Fishing Report
Week of February 2, 2026
Lake Buchanan
As of early February 2026, post cold fronts, fishing conditions on Lake Buchanan for striped and hybrid striped bass are picking up with this warming trend. Water temperatures around 51 degrees on the main body of lake to 43 degrees in the back tributaries and on the Colorado River. You should be seeing fish primarily holding in 28 to 40 feet. The striped bass action is fair, with increases in activity noted in the mid-lake regions. Trolling with live shad or using vertical jigging techniques with 1/2-3/4oz jigging slabs has been effective. Best pattern is to target humps and drop-offs where fish are often found chasing shad. Look out for birds indicating schooling fish, particularly during the early morning or late afternoon hours.
Utilize electronics to find schools and adjust depth accordingly. Live bait works well, but artificial lures such as swimbaits and crankbaits are also effective during this time. With these cooler water temps don’t pass an opportunity to finesse fish with small flukes AKA dead sticking. Keep an eye on weather patterns, as water clarity and temperature fluctuations can impact fish activity. Overall, you can expect a decent experience targeting stripers and hybrids this time of year. Happy fishing!
Report by Seth Hobbs, Labelle Fishing Guide Service. Phone: 512-970-3434 or email for more information or to book a guided fishing trip.
As of early February 2026, post cold fronts, fishing conditions on Lake Buchanan for striped and hybrid striped bass are picking up with this warming trend. Water temperatures around 51 degrees on the main body of lake to 43 degrees in the back tributaries and on the Colorado River. You should be seeing fish primarily holding in 28 to 40 feet. The striped bass action is fair, with increases in activity noted in the mid-lake regions. Trolling with live shad or using vertical jigging techniques with 1/2-3/4oz jigging slabs has been effective. Best pattern is to target humps and drop-offs where fish are often found chasing shad. Look out for birds indicating schooling fish, particularly during the early morning or late afternoon hours.
Utilize electronics to find schools and adjust depth accordingly. Live bait works well, but artificial lures such as swimbaits and crankbaits are also effective during this time. With these cooler water temps don’t pass an opportunity to finesse fish with small flukes AKA dead sticking. Keep an eye on weather patterns, as water clarity and temperature fluctuations can impact fish activity. Overall, you can expect a decent experience targeting stripers and hybrids this time of year. Happy fishing!
Report by Seth Hobbs, Labelle Fishing Guide Service. Phone: 512-970-3434 or email for more information or to book a guided fishing trip.
Inks Lake
EXCELLENT. Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.99 feet below pool. Bass are biting well on jigs, dropshot rigged finesse worms, and crankbaits in 6–17 feet of water. Focus on areas with submerged vegetation, rock, and brush, especially where baitfish are present, as bait concentration has been a major key to consistent action. With a strong cold front expected to move through, anglers should be on the lookout for bass shifting into more traditional winter patterns. Fish are likely to move deeper and relate more tightly to schools of baitfish, making umbrella rigs, mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics fished with forward-facing sonar, drop-shot rigs, and football jigs on deeper structure increasingly effective. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.
EXCELLENT. Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.99 feet below pool. Bass are biting well on jigs, dropshot rigged finesse worms, and crankbaits in 6–17 feet of water. Focus on areas with submerged vegetation, rock, and brush, especially where baitfish are present, as bait concentration has been a major key to consistent action. With a strong cold front expected to move through, anglers should be on the lookout for bass shifting into more traditional winter patterns. Fish are likely to move deeper and relate more tightly to schools of baitfish, making umbrella rigs, mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics fished with forward-facing sonar, drop-shot rigs, and football jigs on deeper structure increasingly effective. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.
Lake LBJ
FAIR. Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.31 feet below pool. Crappie should bunch up in deeper water. Crappie are fair in 25-30 feet of water with chartreuse jigs and minnows. Channel catfish are good in 25-30 feet of water on midlake points with punch bait. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Any rock around the lake has been able to produce some bass bites on shad imitating baits. Also, there are schools of bass chasing around balls of shad. Livescoping these fish with a minnow has been productive. Water clarity is 2-3 feet of visibility. Report by Evan Coleman, Big Bassin Fishing Tours.
FAIR. Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.31 feet below pool. Crappie should bunch up in deeper water. Crappie are fair in 25-30 feet of water with chartreuse jigs and minnows. Channel catfish are good in 25-30 feet of water on midlake points with punch bait. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Any rock around the lake has been able to produce some bass bites on shad imitating baits. Also, there are schools of bass chasing around balls of shad. Livescoping these fish with a minnow has been productive. Water clarity is 2-3 feet of visibility. Report by Evan Coleman, Big Bassin Fishing Tours.
Lake Marble Falls
FAIR. normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.72 feet below pool. Crappie should bunch up in deeper water. Crappie are fair in 30 feet of water with chartreuse jigs. Channel catfish are good in 25-30 feet of water on midlake points with punch bait. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service.
FAIR. normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.72 feet below pool. Crappie should bunch up in deeper water. Crappie are fair in 30 feet of water with chartreuse jigs. Channel catfish are good in 25-30 feet of water on midlake points with punch bait. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service.
