Lake Travis
Size: 18,930 acres
Age: Impounded in 1942

Location: Lies on the Colorado River just north of Austin, off State Highway 7l in Travis County.

Description: This lake is in the middle of the Highland Lake Chain. It offers 65 miles of clear, rather infertile water with 270 miles of shoreline. Limestone bluffs drop into water as deep as 190 feet, malting this one of the deepest lakes in Texas. Rocky points provide the main fish habitat.

Controlling Authority: Lower Colorado River Authority, (512) 473-3200.

TPWD Fisheries Office: P.O. Box 947, San Marcos, TX 78666, (512) 353-0072.

Fishing Regulations: Same as statewide.

Stocking History:

Largemouth bass -- 1967
Florida bass -- 1988
Channel catfish -- 1971, 72
Striped bass -- 1973, 74, 76, 78, 81, 83, 91
Blue catfish -- 1979
Walleye -- 1976, 77, 78, 79
Smallmouth bass -- 1977, 78, 79

Comments: Though both smallmouths and walleyes were stocked in the 1970's, recent studies found no evidence of either species. Top game fish here are the striped bass and the Guadalupe bass.

Lake Records:

Species Pounds Inches Angler
Guadalupe bass 3.69 18.25 Allen Christenson, Jr.
White bass 2.88 18.25 John Gilbert
Striped bass 30.50 42.00 Rudolph Cardenas, Jr.
Largemouth bass 8.75 26.50 Leslie Jackson
Hybrid striped bass 13.75 32.25 John Kohler

Fishing Tips: Stripers roam this long lake in unpredictable fashion. In winter, they are caught in depths of up to 60 feet on spoons and live shad. But in warm weather, they can be caught in the shallows where they chase live bait. When the fish are shallow, topwater plugs and bucktail jigs are a good bet.

Fishing Quality:

Largemouth bass --
Catfish --
Crappie --
Striped bass --
Guadalupe bass --

Facilities: The LCRA offers launch ramps and paved parking, often for a fee, from Mansfield dam upstream to the community of Spicewood. Much of the shoreline has been developed for homes and businesses.

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