Fish
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Lady Bird Lake sits in the center of Austin, a 416-acre reservoir on the Colorado River, flanked by the downtown skyline on one side and the hike-and-bike trail on the other. Paddleboarders, kayakers, and joggers share the space with a bass population that has produced fish over 14 pounds. In February 2025, an angler sight-fishing near the mouth of Barton Creek landed a 14.05-pound largemouth bass, shattering the lake record and making national headlines. That fish was caught within walking distance of the Texas Capitol building.
This is not a bass pond in the suburbs. Lady Bird Lake is a downtown reservoir where you can catch 20 to 30 bass in a day on light tackle while the Congress Avenue Bridge bats fly overhead at sunset. Barton Creek, fed by the crystal-clear springs of the Edwards Aquifer, flows through Zilker Park and into the lake, creating a fly-fishing creek inside city limits. And the Colorado River above and below the city's dam chain adds more fishable water.
Austin might be the best urban bass fishery in Texas. No boat required, the 10-mile trail puts you on fish from shore, and outboard motors are not allowed on the lake.
Lady Bird Lake: Downtown Bass
Lady Bird Lake (locals still call it Town Lake) stretches 5 miles from Longhorn Dam on the east to Tom Miller Dam on the west. The lake is narrow, shallow (average depth 14 feet), and full of structure, fallen timber, bridge pilings, docks, vegetation, and rocky banks that hold largemouth bass, sunfish, channel catfish, carp, white bass, and Rio Grande cichlids.
Outboard motors are prohibited. Only electric trolling motors, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are allowed. This keeps the lake quiet and the fish unpressured compared to the big reservoir fisheries outside town.
Where on Lady Bird Lake
Barton Creek confluence (Zilker Park area): The most famous spot on the lake. Where the clear, cool water of Barton Creek meets the main lake, bass stage year-round. The clarity of Barton Creek allows sight-fishing for bass on the beds in spring. Walk-on from Zilker Park and the trail. The 14-pound lake-record bass was caught here.
Red Bud Isle: A small island on the west end of the lake, near Tom Miller Dam. Walk-on from the Red Bud Isle parking area. The deeper water near the dam holds bass and catfish. The shoreline around the island is fishable.
Congress Avenue Bridge area: The bridge pilings create shade and structure that hold bass, sunfish, and catfish. Walk-on from the trail on either side. Fish the shady side during the heat of the day.
I-35 Bridge area: The east end of the lake near Longhorn Dam. Bridge pilings and rocky banks hold bass and catfish. Walk-on from the trail.
Lamar Boulevard pedestrian bridge to Pfluger Bridge: Walk the south shore trail and fish the coves and points between bridges. Fallen timber and vegetation along the banks hold bass and sunfish.
Lady Bird Lake Techniques
Largemouth bass: A 6'6" to 7' medium spinning rod, 2500-size reel, 10-pound braid, 8-pound fluorocarbon leader. Texas-rigged soft plastics are the go-to, 10-inch worms (Zoom Ol' Monster), creature baits, and Senko worms pitched to shoreline structure. Topwater frogs and poppers in the early morning over the lily pads and vegetation. The lake record fell to a Texas-rigged worm. Bass average 2 to 3 pounds with trophy fish over 8 pounds present.
Sight-fishing (spring): Polarized sunglasses are essential. During the spawn (March-April), bass move to the shallow, clear water near Barton Creek and create beds visible from the trail. Wacky-rigged Senko worms or small soft plastics pitched to bedding fish. This is some of the most exciting urban bass fishing in America.
Sunfish and cichlids: Small hooks (size 8-10) with worms or crickets under a bobber. Beetle Spins and small inline spinners. Fun on ultralight tackle for kids and beginners. Rio Grande cichlids are colorful and aggressive.
Catfish: Nightcrawlers or chicken liver on a bottom rig in the deeper sections near the dams and bridge pilings. Channel catfish and the occasional flathead.
Catching Massive Bass in Downtown Austin Texas, Lady Bird Lake Fishing Man Catches 14-Pound Bass in Austin's Lady Bird LakeBarton Creek: Fly Fishing in the City
Barton Creek is one of the most unique urban fishing experiences in Texas. Fed by the springs of the Edwards Aquifer, the creek runs through the Barton Creek Greenbelt, a limestone canyon with swimming holes, waterfalls, and crystal-clear water, before flowing through Zilker Park and into Lady Bird Lake.
The creek holds smallmouth bass (rare in Central Texas), largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, sunfish, and Rio Grande cichlids. The water clarity is exceptional, you can sight-fish in pools 6 feet deep. Fly fishing is the preferred method, and the creek's rocky bottom, small pools, and overhanging vegetation create classic small-stream conditions.
Where on Barton Creek
Zilker Park section: The most accessible. Walk-on from Zilker Park to the creek's final stretch before it enters Lady Bird Lake. Deeper pools hold larger bass. Fly fishing or light spinning gear.
Barton Creek Greenbelt (Trail of the Trees to Sculpture Falls): Walk-on from trailheads along the Greenbelt. Multiple swimming holes and pools connected by riffles. Bass, sunfish, and Guadalupe bass in the faster sections. The creek can run low in summer droughts, check flow levels before going.
