Lake Travis

Photos

Overview

Lake Travis is an 18,622-acre highland reservoir on the Colorado River northwest of Austin in Travis and Burnet counties, controlled by LCRA.

Fishing

TPWD notes good numbers of largemouth bass that tend to run small. White bass run up the major creek arms, the Pedernales River and the upper Colorado River arm from February to May. A low-density striped bass fishery exists in the extreme lower end. Blue catfish dominate the catfish population, with channel and flathead also present.

Species

Largemouth and Guadalupe bass, white bass, striped bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish.

Techniques

Bass suspend over points and drop-offs: use topwaters (Zara Spooks, Pop-R's), suspending jerkbaits and double willowleaf spinnerbaits. Fish small spinners, jigs and crankbaits for white bass; topwaters for schooling stripers in April-May; downrigging bucktail jigs over humps in summer; stinkbait or cutbait for blues and channels, live bait for flatheads.

Seasons

Bass are best in spring and fall and tough June-August. White bass run from late February into May. Night fishing for white and striped bass around lighted docks in the lower lake is popular in winter.

Hotspots

Lower lake from the dam to the mouth of Sandy Creek for stripers; marinas, floating docks, rockpiles, ledges and drop-offs; flooded vegetation when the lake is high; the Pedernales River for white bass.

Regulations

Statewide regulations apply. Bowfishers are subject to special LCRA regulations. Check current TPWD bag and length limits before you fish (https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/travis/).

Licensing

Texas requires a fishing license with a freshwater endorsement to fish public fresh water. Residents and non-residents under 17 are exempt (TPWD Outdoor Annual: tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/).

Water facts

18,622 acres; max depth 190 ft; impounded 1942; conservation pool 681 ft msl but usually below it; fluctuates 10-20 ft; free maps on the LCRA website and lighted mile-marker buoys.

Safety & advisories

TPWD boater advisory: zebra mussels have invaded this reservoir. Clean, drain and dry boats, trailers, livewells and bait buckets before moving to another water; draining is required by law and possessing or transporting zebra mussels is illegal.

Nearby waters

• Pedernales River · 1.2 km (TX)
• Lake Austin · 26.4 km (TX)
• Lake Lyndon B Johnson · 31.4 km (TX)
• Lady Bird Lake · 38.3 km (TX)
• Lake Georgetown · 39.7 km (TX)
• Inks Lake · 44.5 km (TX)

More in Travis

• Onion Creek (TX)
• Lady Bird Lake (TX)
• Lake Austin (TX)
• Pedernales River (TX)
• Walter E. Long Lake (TX)