Help With A New-To-Me Lake

[joeyfishes]

I have a tournament coming up in a couple weeks on Lake Travis. I have never been on this lake. The lake is down about 50 feet. The lake has rocky banks, steep cliffs and clear water. There are docks, drop offs, rockpiles, and ledges. I need help on what to throw in these situations. I heard about football jigs being productive and baby rattlesnakes on a shakey head. Any tips are appreciated. Thanks. 

[Smokinal]

I won a tourney on a lake I had never been on. I buy maps from these guys and really like them.

 

http://www.fishinghotspots.com/e1/pc/showsearchresults.asp?keyWord=lake+travis

 

remember though, the depth they show is at full pool so be careful. Subtract 50ft from all readings.

What will water temps be?

[Catt]

Check out Acme Mapper

[martintheduck]

I imagine your water temps are similar to mine here in Louisiana at the moment... so... I'd be throwing a crankbait and soft/hard jerkbait around steep rocky banks with deep water close...aiming to be in 14ft water with a steep rock bank to the shore and fishing towards the shore 6/8 foot mark with soft/hard jerkbaits. Then throw some kind of weighted worms or shakey heads out to any deep water structure nearby. 

 

I'd go to dropshot some deeper rock piles.

 

If you catch a devastating cold front right before the tourny, I'd be moving to some coves and such where you might start finding fish gorging on fresh-dead-shad.

 

I've become a big fan of big, chunky rocks since the water temp is down. Bass around here seem to love the rocks.

 

 

All the before mentioned is subject to change obviously based on wind and weather, but one tip that isn't going to change: Make longer casts since the water is clear.

[paul25]

I would try some umbrella rigs, and like  mentioned above jerkbaits on windblown banks, and football jigs around any of the rock shallow or deep

[joeyfishes]

We have an "arctic blast" moving in today and the next couple days. The temps. yesterday were in the 80s and they are moving into the 30s today. Most likely it will get below freezing. It should warm up a week or so before the tournament.