Lake Travis
SLOW. Water normal stain; 58 degrees; 14.11 feet below pool. Bass are slow, but with the right conditions you can have fun. When the wind picks up and the weather warms up later in the day the fish will pull up in that warmer water. Cover water and target rocky wind blown banks throwing medium diving finesse crankbaits. Another tactic is slowing down with a jig or dropshot fished around drains in that 20-30 feet depth range. Be sure to slow way way down with your presentation when fishing the bottom. Report by Tyler Torwick, Torwick’s Guiding Service. Bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and shaky head finesse worms in 8–17 feet of water. Focus on windblown rocky shorelines and main lake ledges with brush for the most consistent action. Schools of bass are also roaming open water following shad and can be targeted with jerkbaits when they are active. With a strong cold front expected, anglers should look for bass to shift more toward deeper offshore structure such as rocky ledges. Alabama rigs, football jigs, and drop-shot rigged finesse worms should become more effective, and nomadic fish relating to shad schools can be caught using umbrella rigs, jerkbaits, and mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics with forward-facing sonar. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.
SLOW. Water normal stain; 58 degrees; 14.11 feet below pool. Bass are slow, but with the right conditions you can have fun. When the wind picks up and the weather warms up later in the day the fish will pull up in that warmer water. Cover water and target rocky wind blown banks throwing medium diving finesse crankbaits. Another tactic is slowing down with a jig or dropshot fished around drains in that 20-30 feet depth range. Be sure to slow way way down with your presentation when fishing the bottom. Report by Tyler Torwick, Torwick’s Guiding Service. Bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and shaky head finesse worms in 8–17 feet of water. Focus on windblown rocky shorelines and main lake ledges with brush for the most consistent action. Schools of bass are also roaming open water following shad and can be targeted with jerkbaits when they are active. With a strong cold front expected, anglers should look for bass to shift more toward deeper offshore structure such as rocky ledges. Alabama rigs, football jigs, and drop-shot rigged finesse worms should become more effective, and nomadic fish relating to shad schools can be caught using umbrella rigs, jerkbaits, and mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics with forward-facing sonar. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.
Lake Austin
FAIR. Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.59 feet below pool. Bass are good early in the morning along deep grass edges. Neko rigs, dropshots and Texas rigs fished parallel on deeper straight cut grass edges are good. Keeping bait near or on the bottom is key, very few bites on top of the grass beds. Seeing a decent amount of fish suspended out away from grass edges around small bait. Jerkbaits, flukes and underspins fished over top of them are getting them to react. Expecting a large cold front this weekend. Fish will really be getting on the jerkbait and Alabama rig better with the colder water temperature. Overall the bite is good right now. Report by Carson Conklin, ATX Fishing. Bass are being caught on dropshot rigged finesse worms, light Texas-rigged soft stick worms, and crankbaits in 10–20 feet of water. Focus on submerged vegetation and docks for the most consistent action. Unseasonably warm winter conditions have kept bass from fully settling into typical winter patterns, but with a strong cold front expected, anglers should look for fish to shift toward the deeper, outer edges of grasslines. Dropshot rigs should continue to produce, and groups of bass may begin relating more closely to schools of shad in the main river channel. Jerkbaits and mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics fished with forward-facing sonar should become more effective as this transition occurs. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.
FAIR. Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.59 feet below pool. Bass are good early in the morning along deep grass edges. Neko rigs, dropshots and Texas rigs fished parallel on deeper straight cut grass edges are good. Keeping bait near or on the bottom is key, very few bites on top of the grass beds. Seeing a decent amount of fish suspended out away from grass edges around small bait. Jerkbaits, flukes and underspins fished over top of them are getting them to react. Expecting a large cold front this weekend. Fish will really be getting on the jerkbait and Alabama rig better with the colder water temperature. Overall the bite is good right now. Report by Carson Conklin, ATX Fishing. Bass are being caught on dropshot rigged finesse worms, light Texas-rigged soft stick worms, and crankbaits in 10–20 feet of water. Focus on submerged vegetation and docks for the most consistent action. Unseasonably warm winter conditions have kept bass from fully settling into typical winter patterns, but with a strong cold front expected, anglers should look for fish to shift toward the deeper, outer edges of grasslines. Dropshot rigs should continue to produce, and groups of bass may begin relating more closely to schools of shad in the main river channel. Jerkbaits and mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics fished with forward-facing sonar should become more effective as this transition occurs. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.
Put a Largemouth Bass on your bumper!
Give your vehicle a personal touch — by sporting the largemouth bass conservation license plate!
Give your vehicle a personal touch — by sporting the largemouth bass conservation license plate!
- Sport your passion for Texas fishing: Let everyone know you're a dedicated angler with this unique plate design.
- Support quality bass fishing for only $30/year*: $22 goes directly towards Texas fisheries management and research programs.
- Deck out your ride: This plate looks great on your car, truck, motorcycle, boat trailer, travel trailer, or RV.
