Good morning, y’all—this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Austin fishing report for September 20th, 2025.
We started off before sunrise, which hit at 7:16 a.m. this morning, prime time for that first light bite. Expect sunset around 7:31 p.m., so you’ve got almost an even twelve hours to work the water. The weather’s shaping up real pleasant—upper 60s early, warming into the mid-80s by afternoon, mostly sunny skies and only a slight south breeze. Water temperatures are hovering perfectly for fall bass action, sitting in the mid-70s; clarity remains good, thanks to a steady spell of dry weather.
Now, Lake Austin doesn’t push salt tides like you see on the coast, but there’s a bit of current thanks to the river flow and periodic dam releases. Fish seem to respond best around those window shifts, especially early morning and late afternoon—classic prime hours.
Fish activity’s been on fire, per word from Bass Tours ATX and a few of the regular lake runners. Largemouth bass have been especially cooperative in that 5-to-15 foot range, holding tight to new brush and flooded timber created by this year’s higher water; some folks are still pulling up smallmouth and a few Florida-strain bass too. Most hookups are coming right around rocky points, submerged humps, and saddles—look for brush in that mid-depth contour, especially near "the 360 Bridge ho" and by Emma Long Park. According to local guides, one client just this past week boated a solid 7.8-pounder right from a hidden honey hole!
Beyond bass, there’s still a fair bite for bluegill, sunfish, and even some catfish if you work the deeper edges with cut bait. White bass will school up occasionally off main-lake points—keep an eye out for birds diving or pushing surface activity, especially just after sunrise.
Best baits today: Top producers have been watermelon red or green pumpkin soft plastics—think Texas rigs and shaky heads around brush and rock. Shad-imitating crankbaits and medium-diving jerkbaits are still getting hammered along riprap. Early and late, walk-the-dog topwaters and buzzbaits have been money in the shallow pockets. If the fish get lock-jawed, switch it up with a live nightcrawler (for bluegill or smaller bass) or throw a chatterbait around submerged grass where you can find it.
Bait shops report brisk business in both Zoom trick worms and Strike King squarebills, so stock up before heading out. For catfish, nothing beats cut shad or a chunk of chicken liver in the deep—night action’s best, but you’ll get some daytime bites close to shaded banks.
Two Lake Austin hot spots you gotta check: Try working the deep holes off the north shore across from Steiner Ranch, and don’t overlook shallow brush and timber around City Park. Another favorite is the outflow area below Mansfield Dam on an overcast afternoon—just watch for changing water levels.
That’s today’s run-down for Lake Austin, and let me tell you, the bite looks as good as the weather. Rig up, stay patient, and work those transitions between deep and shallow—numbers and size are both on the menu right now.
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