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Week of August 17, 2026
Lake Buchanan
We've been spending a lot of time chasing topwater fish this month, and it's definitely been one of those patterns where you have to stay on the move. The schools haven't wanted to stay put for long, so covering water and keeping an eye out for surface activity has been the key to finding fish. One thing we've noticed is they're really keyed in on smaller baitfish right now. If you're throwing oversized topwaters or live bait that's too big, you're likely missing out. Downsizing your lure or bait to better match the hatch has made a noticeable difference and has put more fish in the boat.
The bite has been strongest during the first two hours after daylight and again during the last two hours before dark. Once the sun gets high, the action slows considerably, so make the most of those low-light windows. If you're heading out, be prepared to move often, keep your eyes peeled for breaking fish, and don't be afraid to switch to a smaller presentation. The fish are there—you have to stay with them. Good luck, and we'll see you on the water!
This week's fish report is by Chamber Member Graham Vaandragerg, of Bosstriper Guide Service. Click here to book Graham's guide service. Or call him at 512-529-7429. Bosstriper Guide Service is located at 3100 RR 261 in Buchanan Dam.
The summer heat and high-pressure systems have greeted us in August. Water surface temps range from 84-86 degrees. Fish will be seeking cooler pockets and depths of water to suspend in. Crappie catches are fair on deep timber and deeper brush piles in the 30-35 fow depths. The crappie typically aren't stacked in these trees, so catch what you can on a tree and move on to find them on other trees or deeper brush piles. Minnow-tipped jigs have been a little better than jigs alone, but with good technique, a jig will draw a strike.
Your Crappie Advocate, Steve Morrison. Contact Steve at 512.966.6306. Instagram: @stevemofish
For up-to-date Crappie fishing reports and a gallery of the latest catches from Hi-Line Resort Crappie House, please visit their Fishing Blog. Day passes to fish at the Crappie House are $15 or free to all resort guests! Click here to check out all Hi-Line Resort has to offer!
We've been spending a lot of time chasing topwater fish this month, and it's definitely been one of those patterns where you have to stay on the move. The schools haven't wanted to stay put for long, so covering water and keeping an eye out for surface activity has been the key to finding fish. One thing we've noticed is they're really keyed in on smaller baitfish right now. If you're throwing oversized topwaters or live bait that's too big, you're likely missing out. Downsizing your lure or bait to better match the hatch has made a noticeable difference and has put more fish in the boat.
The bite has been strongest during the first two hours after daylight and again during the last two hours before dark. Once the sun gets high, the action slows considerably, so make the most of those low-light windows. If you're heading out, be prepared to move often, keep your eyes peeled for breaking fish, and don't be afraid to switch to a smaller presentation. The fish are there—you have to stay with them. Good luck, and we'll see you on the water!
This week's fish report is by Chamber Member Graham Vaandragerg, of Bosstriper Guide Service. Click here to book Graham's guide service. Or call him at 512-529-7429. Bosstriper Guide Service is located at 3100 RR 261 in Buchanan Dam.
The summer heat and high-pressure systems have greeted us in August. Water surface temps range from 84-86 degrees. Fish will be seeking cooler pockets and depths of water to suspend in. Crappie catches are fair on deep timber and deeper brush piles in the 30-35 fow depths. The crappie typically aren't stacked in these trees, so catch what you can on a tree and move on to find them on other trees or deeper brush piles. Minnow-tipped jigs have been a little better than jigs alone, but with good technique, a jig will draw a strike.
Your Crappie Advocate, Steve Morrison. Contact Steve at 512.966.6306. Instagram: @stevemofish
For up-to-date Crappie fishing reports and a gallery of the latest catches from Hi-Line Resort Crappie House, please visit their Fishing Blog. Day passes to fish at the Crappie House are $15 or free to all resort guests! Click here to check out all Hi-Line Resort has to offer!
Inks Lake
Water temperatures are in the mid-80s (°F) with clear to slightly stained clarity. The lake level sits stable around 887.06 feet, roughly 0.94 to 1 foot below full pool (conservation pool is 888.22 ft. msl), providing good overall conditions. Largemouth bass have shifted toward offshore rock structures and deep cover, concentrating around gizzard shad. Early morning and late evening topwater or low-light patterns work best. Sunfish and panfish have good activity along shallow cover and docks. Catfish are fair to good using fresh-cut bait or shad fished on the bottom during low-light hours and nighttime.
Water temperatures are in the mid-80s (°F) with clear to slightly stained clarity. The lake level sits stable around 887.06 feet, roughly 0.94 to 1 foot below full pool (conservation pool is 888.22 ft. msl), providing good overall conditions. Largemouth bass have shifted toward offshore rock structures and deep cover, concentrating around gizzard shad. Early morning and late evening topwater or low-light patterns work best. Sunfish and panfish have good activity along shallow cover and docks. Catfish are fair to good using fresh-cut bait or shad fished on the bottom during low-light hours and nighttime.
Lake LBJ
Currently holding steady at roughly 98.4% full, with summer water temperatures hovering around 80°F to 82°F. Fishing is best during early morning and late evening low-light periods, with fish moving deeper during the hot midday hours. Largemouth bass are fair to good. Target shallow docks, rocks, and vegetation early in the morning using topwater walking baits or flukes. As the sun climbs, transition to deeper docks (5–15 feet), submerged grass, or drop-off points using Neko-rigged creature baits, drop-shot worms, and football jigs. White bass are active early and late in the day. Watch for surface schooling activity and throw small spoons, swimbaits, or inline spinners. Crappie are fair around deeper boat docks, man-made brush piles, and timber in 15 to 25 feet of water. Use vertical presentations with minnows or small jigs. Catfish are good activity for channel and blue catfish along channel edges and flats using cut bait, shad, or stinkbait.
