May Bass Fishing
Month · water 70–80°F
May is post-spawn in Central Texas, when recovered bass feed heavily on the shad spawn along riprap, docks and grass edges. Early-morning topwater and moving baits shine, and the fish begin their move toward summer structure. A high-energy, fun month.
Why: Post-spawn + shad spawn — topwater time.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Lake Travis · Lake Austin · Bass fishing by season
Verified Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 12, 2026
The pattern
Post-spawn recovery feeding on the shad spawn; transition toward offshore.
Where the bass are: Hard-cover edges (riprap, docks, grass) for the shad spawn; first move to points.
What they're doing: Feeding up after the spawn; keying on shad at dawn.
May at a glance
- Type
- Month
- Months
- May
- Water temp
- 70–80°F
- Spawn phase
- Postspawn
How to fish it
Go-to techniques: Walking Topwater, Swimbait Fishing, Spinnerbait, Crankbait Fishing, Chatterbait (Bladed Jig).
Best lures: Walking Topwater (Spook), Swimbait, Spinnerbait, Squarebill Crankbait, Underspin.
Best lakes right now
Lake Travis · Lake Austin · Lake LBJ · Stillhouse Hollow · Canyon Lake
What to expect
A strong, fun bite — especially the early shad-spawn window — as fish fatten back up.
Common mistakes
- Missing the short dawn shad-spawn window
- Staying shallow all day as fish start pulling out
Keep exploring
All seasons & months · Bass fishing calendar · Conditions · Central Texas bass fishing guide
Want to fish May with a guide who knows the pattern? See rates and book or call 512-762-0190.