Lake Travis Fishing Report - May 2016

4,150 Readers

Water Level: 683.13 (2.03 ft. high)

Water Temp: 72 degrees

Largemouth Bass
While there may be a few stragglers out there, the majority of bass finished spawning with the last full moon in April. As such, anglers are best served targeting post-spawn bass. To target these fish, I like presentations that allow me to cover a lot of water, so that I can quickly find productive areas. If I get a bite in an area I will slow down and work more thoroughly, sometimes making multiple passes.

Bluegill & Shad
Bluegill and shad are both spawning right now and are the primary forage for bass. With the water being so clear, it is easy to identify the areas where bluegill are spawning. I’ve been finding them in the back of almost every creek and drain.

Spawning shad can be a little more difficult to find but will also be along the banks in and around flooded brush and/or docks. Most of the shad spawn occurs at night but does extend into the first couple of hours after sunrise and will start an hour or so before sunset.

Baits & Lures
A multitude of baits will work right now but the top 3 for me have been Pop-R’s, Spooks, Zoom Super Flukes, and Crankbaits. Pick your color based on the forage you are trying to imitate.

Catching Big Fish
Plenty of buck bass with the occasional big female are being caught in the back of drains/creeks. Most of my bigger fish (up to 5 lbs) are being caught on main and secondary lake points on or near ledges that drop-off into deep water. Use your graph to find the ledge. If you don’t have a graph, use a Texas rig or Carolina rig to map the bottom. Fish the conditions.

Weather Tips
If it’s cloudy, the bass will be moving around more and should be more willing to chase a lure. If it’s sunny, they’ll be tucked up tighter into cover and under docks and will require a more precise and slow presentation.

Guided Fishing Trips
For updates or to book a trip, give me a call at 915-217-5263 or email me at raytomasits@yahoo.com

Tight Lines!

Ray Tomasits - Hill Country Bass Coach

www.hcbasscoach.com


Instagram @lake_travis_guide
Hill Country Bass Coach (@lake_travis_guide)
Instagram photos and videos!

Lake Travis Fishing Report - July 2025

Water Level: 673.31 Water Temp: 83.4 degrees For as long as I've lived here, I don't remember ever getting this much rain in our watershed in July. For the first time since 202

Lake Travis Fishing Report - March 2025

Water Level: 637.02 Water Temp: 57 degrees Main lake water temperatures are rising and are now warm enough for bass to successfully spawn. After searching for only an hour on my

Lake Travis Fishing Report - February 2025

Water Level:637.37 Water Temp: 55.5 degreesThe lake is at 637.37’ above sea level or 43.7’ below full pool. The boat ramp at Mansfield Dam Park closes at 637’. Bo

Lake Travis Fishing Report - January 2025

Water Level: 637.42 Water Temp: 58 degrees The lake is 43.5’ low and fishing great.  On my last three trips this month my clients caught 18, 24, and 16 bass includ

Lake Travis Fishing Report - February 2024

Water Level: 631.77 ( 49.33 feet below flood pool ) Water Temp: 58 degrees While Lake Travis water levels are up almost a foot since last month, at just 38% capacity the lake

Lake Travis Fishing Report - August 2023

Water Level: 632.42 (48.68 ft. low) Water Temp: 88.4 degrees Austin Area Fishing ReportAfter one of the hottest Summers, I can remember in Central Texas, the prolonged heat w

Lake Travis Fishing Report - January 2023

Water Level: 639.79 (2.03 ft. high) Water Temp: 59 degrees Unseasonable warm weather has kept water temperatures higher than they normally are this time of year and the fish s

Lake Travis Fishing Report - December 2021

Water Level: 662.18 Water Temp: 65 degreesRecord high temperatures this month have kept the bass much more active and shallower than they normally are this time of year.&n

Lake Travis Fishing Report - June 2021

Water Level:665.79 Water Temp: 76 degrees The water level on Lake Travis is steadily rising from the widespread rain we had last week.  This much needed rain has “recharg

Lake Travis Fishing Report - December 2020

Water Level: 659.54 ft Water Temp: 63.5 degreesSteadily dropping water temperatures have sent most bass into their Wintering holes.  This time of year most of my time is bein

Lake Travis Fishing Report - July 2020

Water Level: 667.29 Water Temp: 85.0 degrees Despite record heat and higher than normal boat traffic and angling pressure, Lake Travis is still fishing really good.  Early li

Lake Travis Fishing Report - March 2020

Water Level: 672.49 Water Temp: 65.0 degrees Bass are in the middle of their annual spawning ritual all over the lake right now.  Targeting spawning flats in the bac

Lake Travis Fishing Report - January 2019

Todd Tebbe and his sons (from left) Erik, Will, and Wyatt with a good limit Every now and then Lake Travis surprises me with a big catfish! Water Level: 670.33 Water Temp

Lake Travis Fishing Report - December 2019

Michael Leal with a nice 3 1/2 Lake Travis bass caught during the Turnover Fozzy Whittaker with a few of the over 40 bass caught that day! Water Level: 670.27 Water

Lake Travis Fishing Report - September 2019

Water Level: 673.80 Water Temp: 84.0 degrees When the days start to get noticeably longer and water temperatures start to drop, I always start my guide trips searching shallow for bas

