Lake Austin Fishing Report: Fall Bite in Full Swing

This is Artificial Lure with your boots-on-the-dock Lake Austin fishing report for Friday, November 7, 2025. If you’re thinking of getting a line wet this weekend, you picked a classic central Texas morning—chilly in the upper 50s at sunrise, clear skies, and a little wind kicking up from the north. The forecast shows highs pushing 70 this afternoon, so bundle up if you’re headed out early, but expect to shed layers by lunch. Sunrise hit at 6:49 a.m. and sunset will close in about 5:33 p.m., giving you plenty of daylight to chase that personal best. Lake Austin’s water is running clear to lightly stained from the recent cool snap, and water temps are drifting into the mid-60s. With lake levels steady and no big recent rains, conditions are stable. There’s no tidal chart to consult here since it’s a Highland lake, but keep an eye on water generation schedules from the upstream Mansfield Dam—flushing current always sparks a bit of fish activity, especially for the predator species. The big story right now is the fall transition bite. Largemouth bass are pushing shallow chasing shad and sunfish. According to multiple locals and video reports from Texas kayak anglers, good numbers of 2- to 4-pound bass are falling to shallow crankbaits, Texas-rigged plastics, and bladed jigs along hydrilla edges and docks. Primary and secondary points, especially those three-quarters of the way into creeks, have been loaded during the morning feed. If you’re skipping docks, try a green pumpkin or watermelon soft plastic, like a Brush Hog or Senko, on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz Texas rig—this is money for bass hugging structure this time of year. Striped bass and hybrids have started showing, mostly in the early morning and just before sunset. Austin regulars and YouTube’s ReelCTX are reporting consistent action on three to five-inch paddle tail swimbaits, white or pearl working best in clearer water. Upsize to six inches if bigger stripers are busting bait on the surface. Cast near current seams or the mouths of creeks for the best shot. Don’t overlook a simple white fluke or jerkbait if you’re marking bait balls on your electronics. Crappie are holding on brush piles and deep docks in 15 to 20 feet. Anglers are catching respectable slabs—some up to two pounds—on small minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad jigs in Monkey Milk or chartreuse pearl. You’ll do best dipping right into the brush during midday, when crappie suspend deeper. Bluegill and sunfish remain active for the shore crowd, especially near retaining walls and cypress knees. Small worms and Gulp! Alive maggots under floats are drawing bites, with a few bull bluegills pushing 8 inches. A couple Lake Austin hotspots this week: - **Emma Long Park cove:** Docks and points here are stacked with bait, drawing bass, stripers and the occasional chunky crappie. Hit the rocky transitions early. - **Barryfield Bend (mid-lake):** Classic hydrilla edges, with lots of active fish on the mid-morning shad bite. Good spot for b This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.