Fall fishing on the Highland Lakes:
Grab a rod and reel to experience some of the year’s best fishing
Bryan Cook, a senior aquatic scientist at LCRA, gives some quick tips about how to land a big one on the Highland Lakes.
Fall is an excellent time to fish on the Highland Lakes, as recreational boating decreases and cooler surface water temperatures attract white, striped, largemouth and Guadalupe bass.
In fact, many anglers consider Lake Buchanan a hot spot for catching striped bass. Anglers love reeling in these tenacious fish because they put up a good fight, said Bryan Cook, LCRA senior aquatic scientist.
“These bass pull hard,” Cook said. “It’s a fun fish to catch for people that don’t go fishing very often.”
Where to fish The mid-upper part of Lake Buchanan around Garrett Island is where many anglers go to catch striped bass. A good way to find the hot spots is to find the flocks of fishers. “Where there’s a big congregation of fishers, that’s the place the fish are biting,” Cook said. “A good thing to remember is that bass hide in covered areas to wait for bait fish. A fisherman can snag a bass by reeling shad-like jigs or lures over underwater brush piles."
Be safe Dress appropriately – bring a jacket, rain gear and weather radio so that you are prepared for unpredictable fall weather.
Tune into the hourly broadcasts of lake and river conditions provided by NOAA All Hazards Radio. If you are fishing in locations upstream of Austin in the Highland Lakes area, tune into AM 1610. For all locations downstream of Austin, tune into AM 1670.
Also, make sure you have plenty of fuel for the boat and know where fuel service stations are located.
“Be smart when you’re fishing this fall,” Cook said. “Always be ready for the conditions.”
