Texas fishing reports
579 reports for Texas — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Toledo Bend and Rayburn bass settle into the fall feed
Fall feeding patterns are the story for East Texas bass this week. B.A.S.S. News notes that as water temperatures drop, baitfish activity rises and bass begin their fall feed, with the bite window opening wide through much of the day. Texas Fish & Game Magazine says October can produce monster Texas largemouth as baitfish move into creeks and coves and bass turn increasingly aggressive. USGS gauge 08030500 shows 678 cfs on the river feeding this region, and nearby gauges read 72 to 77°F water.
Fall bass bite builds as Texas water cools into late October
Two South Texas gauges are reading 74°F and 71°F, which is warm enough to keep fish comfortable but cool enough that the fall shift is clearly underway. Texas Fish & Game Magazine says October is one of the best months of the year for largemouth bass in Texas, noting that as water cools, baitfish move into creeks and coves and bass become increasingly aggressive. B.A.S.S. News echoes the broader fall pattern: as baitfish gather in tight schools they become vulnerable, and the bite window opens wide, often lasting much of the day.
Fall trout window opens along the Upper Texas Coast
Water temperatures along the Galveston to Corpus stretch are sitting in the low to upper 70s, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8771450 reading 78.3°F, station 8772471 at 75.4°F and station 8771341 at 72.7°F this morning. That spread matters: the cooler readings mark where fall is arriving first, and Sport Fishing Mag notes that as water cools through late fall, slow-sinking and suspending twitchbaits become increasingly productive for the largest speckled trout of the year. Texas Fish & Game Magazine also points to autumn as an overlooked time to work jetty systems along the Texas coast for specks.
Hill Country lakes settle into early fall bass pattern
Gauge readings across the Austin area this morning put water temperatures between 70 and 73°F, a comfortable range for fall bass movement. USGS gauge 08155500 read 72°F, gauge 08105891 read 73°F and gauge 08170990 read 70°F. Per Texas Fish & Game Magazine, fall is a transition time for largemouth bass on Texas reservoirs: as water cools, shad move into creeks and coves, and bass often follow. That sets up shallow-water chances, though anglers after bigger fish are pointed to main-lake humps and ridges.
Lower Laguna Madre water stays warm as fall trout window opens
Both NOAA CO-OPS stations covering this stretch of the Lower Laguna Madre are reading in the upper 70s this morning. Station 8775237 shows 77.7°F and station 8779770 shows 76.1°F, observed around 11:06 and 11:12 UTC. That is still comfortable for an active bay, and it sits a few degrees above where the coolest-water trout patterns take over. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that fall can be an overlooked time to target speckled trout around the coast's jetty systems, and Sport Fishing Mag points to slow-sinking and suspending plugs as the go-to for big trout along the Gulf coast once water cools.
Fall bass settle into cooling East Texas lakes
Cooling weather is the story across Texas reservoirs this week. Per Texas Fish & Game Magazine, fall is a transition period for Largemouth Bass as water temperatures begin to drop and shad move into creeks and coves, with bass often following them. The magazine points to shallow-water opportunities, while anglers after truly big fish are directed to main-lake humps and ridges. Lake Fork Trophy Bass calls October a prime month, with comfortable weather and quality fish, and notes that hunting season keeps pressure light, so lakes often feel uncrowded. Gauge readings near the Louisiana line show water temperatures between 72 and 77°F, which is warm enough to keep bass feeding actively on baitfish.
Texas bass and catfish ease into the fall transition
Gauge readings show water holding in the low 70s, which is warm enough to keep fish comfortable but cool enough that the fall shift is underway. A USGS gauge 0821150305 reads 72°F, and USGS gauge 08211200 reads 71°F with flow at 65.7 cfs. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that as water temperatures begin to drop, shad move into creeks and coves and largemouth bass often follow, creating shallow-water chances alongside bigger fish on main-lake humps and ridges. North Texas Catfish Guide described a late-summer grind with a light bite on Eagle Mountain Lake, with clients learning to read tiny bites before things picked up, and signs of fall arriving.
East Texas bass shift toward fall pattern as water cools
Gauge readings along the Neches and Sabine drainages put water temperature between 70 and 77°F on October 18, which is the warm end of the fall transition. Lake Fork Trophy Bass calls October a great month on the water, with cooling weather, quality fish and lighter pressure as hunting seasons open. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that as temperatures drop, shad move into creeks and coves and bass often follow, which sets up shallow-water opportunities.
Fall redfish and jetty trout window opens on the upper Texas coast
Water along the Galveston to Corpus stretch is sitting in the mid-70s, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8771450 reading 76.6°F, station 8772471 at 75.6°F and station 8771341 at 74.8°F. That is warm for mid-October, but the cooling trend is what matters. Salt Strong (articles) flagged fall as one of the best times to fish, pointing to big schools of redfish moving into certain areas, and its Insider weekend game plan for the Upper Texas Coast went live for October 16th to 18th. Redfish are the clear priority right now. Texas Fish & Game Magazine also notes that fall can be an overlooked time to target jetty systems along the Texas coast, though it says the bite may not match late spring and early summer.
Texas fall bass shift to creeks and main-lake structure
Gauge readings show South Texas water still warm. USGS gauge 0821150305 reported 76°F and gauge 08211200 reported 71°F with 65.4 cfs of flow on the afternoon of October 18. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that as water cools in fall, shad move into creeks and coves and largemouth bass often follow, creating shallow-water chances, with bigger fish also holding on main-lake humps and ridges.
Hill Country lakes shift into fall bass pattern
Water temperatures across the Hill Country gauges are sitting in the 70s, with one reading of 72°F on USGS gauge 08155500 and 70°F on USGS gauge 08170990. That is the cooling-but-comfortable range where largemouth bass start following shad toward creeks and coves. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that as temperatures drop, shad move into creeks and coves and bass often follow, which sets up good shallow-water opportunities. For bigger fish, the same piece points to main-lake humps and ridges. Tactical Bassin's October coverage backs the shallow approach, with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater as the baits to work around fall cover.
Fall redfish and snook patterns set up on the Lower Laguna Madre
Water in the Lower Laguna Madre area is a comfortable 76.8°F at NOAA CO-OPS station 8775237 and 76.5°F at station 8779770, readings taken within minutes of each other mid-morning local time. That is warm for mid-October, which keeps fish metabolisms high and feeding windows open through the day. Salt Strong (articles) flagged fall as one of the best times of year to find big schools of redfish moving into certain areas, and noted that popping corks remain a versatile rig for redfish and snook inshore.