Central Texas Bass Fishing Calendar
Central Texas bass fish year-round. Spring (roughly February through May) is prime for numbers and big pre-spawn fish; summer is early mornings, deep water and night trips; fall follows the shad; and winter is trophy time on lakes like Buchanan and O.H. Ivie.
After 26 years on these lakes, I plan every trip around what the water's doing that week - the fish tell you when to speed up, slow down, go shallow or slide deep. Here's how the year lays out across Central Texas, month by month, with the lakes that fish best in each. (Each month links here for now; I'll build out full monthly guides as I add more firsthand detail.)
January Winter
Cold-water trophy time — slow down. Buchanan and O.H. Ivie shine, and the power-plant lakes (Bastrop, Fayette) stay warm.
In season: Lake Travis · Lake Buchanan · Lake Falcon · Lake O.H. Ivie
February Winter
Cold-water trophy time — slow down. Buchanan and O.H. Ivie shine, and the power-plant lakes (Bastrop, Fayette) stay warm.
In season: Lake Travis · Lake Buchanan · Lake Falcon · Lake O.H. Ivie
March Spring
Prime time. Bass move up to spawn across the region — the best window for both numbers and the biggest fish of the year.
In season: Lake Travis · Lake Austin · Lake Buchanan · Lake LBJ · Inks Lake · Lake Marble Falls
April Spring
Prime time. Bass move up to spawn across the region — the best window for both numbers and the biggest fish of the year.
In season: Lake Travis · Lake Austin · Lake LBJ · Inks Lake · Lake Marble Falls · Stillhouse Hollow
May Spring
Prime time. Bass move up to spawn across the region — the best window for both numbers and the biggest fish of the year.
In season: Lake Travis · Lake Austin · Lake LBJ · Inks Lake · Lake Marble Falls · Stillhouse Hollow
June Summer
Early mornings and deep, or fish at night. Schooling turns on at Bastrop, Stillhouse and Fayette; Travis fishes deep and clear.
In season: Lake Travis · Inks Lake · Stillhouse Hollow
July Summer
Early mornings and deep, or fish at night. Schooling turns on at Bastrop, Stillhouse and Fayette; Travis fishes deep and clear.
In season: Lake Travis · Stillhouse Hollow
August Summer
Early mornings and deep, or fish at night. Schooling turns on at Bastrop, Stillhouse and Fayette; Travis fishes deep and clear.
In season: Lake Travis
September Fall
Follow the shad. Run-and-gun reaction fishing as bass feed up in the creeks and coves.
In season: Lake Travis
October Fall
Follow the shad. Run-and-gun reaction fishing as bass feed up in the creeks and coves.
In season: Lake Travis
November Fall
Follow the shad. Run-and-gun reaction fishing as bass feed up in the creeks and coves.
In season: Lake Travis
December Winter
Cold-water trophy time — slow down. Buchanan and O.H. Ivie shine, and the power-plant lakes (Bastrop, Fayette) stay warm.
In season: Lake Travis · Lake Buchanan · Lake Falcon · Lake O.H. Ivie
From Bryan's logbook
Travis long had a reputation for numbers over size, but starting in 2011 it's been the best for quality I've ever seen here - plenty of 4-5 pound fish, and some even bigger, on a lake that usually produces 1-3 pound bass.
When Travis is rising and flooding fresh bushes, the shallow bite around that new cover can be outstanding. When it's low and clear, we lean on deeper structure and electronics - either way there's a pattern that works.
The deep, clear water keeps Travis fishing through the heat better than most lakes - as the sun climbs, the bigger fish just slide out to deeper structure.
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.
The number one thing I look for on Buchanan is rock - the largemouth love it, partly because it lets them tuck away from the striper, and the best rock holds the best fish. In cold water, when you think you're fishing slow enough, slow down more; that's how the giants come.
Best time to fish Central Texas - FAQs
When is the best time to bass fish in Central Texas?
Spring (roughly February through May) is the best all-around window for both numbers and the biggest fish of the year. But there's a good bite every month here - summer mornings and nights, fall's shad-chasing run, and winter trophy trips on lakes like Buchanan and O.H. Ivie.
When is the best time to bass fish Lake Travis?
Spring (roughly March through May) is the best window for both numbers and size, but Travis fishes well year-round. Summer mornings are excellent for numbers because of the deep, clear water, and late winter can surprise you with a big pre-spawn fish.
When is the best time to bass fish Lake Buchanan?
Buchanan is one of the best lakes in Central Texas in winter, which is my favorite time to fish it for a big bite. It fishes well much of the year, but the cold-water months are when this lake really shines for quality bass.
When is the best time to bass fish Lake LBJ?
LBJ is a constant-level lake and the bite is usually good year-round, which is a big part of why I like it. Spring is excellent as bass spawn around the docks, but you can catch them here in every season.
When is the best time to bass fish Inks Lake?
Springtime around the spawn and early summer are best, when the topwater and frog bite really turn on. I've fished this lake for over 50 years and seen a lot of big fish come out of it.
When is the best time to bass fish Stillhouse Hollow?
Spring and summer are excellent - anyone can catch plenty of bass around the right grass, and the fish school up well at times for a great topwater and moving-bait bite. It's been one of the most productive lakes in the area over the last 26 years.
Pick your month, and I'll put you on the lake and pattern that's producing right now.