Springtime is a fantastic time to fish the Highland Lakes in the Central Texas Hill Country, Lake Bastrop near Bastrop, Lake Fayette near the Fayette Power Project and Matagorda Bay Nature Park at the mouth of the Colorado River. Thanks to last summer’s flood, the lakes remain full, and there is plenty of water for fishing and recreation.

If you are after largemouth bass in the lakes and river, now is the best time of year to catch them since they become more active as the water temperatures warm. Bass tend to spend time in shallow water around the shore where they feed heavily as they spawn.

Bank fishing and kayak anglers

Lakes Bastrop and Fayette are managed for largemouth bass. They present bank anglers with a special opportunity to catch quality bass. But Lake Bastrop is now popular with kayak anglers due to its small size and relatively protected waters where wind isn’t bad. Much of the lake is in easy paddling distance from the launch sites, and secluded nooks and crannies provide excellent opportunities for catching big bass.

If you like to fish with artificial lures, Bryan Cook, a senior aquatic scientist with LCRA, says good choices include spinner baits, crank baits, soft plastic worms and minnow imitators. Natural colors work well. However, he says bright shades of red, pink and chartreuse often provoke larger bass into biting.

Minnows for bass; worms for catfish

Spring is a good time also to catch white bass, catfish and crappie in the lakes and river. Live minnows and small jigs and spinners work well for white bass and crappie, while worms and prepared baits are preferred by catfish.

Shorebound anglers can fish from any of the numerous LCRA parks around the Highland Lakes. Ramps are also available for boaters. Check their status.

Good fishing at Matagorda Bay

Head to Matagorda Bay Nature Park this spring if you want to fish for redfish, speckled trout and flounder. The Gulf Coast can be windy this time of year, but if the wind isn’t “howling,” you can get in some good fishing.

With the change of seasons comes the big spring tides that replenish the estuaries, and shrimp and other species migrate back in from the Gulf. The fish follow the shrimp, as the lifecycle dictates.

Flounder also return to the estuaries when winter is over, and they make for fun fishing along the river channel.