- Don't wait until your registration renewal: The cost will be pro-rated so you can get your plate now.
Inks Lake March 10, 2024:
Hamilton Creek Park Lake Burnet 1000 1/22/2025
L.B.J. State Park Fredericksburg 533 1/3/2025
Lady Bird (Municipal Park) Fredericksburg 570 1/12/2025
Llano River (Castell downstream) Llano 2,400 12/3/2024
Llano River at FM 2389 Mason 3,478 12/7/2024 & 1/15/2025
Mill Creek Park San Saba 500 12/3/2023*
* last reported
L.B.J. State Park Fredericksburg 533 1/3/2025
Lady Bird (Municipal Park) Fredericksburg 570 1/12/2025
Llano River (Castell downstream) Llano 2,400 12/3/2024
Llano River at FM 2389 Mason 3,478 12/7/2024 & 1/15/2025
Mill Creek Park San Saba 500 12/3/2023*
* last reported
Fish a White Bass Run!
Spring means white bass are on the run, typically February through May. The northern end and up-river of Lake Buchanan is one of the tried and true areas where you'll find spring white bass in Central Texas.
The Colorado River above the lake has one of the strongest white bass runs in Central Texas. For wade or bank fishing Colorado Bend State Park, near the town of Bend, is a great place to try your luck when water conditions are right. This portion of the Colorado River is popular with fly anglers. The area from Silver Creek (also called Beaver Creek) to the town of Tow is an excellent choice from winter to late spring. Lake Buchanan has lots of main lake structure to try during the summer months.
Spring means white bass are on the run, typically February through May. The northern end and up-river of Lake Buchanan is one of the tried and true areas where you'll find spring white bass in Central Texas.
The Colorado River above the lake has one of the strongest white bass runs in Central Texas. For wade or bank fishing Colorado Bend State Park, near the town of Bend, is a great place to try your luck when water conditions are right. This portion of the Colorado River is popular with fly anglers. The area from Silver Creek (also called Beaver Creek) to the town of Tow is an excellent choice from winter to late spring. Lake Buchanan has lots of main lake structure to try during the summer months.
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New hunting and fishing licenses for the 2025-26 seasons are now available for purchase! These new licenses will be valid from the date of purchase through Aug. 31, 2026. All current annual licenses, except the Year-from-Purchase All-Water Package, will expire Aug. 31, 2025.
GET YOURS LICENSE NOW
Purchase a license for the new season today and get ready for a year of fishing and hunting!
You can also visit one of our license retailers to purchase your license.
Have questions about licenses? We've got answers on our frequently asked questions page.
The best value: The most popular license package – the Super Combo License Package – will save you up to $18. It includes a Resident Hunting License, a Resident Fishing License and 5 state stamp endorsements for just $68/year ($32 for seniors). Digital license and tag options are available to Texas residents. Available online only.
Local License Retailers:
BUCHANAN DAM J & S FOOD MART EXXON (512) 793-2040 2045 RANCH ROAD 261 78609
BLUFFTON BLUFFTON STORE (325) 379-9837 11635 RANCH RD 2241 78607
TOW J & S QUICK STOP (325) 379-1482 110 FRAZIER ST 78672
KINGSLAND ACE HOME IMPROVEMENT (325) 388-4526 2607 HIGHWAY 1431, 78639
KINGSLAND HEB #587 (325) 388-4601 215 RANCH ROAD 2900 78639
BURNET BEST STOP #4 (512) 756-6900 2751 W STATE HWY 29 STE A 78611
BURNET HEB #433 (512) 756-6188 105 S BOUNDARY ST 78611
BURNET INKS LAKE SP (512) 793-2223 3630 PARK RD 4 WEST 78611
BURNET RED TOP BAIT SHOP INC (512) 756-4606 3751 W HIGHWAY 29 78611
BURNET LONGHORN GROCERY STORE(737) 210-845910241 W STATE HIGHWAY 29 78611
BUCHANAN DAM J & S FOOD MART EXXON (512) 793-2040 2045 RANCH ROAD 261 78609
BLUFFTON BLUFFTON STORE (325) 379-9837 11635 RANCH RD 2241 78607
TOW J & S QUICK STOP (325) 379-1482 110 FRAZIER ST 78672
KINGSLAND ACE HOME IMPROVEMENT (325) 388-4526 2607 HIGHWAY 1431, 78639
KINGSLAND HEB #587 (325) 388-4601 215 RANCH ROAD 2900 78639
BURNET BEST STOP #4 (512) 756-6900 2751 W STATE HWY 29 STE A 78611
BURNET HEB #433 (512) 756-6188 105 S BOUNDARY ST 78611
BURNET INKS LAKE SP (512) 793-2223 3630 PARK RD 4 WEST 78611
BURNET RED TOP BAIT SHOP INC (512) 756-4606 3751 W HIGHWAY 29 78611
BURNET LONGHORN GROCERY STORE(737) 210-845910241 W STATE HIGHWAY 29 78611
A list of hunting lease options is available on the Llano Chamber website. Click on HUNTING on their homepage.
