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Caught a 22inch Largemouth Bass in Buchanan Dam
Largemouth Bass Fishing in Buchanan Dam
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The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is America's most iconic freshwater gamefish, prized by anglers for its fighting spirit and widespread availability. This member of the sunfish family is native to eastern and central North America but has been successfully introduced worldwide due to its popularity as a sportfish. - Adult bass typically range from 15-32 inches and 2-22 pounds, with female bass growing significantly larger than males. - They prefer warm, vegetated lakes and slow-moving rivers with plenty of cover like submerged logs, weed beds, and rocky structures. - Largemouth are ambush predators with incredible acceleration, capable of consuming prey up to 50% of their own body length.
Guided Fishing Trip by Guide Randy Fesler in August
Meet your Guide Randy Fesler
- Lake LBJ and Lake Buchanan Bass Fishing Guide
Summary
Join us for an evening bass fishing trip on Lake Austin with Reel Texas Fishing Tours. Our Sunday April outing showcased the excellent fishing Buchanan Dam, TX has to offer, with partly cloudy conditions providing perfect circumstances for targeting Largemouth Bass. Guide Randy Fesler knows these waters intimately and specializes in putting clients on quality fish, like this impressive 22-inch Largemouth. Whether you're an experienced angler looking to improve your technique or a beginner hoping to land your first trophy bass, our guided fishing trips offer the local expertise, quality equipment, and personalized instruction to make your day on the water both productive and memorable.
Fishing Charter with Randy Fesler – Rates & Booking
Guide Randy Fesler of Reel Texas Fishing Tours on Sunday April showcases his expertise on Lake Austin's productive bass waters. With years of experience targeting the lake's Largemouth population, Randy provides all the necessary gear, tackle, and local knowledge to ensure a successful day on the water. Trips typically run 4-6 hours with flexible morning and evening options to catch the best bite. Whether you're a seasoned bass angler or complete beginner, Randy tailors the experience to your skill level and preferences. Advance booking is recommended, especially during peak spring and fall seasons when the bass fishing is at its finest.
Highlights of this Lake Austin Bass Trip
This evening trip on Lake Austin delivered exceptional Largemouth Bass action despite changing weather conditions. The partly cloudy skies with clearing rain created perfect conditions for targeting active bass. The highlight was landing this impressive 22-inch Largemouth that put up an incredible fight before being safely released.
Lake Austin consistently produces quality bass throughout the year, but these evening trips offer some of the most productive fishing as bass move shallow to feed. Randy's intimate knowledge of seasonal patterns, structure locations, and effective presentations ensures clients have the best chance at trophy bass. The beautiful scenery and peaceful surroundings of the lake make this trip enjoyable even during slower fishing periods.
Local Species Insights: Largemouth Bass
Lake Austin is renowned for its healthy population of Largemouth Bass, with fish averaging 2-4 pounds and trophies exceeding 8 pounds not uncommon. These predators thrive in the lake's diverse habitat, including submerged timber, weed edges, and rocky structure. Spring and fall typically offer the most consistent action as bass move shallow to spawn or feed on baitfish, though summer evenings can be productive as well.
Randy specializes in multiple techniques depending on conditions, including Texas-rigged soft plastics around cover, topwater action during low light periods, and deep structure fishing during midday hours. The lake's relatively stable water conditions and abundant forage base make it one of Central Texas's premier bass fisheries year-round. Catch-and-release practices help maintain the quality of this exceptional fishery for future anglers.
Plan Your Fishing Charter Day
When booking with Reel Texas Fishing Tours, expect a well-equipped, comfortable boat with all fishing gear, tackle, and safety equipment provided. Trips accommodate up to 3 anglers comfortably, making this perfect for small groups, families, or dedicated fishing partners. Morning trips typically begin at sunrise, while evening trips start 3-4 hours before sunset to capitalize on prime feeding periods.
Guests should bring weather-appropriate clothing, sun protection, snacks, and drinks. Photography is encouraged to document your catch, though Randy practices catch-and-release for most bass to preserve the fishery. Booking in advance is essential, especially during peak spring and fall seasons when dates fill quickly with repeat clients eager to experience Lake Austin's exceptional bass fishing.
