Seasonal bass behavior around Austin, TX

[patx]

I’m new to bass fishing and could use some help learning about seasonal behavior here around Austin, TX.  I’ve spent some time googling for info, but the I haven’t found a good resource that summarizes the main things to look for that signal one behavioral shift to the next and how to best approach the fish in each season. 

 

Much of the stuff I read online assumes I already understand key terms like “early spawn” and that sort of thing. Some of the info I can sorta determine based on the actual seasons, like “late fall”, but then the details will describe water temperatures way below what I’m encountering and I realize I’m reading an article about fall bass fishing somewhere further north.

 

I realize that asking for this to be explained to me is kinda like asking to have the whole sport “solved”, but I’m being sincere when I say I just want to know the basics. I’d love to have enough knowledge to just help me decide the types of lures I should use when and why. Right now I just use what worked last time until it stops working and then experiment until I find something else. It’s a lot of guessing ?

 

I’m open to books, articles, videos - whatever has worked for people new to the sport.

 

Thank you!!

[Catt]

16 hours ago, patx said:

I haven’t found a good resource that summarizes the main things to look for that signal one behavioral shift to the next and how to best approach the fish in each season. 

 

The best source of information is right out your front door.

 

Get outdoors & pay attention to grass, shrubs, brushes, trees. What are they doing? 

 

Look at the weather trends, are the cold fronts artic or Pacific. 

 

Most anglers look at a calendar for seasonal changes, bass can't read.

 

I don't have "seasonal" lures, I have bass lures that use during every season just in different locations.

[patx]

Thanks for the tips!  I appreciate it.

[thediscochef]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

The best source of information is right out your front door.

 

Get outdoors & pay attention to grass, shrubs, brushes, trees. What are they doing? 

 

Look at the weather trends, are the cold fronts artic or Pacific. 

 

Most anglers look at a calendar for seasonal changes, bass can't read.

 

I don't have "seasonal" lures, I have bass lures that use during every season just in different locations.

This is a great answer. I learn the most with my line in the water. I started seriously fishing last year, I spent basically all of April and May trying to figure out how to catch a bass. In prime catch season. At one point I fished every day for three weeks straight. Eventually I figured it out a little as yall know, but it was not a fun couple of months to figure it out. I turned a huge huge corner rapidly when I hopped on BassResource, and learned Ned Kehde's Six Finesse Retrieves.

[txchaser]

The main bass resource site has a constant stream of articles that are often season specific, so that should help narrow down your baits and places.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/prespawn-start.html

https://www.bassresource.com/hank-parker-fishing/early-spring.html

 

In terms of seasons, you are further south than most, so you'll be running ahead in spring and behind in fall. Sometimes there's really no winter pattern except for a couple of weeks. If you're hot, the bass are hot too, it is probably summer  

 

This is oversimplifying, but fish it like fall until the water drops under 50-52 degrees. And start trying pre-spawn baits as soon as the water gets back over that range. In one of the articles above hank says 47 degrees, but my experience has been that might the peak cold water around here. 

 

I'm north of you, but valentines day kicks off early pre-spawn range. Maybe too early this year because of the freeze we just had, but by the 21st in north texas it'll be on. IMO most people don't think it starts till march, I think the big fish are moving up earlier.

 

Search for cosmic calendar on the forums, you'll find a link to an article WRB wrote that will help. 

 

This might help too, or make it worse... The lake breathes twice per year. The top of the inhale is summer and winter, the bass are out deeper. As the exhale starts in spring and fall they start moving up more shallow, and often in predictable routes. It isn't a perfect analogy, but it helps me if they aren't where I think they are supposed to be, I know which direction to move out a little deeper or move up a little shallower. 

 

If you aren't fishing from a boat, buy a pool thermometer and tie it to a rock or something and chuck it in the water at least 5' deep. Let it sit for 5 minutes then pull it back out and see what the temperature is... it'll be the best $10 you ever spend on fishing. 

 

Last thing, just read everything you can get your hands on, including books. At some point you start to see patterns between it all. 

