4 ft in a week: Lake Travis is surging
A 4-ft move in a week reshapes a lake. Here is where Lake Travis stands, what is driving it and where the fish went.
Lake Travis reads 681.5 ft, 4.4 ft higher than a week ago.
At that pace the water's edge on a flat bank can move dozens of yards. Plan on finding the lake, not just the fish.
The level in numbers
The chart shows the last month of daily readings.
4 ft in a week.
A rise this fast means water is arriving faster than it can leave: heavy rain upstream, releases from a dam above, or gates held back below. Expect muddy inflows in the upper arms and floating wood everywhere.
Lake Travis covers about 18,900 acres with roughly 270 miles of shoreline at full pool. At its deepest the lake reaches around 210 ft. Largemouth bass, white bass and catfish are what most anglers on Lake Travis are after. On a lake with that much shoreline, a few feet of water changes the shape of every cove and point.
Ramps and access
Named launch sites on Lake Travis include Briarcliff Marina.
There are 12 mapped ramps on Lake Travis, shown on the map. Each one ends at a different height, and we have not matched them to today's level: check before you launch.
Rising water can cover docks and parking at low ramps, and floating wood collects near inlets and in the backs of coves. Idle in and out.
- Boat ramp 1
- Boat ramp 2
- Boat ramp 3
- Boat ramp 4
- Collier Boat Ramp
- Boat ramp 5
- Ramp a the point
- North ramp
Where the fish go as the water rises fast
Rising water floods grass, bushes and the backs of coves that were dry a week ago, and bass, crappie and catfish push in to feed on what the water picks up.
Muddy inflows and floating wood come down the creeks on a rise like this. Run the upper arms slowly and look for the cleaner water near the main lake if the creeks look like chocolate milk.
Species to target now
Expect largemouth bass on Lake Travis to be in their comfort zone. The 60s are a sweet spot: bass are active, roam widely and will chase moving baits. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
Next up, white bass: a solid pick. This is a comfortable range for stripers and white bass; watch for birds diving on bait. Schools chasing bait on points. Watch for splashes.
On the same water, catfish are catchable with patience. In the 60s catfish feed more each night and roam channel edges. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.
A spot to start
On Lake Travis, start at the wind-blown bank marked on the map, fishing 6 to 16 ft. Today's east wind pushes bait into this bank across open water. It is a good place for largemouth bass and white bass; try spinnerbait or crankbait along the edge. The best window there is 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Down at that depth the water is about 59°F, against 60°F on top.
Where the season stands
The calendar matters as much as the thermometer. Mid-to-late fall is when southern reservoirs finally cool off. Shad push into the backs of creeks and coves, and bass, stripers and crappie follow them. On Lake Travis at 60°F, largemouth bass and white bass fit that pattern best.
What the next days bring
Saturday has the gentlest weather: wind around 10 mph, partly sunny then slight chance rain showers, topping out near 67°F. Highs slide from about 67°F to 56°F over the stretch, so dress in layers for the early start.
Circle Saturday, Monday and Tuesday on the calendar: 6 of the next 7 days rate good or better. On Saturday the strongest window runs 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and on Sunday 4:30 pm to 6:15 pm.
Questions
Where can I launch a boat on Lake Travis?
Named launch sites include Collier Boat Ramp, Briarcliff Marina. Check that your ramp is open and reaches the water at today's level before you tow.
How deep is Lake Travis?
Around 210 ft at its deepest. It covers about 18,900 acres with roughly 270 miles of shoreline at full pool.
How warm is Lake Travis right now?
About 60°F at the surface on the latest clear reading (a few days ago). Shallow coves can run a few degrees warmer on sunny afternoons.
Lake Travis every morning
Water temperature, level, wind and bite times on your phone.
Read the guide
- How to read a lake depth map: points, humps and channelsA plain guide to reading a lake depth map: contour spacing, points and drop-offs, humps, old river channels, and LakeScope's 3-D lake bed to find them fast.
- Lake Travis fishing guide: where, when and what bitesA practical guide to Lake Travis near Austin: bass and white bass by season, the points and coves worth a look, ramps, and what to check before you launch.
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