Fishing in Austin: Largemouth Bass
The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is the most iconic member of the Centrarchidae family in the order Perciformes. Distinguished by its oversized jaw that extends beyond the eye and signature olive-green coloration with a dark lateral band, this predator is the cornerstone of freshwater fishing in North America. In Buchanan Dam waters this April, these ambush predators are actively feeding as water temperatures rise, making it prime time for anglers visiting Texas lakes.
Largemouth Bass Overview
Largemouth Bass represent America's most popular gamefish, cherished for their aggressive strikes, acrobatic fights, and widespread availability. Their adaptability to various habitats has made them successful both in their native eastern and central North American range and as introduced species worldwide, including throughout Texas reservoirs like Lake Austin where they thrive.
Largemouth Bass Habitat and Distribution
These adaptable predators prefer warm, vegetated waters with ample cover. They thrive in lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers with submerged structures like logs, rocks, and vegetation. In Buchanan Dam and Lake Austin specifically, they gravitate toward shoreline structure, submerged points, creek channels, and standing timber, adjusting their preferred depths seasonally.
Largemouth Bass Size and Weight
Adult Largemouth typically measure between 15 and 32 inches in length and weigh between 2 and 22 pounds, with females growing significantly larger than males. The 22-inch specimen caught in this trip represents a quality fish for the region. The Texas state record exceeds 18 pounds, while Florida-strain bass introduced to many Texas lakes have genetics allowing them to grow even larger under optimal conditions.
Largemouth Bass Diet and Behavior
Largemouth are opportunistic ambush predators that consume virtually any prey they can fit in their cavernous mouths. Their diet includes smaller fish (especially sunfish and shad), crawfish, frogs, small mammals, and even birds. They typically feed during dawn and dusk hours, though in spring they remain active throughout the day, especially during overcast conditions like those described in this trip.
Largemouth Bass Spawning Season
In central Texas waters like Buchanan Dam, bass typically spawn when water temperatures reach 62-65°F, usually in March through early May. Males create shallow nests in 1-5 feet of water and aggressively guard eggs and fry from predators. This protective behavior makes spawning bass particularly territorial and willing to strike lures that approach their nests, though ethical anglers often practice quick catch and release during this vulnerable period.
Largemouth Bass Fishing Techniques
Several effective techniques excel for Largemouth in Texas lakes. Soft plastic worms and creature baits Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged produce consistently when worked slowly around structure. Topwater plugs and buzzbaits create explosive strikes during morning and evening hours. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits allow covering water efficiently when bass are actively feeding. In April around Buchanan Dam, focus on shorelines with emerging vegetation in 3-10 feet of water, as bass transition between spawning and post-spawn patterns.
Largemouth Bass Is It Good to Eat?
While legal to harvest within limits, Largemouth Bass are generally considered average table fare compared to species like Crappie or Walleye. They offer firm white flesh with a mild flavor that benefits from proper cleaning and preparation. Most serious bass anglers practice catch-and-release to preserve trophy potential and maintain healthy populations, especially for larger specimens like the 22-incher caught on this trip.
Largemouth Bass Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best bait for Largemouth Bass in Lake Austin?
A: The most consistent producers are Texas-rigged plastic worms in watermelon or green pumpkin colors, white/chartreuse spinnerbaits around vegetation, and shad-imitating crankbaits along points and dropoffs. Live bait anglers do well with large shiners or small sunfish when legally permitted.
Q: Where can I find Largemouth Bass near Buchanan Dam?
A: Focus on submerged timber, weed edges, rocky points, and boat docks. During spring, target shallow spawning flats in protected coves. Summer bass often hold deeper near main lake points and creek channel edges, moving shallow during low light periods.
Q: Is Largemouth Bass good to eat?
A: Largemouth provide decent eating when properly prepared. Smaller bass (1-3 pounds) generally taste better than larger specimens. Many anglers fillet them, remove the dark lateral line, and either bake, fry, or grill. However, most fishing guides encourage catch-and-release to maintain quality fishing opportunities.
Q: When is the best time to catch Largemouth Bass?
A: In central Texas, prime seasons are spring (March-May) during pre-spawn and spawn periods, and fall (September-November) when bass feed heavily. Early morning and evening hours typically produce best, though overcast days like the one described in this trip can provide action throughout the day.
