TPWD District Fisheries Office

505 Staples Road
San Marcos, Texas 78666
(512) 353-0072
Patrick Ireland, Biologist

About the Area

Local Information

Nearby State Parks

 

Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake)

Quick Links: Fishing Regulations | Angling Opportunities | Cover & Structure | Tips & Tactics


BOATER ADVISORY: Zebra mussels have invaded this reservoir! CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY your boat, trailer, livewells/bait buckets, and other gear before traveling to another water body. Draining water is required by law and possession and transport of zebra mussels is illegal.

Lake Characteristics

Location: On the Colorado River in downtown Austin
Surface area: 468 acres
Maximum depth: 18 feet
Impounded: 1960

Water Conditions

Conservation Pool Elevation: 428 ft. msl
Fluctuation: Stable
Normal Clarity: Clear to slightly stained

Reservoir Controlling Authority

City of Austin
124 W. 8th
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 974-6700

Aquatic Vegetation

Eurasian watermilfoil

Predominant Fish Species

Lake Records
Stocking History
Latest Survey Report

Lake Maps

No contour maps are available.

Fishing Regulations

This reservoir has special regulations on some fishes. See bag and size limits for this lake. Outboard motors are not allowed on Lady Bird Lake, but anglers may use electric trolling motors.

Angling Opportunities

Lady Bird Lake contains an excellent population of largemouth bass. It is not uncommon for anglers to catch and release 20-30 bass per day in the 2-3 pound size range. Quality panfishing is also available. This reservoir contains some very large redear and redbreast sunfish. It is also a popular fishery for large carp (over 30 pounds).

Species Poor Fair Good Excellent
Largemouth Bass       yes
Catfish yes      
Sunfish     yes  
Fishing Cover/Structure

Most of the cover on this reservoir is located along the bank and consists of laydown logs and trees, overhanging brush, cypress tree roots, bulrush, and cattails. Some submerged aquatic vegetation can be found in the lower end of the lake near the Longhorn Dam. This vegetation grows on humps located offshore. There are also some weedbeds in the upper end of the lake. Barton Creek enters on the south side at approximately mid-lake. The water in this spring-fed creek remains warm during the winter.

Tips & Tactics

Because of the clear water conditions, this can be an excellent night fishing lake for largemouth bass. Casting white spinnerbaits and topwaters or pitching jigs with medium to medium-heavy bait casting tackle to the shoreline cover often works well. For live-bait fishing try minnows suspended under corks along the shoreline cover. Sight fishing for bass during the spring spawn is also popular. Sunfish are fun to catch on a fly rod or with light spinning tackle. Large common carp have been caught using prepared baits.