Lake LBJ, TX

About Lake LBJ

Lake LBJ is a roughly 6,300-acre constant-level reservoir on the Colorado River in the Texas Hill Country, one of the chain of Highland Lakes northwest of Austin. Formed behind Wirtz Dam and fed in part by the Llano River as well as the Colorado, it sits between Lake Marble Falls downstream and Inks Lake upstream. Because the Lower Colorado River Authority manages it as a "pass-through" lake that holds a nearly stable level year-round, LBJ avoids the dramatic drawdowns that plague many Texas reservoirs, which makes it a popular destination for both anglers and recreational boaters.

The lake is long and riverine in character, with rocky points, granite and limestone shorelines, abundant boat docks, submerged grass in pockets, and two distinct arms where the Llano and Colorado join. Anglers know it as a solid year-round bass fishery with a strong supporting cast of white bass, crappie, sunfish, and catfish. Its proximity to Austin and the Marble Falls/Kingsland area, plus consistent water levels, make it one of the more dependable fishing spots in the Highland Lakes chain.

Fish Species

Lake LBJ offers a well-rounded mix of warmwater gamefish typical of the Highland Lakes:

• Largemouth bass — the headliner. Numbers are good around docks, points, and grass, with quality fish available for anglers who put in the time.
• Guadalupe bass — Texas's state fish, found especially in the moving, rockier water near the Llano River arm and upper Colorado inflow. A genuine local specialty worth targeting.
• White bass — abundant and a favorite of meat anglers; they school heavily and run up the river arms in late winter and spring.
• Crappie — both black and white crappie hold around docks, brush, and bridge structure.
• Catfish — channel and blue catfish are common, with flatheads present as well.
• Sunfish (bluegill and other panfish) — plentiful and great for kids and light tackle.

The standouts that bring anglers to LBJ are largemouth and white bass, with Guadalupe bass being the distinctive Hill Country bonus species. Smaller numbers of other bass species can also turn up in the system.

Best Seasons & Times

Spring is prime time. As water warms into the 60s, largemouth move shallow to spawn around protected pockets, docks, and gravel flats, and sight-fishing can be productive. White bass make their well-known spawning run up the Llano and Colorado arms, often providing fast action on light tackle. This is many anglers' favorite stretch of the year.

Summer brings heat, heavy recreational boat traffic, and bass that pull to deeper structure, main-lake points, and shaded docks. Early morning and the last hour of light are far more productive than midday. Topwater at dawn, deeper Texas-rigged plastics, and night fishing for catfish all shine.

Fall cools the water and triggers another feeding window as bass and white bass chase shad. Look for surface-schooling activity over points and flats, and expect more consistent daytime bites than in summer.

Winter fishing is slower but rewarding for patient anglers. Bass hold deeper and bite best on milder afternoons; crappie stack tightly on brush and bridge pilings; and white bass begin staging for the spring run. Overall, dawn and dusk are the most reliable bite windows in warm months, while midday warmth can be best in winter.

Techniques & Baits

Largemouth bass:

• Work boat docks thoroughly — skip soft plastics, wacky-rigged worms, and jigs under and around the many docks lining the lake.
• Texas-rigged and shaky-head plastics on rocky points and channel edges, especially as fish move deeper in summer and winter.
• Crankbaits and chatterbaits along grass lines and gravel flats in spring and fall.
• Topwater (walking baits, poppers, buzzbaits) at first and last light during warmer months.

Guadalupe bass: Focus on current and rockier water near the river arms. Smaller presentations work well — soft plastics, small crankbaits, inline spinners, and fly gear with Clouser-style streamers.

White bass: During the run, throw small slabs, jigs, and spinners up the river arms; the rest of the year, find schools chasing shad and use slabs, tail-spinners, and small swimbaits, or troll to locate fish.

Crappie: Minnows and small jigs around brush piles, dock pilings, and bridge structure; vertical presentations are most consistent.

Catfish: Cut shad, live bait, and prepared/stink baits fished on the bottom in channels, near drop-offs, and around inflows; night fishing is productive in summer.

Access & Launches

Lake LBJ is reasonably accessible, with public boat ramps located around the lake and in the surrounding communities such as the Kingsland and Marble Falls areas. There are also private marinas, lakeside lodging, and waterfront properties with docks throughout. Because the lake is built up with homes and docks and sees heavy recreational boating traffic in summer, bank-fishing access from public land is more limited than boat access — local parks and any public shoreline points are your best bet for shore anglers. Anglers should confirm ramp locations, hours, and any launch fees locally before a trip, as facilities and conditions can change. A boat or kayak opens up far more of this long, riverine lake than fishing from shore.

Regulations & Licenses

A valid Texas fishing license with the appropriate freshwater endorsement is required for anglers of licensing age; check current requirements and exemptions before you fish. Bass, crappie, white bass, and catfish are all subject to size and bag limits that can vary by species and may differ from statewide defaults on specific waters, and these rules change over time. Always review the current Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations (the official Outdoor Annual) for Lake LBJ before keeping fish, and follow any special provisions for the Highland Lakes. Practicing selective harvest and careful catch-and-release of larger bass helps keep the fishery strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish is Lake LBJ known for?
Lake LBJ is best known as a year-round largemouth bass and white bass fishery, with Guadalupe bass (the Texas state fish) as a distinctive Hill Country bonus species near the river arms. It also has solid crappie, catfish, and sunfish populations.

When is the best time to fish Lake LBJ?
Spring is the standout season, with largemouth moving shallow to spawn and white bass running up the Llano and Colorado arms. Fall offers another strong feeding window. In summer, fish early morning and evening to beat the heat and heavy boat traffic; in winter, milder afternoons fish best.

Does Lake LBJ get drawn down like other Texas lakes?
No. Lake LBJ is managed by the LCRA as a constant-level, pass-through reservoir, so it holds a nearly stable water level year-round. That consistency is a big reason anglers and boaters favor it over reservoirs that fluctuate dramatically.

What baits work best for bass on Lake LBJ?
For largemouth, target the lake's many docks and rocky points with soft plastics (Texas-rigged worms, wacky rigs), jigs, crankbaits, and topwater at dawn and dusk. For Guadalupe bass, fish smaller plastics, inline spinners, and flies in the current near the river arms.