[patx]

On 2/9/2022 at 9:19 PM, txchaser said:

The main bass resource site has a constant stream of articles that are often season specific, so that should help narrow down your baits and places.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/prespawn-start.html

https://www.bassresource.com/hank-parker-fishing/early-spring.html

 

In terms of seasons, you are further south than most, so you'll be running ahead in spring and behind in fall. Sometimes there's really no winter pattern except for a couple of weeks. If you're hot, the bass are hot too, it is probably summer  

 

This is oversimplifying, but fish it like fall until the water drops under 50-52 degrees. And start trying pre-spawn baits as soon as the water gets back over that range. In one of the articles above hank says 47 degrees, but my experience has been that might the peak cold water around here. 

 

I'm north of you, but valentines day kicks off early pre-spawn range. Maybe too early this year because of the freeze we just had, but by the 21st in north texas it'll be on. IMO most people don't think it starts till march, I think the big fish are moving up earlier.

 

Search for cosmic calendar on the forums, you'll find a link to an article WRB wrote that will help. 

 

This might help too, or make it worse... The lake breathes twice per year. The top of the inhale is summer and winter, the bass are out deeper. As the exhale starts in spring and fall they start moving up more shallow, and often in predictable routes. It isn't a perfect analogy, but it helps me if they aren't where I think they are supposed to be, I know which direction to move out a little deeper or move up a little shallower. 

 

If you aren't fishing from a boat, buy a pool thermometer and tie it to a rock or something and chuck it in the water at least 5' deep. Let it sit for 5 minutes then pull it back out and see what the temperature is... it'll be the best $10 you ever spend on fishing. 

 

Last thing, just read everything you can get your hands on, including books. At some point you start to see patterns between it all. 

 

This is perfect - exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

[PressuredFishing]

On 2/9/2022 at 5:12 AM, Catt said:

The best source of information is right out your front door.

This, ^^^^dates are just numbers, but spring, is one of the most synergistic times of the year, it's the season of life.

[ACGOG]

Can I hijack this for half a second? I was getting ready to make a post myself (I'm also in ATX). The weather has been absolutely beautiful the past few days and I've managed to sneak out to go fishing on Lake Travis early in the morning. I can see the fish - including what was possibly the biggest bass I've ever seen - but they have *zero* interest in anything I'm throwing. Watermelon Flake Rage Craw's/Senko's, slow-moving lipless (both craw and shad colored), smaller chatterbait, and even my go-to when I'm catching nothing and don't want to go empty handed, Baby Bass Senko. I've tried pulling it past them and even bonked one on the head with it and they couldn't care less.

 

Any tips??? I really want to catch that mama-jama I saw and might even wear some trunks to jump in if I have to ?

[txchaser]

8 hours ago, ACGOG said:

Can I hijack this for half a second? I was getting ready to make a post myself (I'm also in ATX). The weather has been absolutely beautiful the past few days and I've managed to sneak out to go fishing on Lake Travis early in the morning. I can see the fish - including what was possibly the biggest bass I've ever seen - but they have *zero* interest in anything I'm throwing. Watermelon Flake Rage Craw's/Senko's, slow-moving lipless (both craw and shad colored), smaller chatterbait, and even my go-to when I'm catching nothing and don't want to go empty handed, Baby Bass Senko. I've tried pulling it past them and even bonked one on the head with it and they couldn't care less.

 

Any tips??? I really want to catch that mama-jama I saw and might even wear some trunks to jump in if I have to ?

Still winter-ish water so they aren't eating much. Close to pre-spawn but not yet, and this last cold snap will push it out a little. 

If you can see them, they can see you, and I'd guess those fish are getting a good bit of pressure. Maybe try sneaking up on them. 

If slow-moving isn't doing it, try really fast moving. 

 

[Trox]

On 2/22/2022 at 9:56 AM, ACGOG said:

I've tried pulling it past them and even bonked one on the head with it and they couldn't care less.

You're going to have to force them to eat. And "eat" really isn't the right word for this scenario... more like, attack or defend. Hard to get them to "eat" when they aren't hungry.

 

On 2/22/2022 at 6:28 PM, txchaser said:

try really fast moving. 

I would try this and hopefully you can get a reaction bite