin, dialed in from guiding it season after season.
| Season | What produces |
|---|---|
| Spring | Grass / Hydrilla, Brush Pile, Crankbait, Squarebill Crankbait, Spinnerbait |
| Summer | Crankbait, Night, Football Jig, Squarebill Crankbait, Ribbon-Tail Worm |
| Fall | Flipping & Pitching, Frog, Dock / Skipping, Ribbon-Tail Worm, Creature Bait |
| Winter | Grass / Hydrilla, Flipping & Pitching, Punching Heavy Cover, Fluke / Soft Jerkbait, Creature Bait |
How we fish it
On Lake Austin it almost always comes back to the grass - mostly hydrilla, with coontail, milfoil and eelgrass mixed in. We target that cover with the baits that pull big fish out of it, and time trips around the heavy summer traffic with early starts or night outings.
From Bryan's logbook
Based on Bryan Cotter's on-the-water observations.
On Lake Austin it almost always comes back to the grass. Find the grass, you'll find the bass - that cover is what grows and holds the big fish.
In the summer the recreational traffic is heavy, so I run night trips - quiet, cool, and the big bass are on the prowl away from the daytime crowds.
Some of the largest bass anywhere around here have come out of Lake Austin - the lake record is north of 16 pounds. If you're chasing a lifetime fish, this is a great place to do it.
Lake Austin fishing FAQs
Is Lake Austin good for trophy bass?
It's one of the best trophy lakes in the area - some of the largest bass around have come out of Lake Austin, including the lake record over 16 pounds. If you're after a lifetime-record fish, there's a good chance this is where you catch it.
When is the best time to bass fish Lake Austin?
Spring is excellent for big bass and we also catch nice white bass and catfish then. In the hot months there's heavy boat traffic, so I recommend an early half-day or one of my summer night trips.
Do you offer night fishing on Lake Austin?
Yes. In the summer months I run night trips so you can have a quiet, relaxing time going after the big bass away from the daytime recreational traffic.
Why is Lake Austin so good for bass?
It's full of grass - mostly hydrilla, plus coontail, milfoil and eelgrass. As the old saying goes, find the grass and you'll find the bass. That cover is what grows and holds the big fish.
Is Lake Austin good for beginners or kids?
It can be, but honestly Lake Travis is the one I steer families and young first-timers to - easier water and a higher catch rate. Lake Austin is more about hunting a few big bites in heavy grass, which is a blast for anglers with a little experience. If you've got a mixed group with small kids, tell me and I'll help you pick the right water.
What are the best lures for Lake Austin?
Because it's all about the grass, I lean on baits that work in and around hydrilla - flipping and punching soft plastics, weightless flukes and worms, frogs over the mats, and a swim jig or spinnerbait along the edges. I've got a full breakdown in my Lake Austin baits article.
Where do we meet to launch on Lake Austin?
We meet at 1601 Quinlan Park Road South, Austin. All tackle is provided - just bring a Texas fishing license (17+), sunglasses, a hat, and food and drinks.
How deep is Lake Austin?
Lake Austin has a maximum depth of about 75 feet near the dam, though most of it is far shallower. For bass that depth is really just a map - I spend most of my time working structure in the upper 5 to 25 feet, and shallower still in spring and fall when the fish move up.
How big is Lake Austin?
Lake Austin covers roughly 1,599 acres at full pool, impounding the Colorado River. Knowing which water actually holds fish is most of the battle - that's where a guide saves you time.
Best for
Anglers hunting a trophy or lifetime-record bass, fishing the grass, and anyone who'd enjoy a quiet summer night trip away from the daytime crowds.
Explore the knowledge base
Related lakes
Other lakes in the Highland Lakes that fish similarly.
Lake Travis · Lake Buchanan · Lake LBJ · Inks Lake · Lake Marble Falls
What you can catch here
The bass and gamefish Lake Austin holds.
Anglers drive in from
Central Texas towns within an easy drive of Lake Austin.
Austin (10 min) · Cedar Park (25 min) · Pflugerville (30 min) · Lakeway (25 min) · Bee Cave (20 min) · Dripping Springs (30 min)
How I fish it
The techniques that produce on Lake Austin.
Grass / Hydrilla Fishing, Flipping & Pitching, Punching Heavy Cover, Frog Fishing, Spinnerbait — best lures for Lake Austin
Lures that produce here
The baits I lean on at Lake Austin.
Fluke / Soft Jerkbait · Creature Bait · Hollow-Body Frog · Swim Jig · Spinnerbait
Part of Central Texas bass fishing
Lake Austin is one of 16 lakes I guide across the region.