Twin Falls area: A popular swimming hole that also holds fish in the deeper pool below the falls. Walk-on from the trailhead.
Barton Creek Techniques
Fly fishing: A 3- or 4-weight fly rod with a floating line and 9-foot leader. Small poppers (size 8-10) for topwater bass and sunfish. Woolly Buggers (olive or black, size 8) stripped through the pools. Small nymphs (Pheasant Tail, copper john, size 14-16) drifted through the riffles for Guadalupe bass. Sight-fish: approach each pool carefully, the clear water means fish spook easily.
Light spinning gear: A 5- to 6-foot ultralight rod with 4-pound line. Small Beetle Spins, inline spinners (Panther Martin 1/16-ounce), or 3-inch soft plastics. Cast upstream and work the pools. The bass are 8 to 14 inches, perfect ultralight quarry.
Clark Wendlandt Fishing in Downtown Austin on Lady Bird LakeThe Colorado River: Above and Below
The Colorado River extends beyond Lady Bird Lake in both directions, with additional fishing within or just outside Austin city limits.
Bull Creek (North Austin): A small limestone creek running through Great Hills and Spicewood Springs neighborhoods. Walk-on from Bull Creek District Park and multiple trailheads. Holds sunfish, bass, and the occasional Guadalupe bass. Very similar to Barton Creek, clear water, rock pools, fly fishing and ultralight territory.
Colorado River below Longhorn Dam: Below the dam, the river returns to a more natural state. Bass, catfish, and carp in the deeper pools. Walk-on access is limited but available from some parks and bridge crossings on the east side.
McKinney Falls State Park (Southeast Austin): Where Onion Creek and Williamson Creek meet, creating pools and waterfalls over limestone ledges. Inside a state park with walk-on access, camping, and restrooms. Bass, sunfish, and catfish in the pools. Day-use entry fee applies.
Stocked Urban Ponds
Several ponds in the Austin area are part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Neighborhood Fishin' program.
East Metro Park (Travis County): Bullfrog Pond and Kingfisher Lake are stocked with channel catfish biweekly in spring through fall and rainbow trout in winter. Walk-on, free access. Family-friendly.
How to Fish Stocked Ponds
Catfish: Nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or stink bait on a bottom rig. Cast and wait. Stocked catfish are 1 to 4 pounds.
Trout (winter): PowerBait or small spinners retrieved slowly.
Fishing Lady Bird Lake in Downtown Austin Texas, This Lake Is InsaneFishing Licence and Regulations
Texas fishing licence: Required for anyone 17+. Resident freshwater annual $30. Nonresident freshwater annual $58. One-day all-water $16.
Lady Bird Lake: No outboard motors. Electric trolling motors and human-powered watercraft only. Bank fishing from the trail is the most common method. No minimum size on bass (but catch and release is strongly encouraged, this fishery's quality depends on releasing large fish).
Largemouth bass: Standard Texas daily limit 5, minimum 14 inches. Catch and release strongly encouraged at Lady Bird Lake.
Guadalupe bass: Part of the black bass daily limit. Minimum 12 inches. Conservation-priority species, release them.
Barton Creek: Standard TPWD inland regulations. Some sections run through the Barton Creek Greenbelt, respect trail rules and leave no trace.
When to Fish
March-May (Spring): The best season. Bass spawn in the shallows at Lady Bird Lake, sight-fishing near Barton Creek. Barton Creek flows strong. Best weather for all-day fishing.
June-August (Summer): Fish early morning (5-7 AM) or late evening, Austin heat hits triple digits. Lady Bird Lake bass go deeper and bite on Texas-rigged worms. Barton Creek may run low, check flow levels. Bat emergence at Congress Avenue Bridge makes sunset fishing memorable.
September-November (Fall): Bass feed aggressively before winter. Comfortable weather returns. Excellent all-around season.
December-February (Winter): Slower bass fishing but still productive. Barton Creek's spring-fed water stays warmer than the lake, concentrating fish near the confluence. Trout stocking at Neighborhood Fishin' ponds.
Practical Details
Getting there: Lady Bird Lake's hike-and-bike trail is accessible from dozens of points. CapMetro buses reach Zilker Park and multiple trailheads. The trail is bikeable end to end. Parking is free at Red Bud Isle and scattered lots along the trail. Barton Creek Greenbelt trailheads have small parking areas (arrive early on weekends).
Gear that travels: A two-piece 6'6" medium spinning rod covers Lady Bird Lake bass, catfish, and sunfish. For Barton Creek, an ultralight rod or a 3-weight fly rod is ideal. A small tackle bag fits everything. The trail is flat and paved, easy walking with gear.
Tackle shops: Austin Angler (the local fly shop, Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake expertise), Cabela's (Buda, south of town), Academy Sports + Outdoors (multiple locations).
For more Texas urban fishing, see urban fishing in San Antonio (Guadalupe bass on the Mission Reach), urban fishing in Houston (Buffalo Bayou alligator gar), or urban fishing in Dallas (White Rock Lake bass and Trinity River gar).
The bats: The Congress Avenue Bridge is home to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that emerge at sunset from March through October. Fish the bridge pilings as the bats fly overhead, one of the most uniquely Austin fishing experiences possible.
Crushing Bass on Lady Bird Lake, Texas Rigged Ol' Monster