Lake Travis Fishing Report - July 2019

Water Level: 681.11 Water Temp: 82.0 degrees The bass on Lake Travis have moved out to their summer haunts and have settled into their summer feeding patterns.  I’ve be

Lake Travis Fishing Report - April 2019

Water Level: 680.84 Water Temp: 63.0 degrees The multiple, seemingly continuous waves of cold fronts that have come through our area in March, and as late as April 1st, have kep

Lake Travis Fishing Report - December 2018

4lb Lake Travis largemouth! Water Level: 681.68 Water Temp: 59.0 degrees Recent cold fronts have cooled surface temps below 60 degrees and have pushed a lot of bass shallow where

Lake Travis Fishing Report - September 2018

4lb Lake Travis largemouth caught last week! Water Level: 655.71 Water Temp: 83.5 degrees Recent rains in the watershed have raised the lake level over a foot and has cooled the

Lake Travis Fishing Report - June 2018

Water Level: 661.80 Water Temp: 81 degrees Near record heat in May and extended drought conditions across much of Central Texas has pushed surface temps to 81 degrees and has wa

Lake Travis Fishing Report - May 2018

Water Level: 666.55 Water Temp: 72 degrees The spawn is all but done and bass have started their migration out towards their summer holes.  Right now, you can catch bass both

Lake Travis Fishing Report - March 2018

John Thomson with a 6 lb 11 oz Lake Travis Largemouth! Water Level: 668.62 Water Temp: 66 degrees The spawn is ON!  Bass have been on beds for a month and a half now.  I

Lake Travis Fishing Report - February 2018

A chunky bass caught on a jig by Allen Codding Water Level: 668.7 Water Temp: 54.5 degrees Regardless of the frequent cold fronts in January and February, bass fishing still rema

Lake Travis Fishing Report - January 2018

Dave Kemper set his personal best record with this chunky 6lb 4 oz Lake Travis largemouth Water Level: 669.34 Water Temp: 58 degrees Recent cold fronts have cooled surface temper

Lake Travis Fishing Report - November 2017

Dave Kemper set his personal best record with this chunky 6lb 4 oz Lake Travis largemouth Water Level: 670.45 Water Temp: 71 degrees Bass are in their typical fall pattern right

Lake Travis Fishing Report - September 2017

John and Matt Thurston with a few of the more than 20 Lake Travis schoolies caught on july 30th Water Level: 671.49 Water Temp: 81 degrees The fall transition has begun.  Surf

Lake Travis Fishing Report - July 2017

John and Matt Thurston with a few of the more than 20 Lake Travis "schoolies" caught on July 30th Water Level: 673.54 Water Temp: 89 degrees On July 30th, we hit our 11th straight

Lake Travis Fishing Report - May 2017

Water Level: 679.70 Water Temp: 73 degrees The spawn takes a toll on a bass. The process of laying/fertilizing eggs and then constantly protecting the bed from nest raiders burns a

Lake Travis Fishing Report - April 2017

Water Level: 681.06 Water Temp: 72 degrees Bass are in all phases right now. Some bass are done spawning, some are on beds, and some are just moving up. As such, you can really

Lake Travis Fishing Report - February 2016

Water Level: 682.07 Water Temp: 63.5 degrees Water temperatures across the lake are now consistently above the 60 degree mark and the bass have moved shallow to spawn. There has be

Lake Travis Fishing Report - February 2016

Water Level: 682.94 Water Temp: 61 degrees Recent warm weather has warmed the upper echelon of the water column above 60 degrees and has pushed some bass shallow. There is still a good deep pat

Lake Travis Fishing Report - December 2016

Water Level: 681.61Water Temp: 61 degreesDue to the lack of cold weather late this year, water temps have stayed well into the 60’s allowing typical fall fishing patterns to hold for mo

Lake Travis Fishing Report - November 2016

Water Level: 681.41Water Temp: 74 degreesFalling water temperatures means fast fall action.  Bass have moved to the banks and are feeding aggressively.  Shad is the primary fora

Lake Travis Fishing Report - October 2016

Water Level: 680.34Water Temp: 79 degreesThis week’s cold front dropped surface temperatures to 79 degrees and significantly improved the bass fishing.  On October 22nd, I had the

Lake Travis Fishing Report - September 2016

Water Level: 680.78Water Temp: 84 degreesRecent storms and cold fronts have cooled the surface water temperature to 84 degrees and have heated up the fishing!  Bass can be found shal

Lake Travis Fishing Report - August 2016

Water Level: 679.88 Water Temp: 87 degrees The heat of summer has set in and, typical for this time of year, has affected the fishing.  With surface water temperatures rangin

Lake Travis Fishing Report - July 2016

Water Level: 681.02 Water Temp: 84 degrees The lake has finally been brought back to full pool and is holding steady.  With steady water levels the bass have settled into th

Lake Travis Fishing Report - June 2016

Water Level: 686.45 (5.35 ft. high) Water Temp: 84 degrees With the lake at or above full pool for over 3 months, it has been a great fishing year on Lake Travis.  Recent guid

Lake Travis Fishing Report - May 2016

Water Level: 683.13 (2.03 ft. high) Water Temp: 72 degrees Largemouth Bass While there may be a few stragglers out there, the majority of bass finished spawning with the last full mo