Lake Travis Fishing Report - December 2018

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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 they are feeding up heavily in preparation for winter. Our October rain event caused the lake to rise over 42 feet in 3 days before flood gate operations were able to bring the lake down to full pool. As a result of the flooding, water clarity is stained throughout most of the lake but is finally beginning to clear up, albeit slowly.

After many summer months of targeting fish in 30 – 60 feet of water, this is the time of year where I enjoy chasing those shallow fish using traditional power fishing techniques. My lures of choice have been crankbaits, top waters, and spinnerbaits when I’m targeting shallow bass feeding up on shad and jigs and Texas-rigged craws when I want to flip bushes, docks, and trees. If I draw a bass out of a bush but don’t hook up, I will often follow up with the jig to see if I can coax him to bite. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Because the water is stained, bolder colors will allow the fish to see your lure better. Chartreuse, chartreuse and white, and black are all good choices.

This shallow water pattern will wane as the water temperature continues to cool into the mid to lower 50’s. If the shallow water bite doesn’t work for you, turn on your electronics and go looking for bait. Where there’s bait, there’s bass.

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