Currently holding steady at roughly 98.4% full, with summer water temperatures hovering around 80°F to 82°F. Fishing is best during early morning and late evening low-light periods, with fish moving deeper during the hot midday hours. Largemouth bass are fair to good. Target shallow docks, rocks, and vegetation early in the morning using topwater walking baits or flukes. As the sun climbs, transition to deeper docks (5–15 feet), submerged grass, or drop-off points using Neko-rigged creature baits, drop-shot worms, and football jigs. White bass are active early and late in the day. Watch for surface schooling activity and throw small spoons, swimbaits, or inline spinners. Crappie are fair around deeper boat docks, man-made brush piles, and timber in 15 to 25 feet of water. Use vertical presentations with minnows or small jigs. Catfish are good activity for channel and blue catfish along channel edges and flats using cut bait, shad, or stinkbait.
Lake Marble Falls
Lake Marble Falls features stable conservation pool levels at 738 feet msl with clear to slightly stained water clarity and warm summer surface temperatures around 89°F. Fishing activity is rated as fair to moderate, with best results during early morning or late evening hours. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Fish deep ledges, rock cliffs, or flip soft plastic worms and jigs around local boat docks and boathouses. Small crankbaits work along rocky shoreline bluffs. Catfish fishing is fair. Channel and blue catfish are scattered throughout the riverine reservoir using stinkbaits and cutbaits, while flatheads prefer live bait near deeper structure. Crappie and sunfish are poor to fair. Look for occasional catches holding tightly around deeper docks and shaded boat slips.
Lake Marble Falls features stable conservation pool levels at 738 feet msl with clear to slightly stained water clarity and warm summer surface temperatures around 89°F. Fishing activity is rated as fair to moderate, with best results during early morning or late evening hours. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Fish deep ledges, rock cliffs, or flip soft plastic worms and jigs around local boat docks and boathouses. Small crankbaits work along rocky shoreline bluffs. Catfish fishing is fair. Channel and blue catfish are scattered throughout the riverine reservoir using stinkbaits and cutbaits, while flatheads prefer live bait near deeper structure. Crappie and sunfish are poor to fair. Look for occasional catches holding tightly around deeper docks and shaded boat slips.
Lake Travis
Water temperatures are in the low-to-mid 80s, with levels roughly 5.76 feet below the normal conservation pool of 681 feet. The early morning topwater bite is hot, while better-quality fish move out to 15–30 feet of water near rock piles and ledges. Largemouth bass and Guadalupe Bass are showing early morning topwater action before the sun gets high. Later in the day, target fish holding in 15–30 feet of water using jigs, worms, creature baits, and Ned rigs along rock piles and ledges. For white and striped bass, look for roaming schools near main-lake creek channels and secondary points early and late in the day. Beat recreational boat traffic and mid-day heat by targeting the water from daybreak until around 9 AM.
Water temperatures are in the low-to-mid 80s, with levels roughly 5.76 feet below the normal conservation pool of 681 feet. The early morning topwater bite is hot, while better-quality fish move out to 15–30 feet of water near rock piles and ledges. Largemouth bass and Guadalupe Bass are showing early morning topwater action before the sun gets high. Later in the day, target fish holding in 15–30 feet of water using jigs, worms, creature baits, and Ned rigs along rock piles and ledges. For white and striped bass, look for roaming schools near main-lake creek channels and secondary points early and late in the day. Beat recreational boat traffic and mid-day heat by targeting the water from daybreak until around 9 AM.
Lake Austin
Lake Austin is at a normal, constant level of around 492.29 feet msl (96.7% full) with clear water and 4–6 feet of visibility. Water temperatures range from the mid-60s to low-70s. Largemouth bass are holding shallow in less than six feet of water around flats and submerged vegetation like hydrilla. Drop-shot rigged finesse worms, Ned rigs, Neko-rigged creature baits, and chatterbaits fished near grass lines or pockets in the weeds are your most effective baits. Early morning and low-light periods are most productive; watch out for heavy recreational boat traffic during the day
Lake Austin is at a normal, constant level of around 492.29 feet msl (96.7% full) with clear water and 4–6 feet of visibility. Water temperatures range from the mid-60s to low-70s. Largemouth bass are holding shallow in less than six feet of water around flats and submerged vegetation like hydrilla. Drop-shot rigged finesse worms, Ned rigs, Neko-rigged creature baits, and chatterbaits fished near grass lines or pockets in the weeds are your most effective baits. Early morning and low-light periods are most productive; watch out for heavy recreational boat traffic during the day
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Chamber Members - Local Fishing License Retailers
BUCHANAN DAM LOS CAZADORES | Phone: (325) 956-6208 | Address: 15395 E STATE HIGHWAY 29, 78609
KINGSLAND ACE HOME IMPROVEMENT | Phone: (325) 388-4526 | Address: 2607 HIGHWAY 1431, 78639
BURNET INGRAM BAIT AND TACKLE | Phone: (512) 756-4606 | Address: 3751 WEST STATE HIGHWAY 29, 78611
BURNET INKS LAKE STATE PARK (512) 793-2223 3630 PARK RD 4 WEST 78611
BUCHANAN DAM LOS CAZADORES | Phone: (325) 956-6208 | Address: 15395 E STATE HIGHWAY 29, 78609
KINGSLAND ACE HOME IMPROVEMENT | Phone: (325) 388-4526 | Address: 2607 HIGHWAY 1431, 78639
BURNET INGRAM BAIT AND TACKLE | Phone: (512) 756-4606 | Address: 3751 WEST STATE HIGHWAY 29, 78611
BURNET INKS LAKE STATE PARK (512) 793-2223 3630 PARK RD 4 WEST 78611